The Scotsman - Tuesday, 4th June 1940, page 5

BRITAIN HAD 887 SHIPS IN DUNKIRK TRIUMPH ?_—_—Only Six Destroyers and 24 . Small Craft Lost ZEEBRUGGE BLOCKED AND OTHER PORTS IN GERMAN HANDS USELESS LOST DESTROYERS The Havant Was Sunk by Bombs THE KING'S MESSAG

An Admiralty communique issued last night states that 222 naval vessels and 665 other British craft took part in the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. This does not include the French naval and merchant ships which took part. The losses, which are regarded as comparatively light, consist of six destroyers and 24 small craft. The loss of three of the destroyers was announced in The Scotsman' last Friday. Losses were inflicted upon enemy submarine and high-speed motor torpedo boat forces. Zeebrugge has been blocked by the sinking of concrete-filled block ships, and other ports now in enemy hands have been rendered virtually useless. The Admiralty communique is as follows: — BIGGEST IN NAVAL HISTORY The most extensive and difficult combined operation in naval history has been carried out during the 'past week. British, French, and Belgian troops have been brought back safely to this country from Belgium and Northern France, in numbers which, when the full story can be told, will surprise the world. The withdrawal has been carried out in face of intense and'almost continuous air attack and increasing a'rtillery and machine-gun fire. The success of this operation was only made possible by the close co-operation of the Allies and of the Services, and by never-flagging determination and courage of all concerned. It was undertaken, on the British side, by several flotillas of destroyers, and a large number of small craft of every description. This force was rapidly increased, and a total of 222 British naval vessels and 665 other British craft and boats took part in the operation. These figures do not include large numbers of French naval and merchant ships, which also played .their part. The rapid assembly o£ over GOO small craft of all types was carried out by volunteers, These showed magnificent and tireless spirit. Through the operation of the Small Craft Registration Order, the Admiralty already had full details of all available small vessels. RUSH TO ASSEMBLY SPOT ' The order for the assembly of these vessels met with instantaneous response. Fishermen, yachtsmen, yacht builders, yacht clubs, river boatmen, and boat-building and hiring firms manned their craft with volunteer crews and rushed them to the assembly point, although they did not then know for what purpose they were required. They operated successfully by day and night, under the most difficult and dangerous conditions. The Admiralty cannot speak loo highly of the services of all concerned. They were essential to the success of the operation and the means of saving thousands of lives. The withdrawal was carried out from Dunkirk and from beaches in the vicinity. The whole operation was screened by naval forces against any attempt by the enemy at interference by,sea.. In addition to almost incessant bombing and machine-gun attacks on Dunkirk, the beaches and the vessels operating off . them, the port of Dunkirk and the shipping plying to and fro were under frequent shell fire. This was to some extent checked by bombardment of the enemy artillery positions by our naval forces. Naval bombardment also protected the flanks of the withdrawal. The enemy was active with submarines and high-speed motor torpedo boats. Losses have been inflicted upon both these forces. WHAT ONE MISTAKE MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT The operation was rendered more difficult by shallow water, narrow channels, and strong tides. The situation was such that one mistake in the handling of a ship might ' have blocked a vital channel, or that part of the port o£ Dunkirk which could be used. Nor was the weather entirely in favour of the operation, On two days a fresh northwesterly wind raised a surf which made work at the beaches slow and difficult. Only on one forenoon did ground mist curtail enemy air activity. A withdrawal of this nature and magnitude , carried out in face of intense and almost continuous air attack, is the most hazardous of all operations, Its success is a triumph ol Allied sea and air power, in face of the most powerful air forces which the enemy could bring to bear, from air bases close at hand. Zcebruggc has been blocked by the sinking of concrete-filled block ships. The sea gales of the canal and the lock working mechanism have been demolished. The lock gates have been blocked. The other ports now in enemy hands have been rendered virtually useless. Fuel stocks have been destroyed. BRITISH LOSSES The losses sustained by our Naval Forces have been comparatively small. The loss of H.M. destroyers Graf ton (Commander C. E. C. Robinson, R.N.), Grenade (Commander R. C. Boyle, -R.N.), and Wakeful (Commander R. L. Fisher, R.N.), was announced on May 30. H.M. destroyers Basilisk (Commander M. Richmond, R.N.). Keith (Captain E. L. Berthon, R,N.), and Havant (Lieut.