the ss waverley was sunk off Dunkirk on the 29/05/1940.. has anyone any knowledge of this incident? thanks
Hello Michael, welcome to the forum. 29 May 1940. Evacuation of troops from Dunkirk. The paddle minesweeper Waverley, with 800 troops on board, was sunk by bombs off the beach. Regards Peter
Thanks Peter i am researching a soldier of the RASC who was killed ....Kew have a file on how the ship was lost ...I was wondering if there is any more info from the forum members
Hi Michael and welcome to the forum. At first glance it appears she has been restored: SS Waverley I think its safe to say she's still around mate: SS Waverley Cheers Andy
Andy thanks .. it must be a new version ! the waverley of 1940 was bombed and machined gun for several hours .. It was certainly sunk!
Its an easy mistake to make andy, as the restored paddle steamer Waverley that you referred to was in fact made in 1947, to replace the original one that was lost at Dunkirk during the evacuation. It was not an exact replica but was modelled on the same lines...
Michael, Welcome to GWF. From N.S.M DUNKIRK ; WAVERLEY sunk. Meanwhile at about 1630, the CYCLONE left the harbour with 500 troops on-board enroute for Dover. Near Kwint Bank Buoy she saw the Minesweeper WAVERLEY sinking ; a bomb had struck her on the port quarter and passed right through her bottom, leaving a hole about 6 feet in diameter. Four of the 600 troops she had from La Panne beach were killed and a number wounded. When the WAVERLEY sank many of her troops were left swimming or trying to keep afloat, but the numbers thinned out considerably within 15/20 minutes (report by the Capt. WAVERLEY). The CYCLONE picked up 158. About an hour later the Special Service Vessel GOLDEN EAGLE picked up 285 and, guided by a plane, the tug JAVA and two drifters picked up a few more. WAVERLEY had picked up her troops from La Panne beach. Regards Sadsac
Thanks for this .. many men must have been lost atound 300 ... mainly men from the RASC such as drivers and loaders I wonder if this incident is documented in the RASC history?
Thanks Peter i am researching a soldier of the RASC who was killed ....Kew have a file on how the ship was lost ...I was wondering if there is any more info from the forum members Michael is the File you refer to WO361/8. If so there are others in the series that could be of help. WO361/21 Refers to ships involved in the evacuation operations,but WO361/81 could be of more interest as it refers to enquiries made into missing R.A.S.C. Personnel. Brian
Thanks Brian .. yes I read the that file but not WO361/81 which will be of considerable interest to me and the family I am researching for... kew here I go again! Thanks again