-Commander A, F. Burwell-Nugent, R.N.) have also been sunk by enemy action. Of more than 170 minor war vessels of H.M, Fleet engaged in the operation, 24 have been lost. These comprise: — One Fleet minesweeper. H.M.S. Skipjack ( Lieut.-Commander F. B. ProudfootR.N.); One gunboat, H.M.S. Mosquito (Lieut. A. N. F. Castobadie, R.N.V, One Fleet Air Arm tender, H.M.S. Grive (Lieut. C. E. West, R.N.R.); Five paddle minesweepers, Brighton Belle (Lieut. L. K. Perrin, R.N.V.R.), Grade Fields (Lieut. A. C. Weeks, R.N.R.), Waverley (Lieut. S. F, Harmer-Elliot, R.N.V.R.), Medway Queen (Lieut. A. T. Cook. R.N.R.), Brighton Queen (Lieut. A. Stubbs, ft.N.IU; Ono minQsweepGr.. Crested Eagle (Lieut-Commander B. R. Booth, R.N.R.); Eight trawlers:—Polly Johnston (Chief Skipper L. Lake, R.N.R.), Thomas -Bartlett (Skipper G. E. Utting, R.N.R.), Thuringia (Chief Skipper D. W. L. Simpson. R.N.R.). Calvi (Skipper B. D. Spindler. R.N.R.). Stella Dorado (Skipper W. H. Burgess, R.N.R.), Argyllshire (Sub-Liout. E. G. D. Healoy, R.N.V.R.), Blackburn Rovers (Skipper \V. Martin, R.N.R.). and Westella (Chief Skipper A. Grove, R.N.R.); Three drifters:—Girl Pamela (Skipper C. Sansom, R.N.R.), Paxton (Skipper A. M. Lovis, R.N.R.), and Boy Roy (Skipper E. F. Dettman, R.N.R.); Two armed boarding vessels:—King Orry (Commander J. Elliott, R.N.R.) and Monas Isle (Commander J. C. K. Dowding, R.N.R.); One mine-laying vessel, Comfort (Skipper J. D. Mair, R.N.R.), and One tug, St Fagan (Lieut.-Commander G. H. Warren, R.N.) The next of kin of all casualties are being informed as details become available. Of the three destroyers whose loss is now announced, the Havant was bumbod and sunk while helping in the evacuation on Saturday morning. Eight of her crew were killed and 20 wounded. Most 'of the survivorsincluding the captain, were landed at Soulh-East towns on Sunday. They managed to save a few belongings. One of the crew stated that the ship sank slowly, and enabled another vessel to get alongside lo take off the men. Of ^340 tons, she was one of six destroyers building in Britain for the Brazilian Navy, taken over at the outbreak of war. 1 She had a normal complement of 150. Lieul.-Commander Anthony Frank Burwell-Nugent , who was in command, was awarded the D.S.C. in December 1939, " for successful actions against enemy submarines." At that lime he was in command of H.M.S. Walpole. AT ZEEBRUGGE IN LAST WAR The Keith, which was of 1400 tons, was completed in 1931. Her normal complement was 175. Captain Edward L. Berthon, D.S.C.-, her commanding officer, served at Zeebrugge in the last war in H.M.S. Sirius, one of the block ships. When it was found, after the abandonment of that ship, that an officer and some men were missing, the captain, with Berthon, went back under heavy fire and searched for them, but without result. At the second and successful raid on Ostend, Captain (then Lieut.) Berthon, served in the Vindictive, under Captain H. N. M. Hardy, with whom he had been in the Sirius. He sained the D.S.C. in 1917. and a bar to the D.S.C. a year later. The Basilisk (1360 tons^ had a normal complement of 138. She was completed in March 1931. During the Spanish war the Spanish Government news service issued a report that she had sunk the German submarine U 24 in the Mediterranean by depth charges, after being attacked. This report was officially denied in London and Berlin. . NAVAL FEAT OV 1918 The Zeebrugge and Ostend" harbours were both blocked by the Royal Navy in 1918. Sir Roger Keyes. then Vice-Admiral Keyes, was in command of the operations against Zeebrugge on the night of April 22-23, 19181 On the night of May 9-10 the Vindictive was run into Ostend and sunk in the entrance to the canal, making the harbour useless. Disaster Turned Into Triumph A message of admiration any sympathy for the heroes of the Flanders rearguard battle has been received from the King by Mr Winston Churchill, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. It reads: — "I wish to express my admiration of the outstanding skill and bravery shown by the three Services and the Merchant Navy in the evacuation of the British Expeditionary . Force from Northern France. " So difficult an operation was only made possible by brilliant leadership and an indomitable spirit among all ranks of the Force. The measure of its success—greater than we had dared to hope—was due to the unfailing support of the Royal Air Force, andin the final stages, the tireless efforts of naval units of every kind. " While we acclaim this great feat, in which our French allies, too, have played so noble a part, we think with heartfelt sympathy of the loss and sufferings of those brave men, whose self-sacrifice has turned disaster into triumph. " fiFOnr.E R.I."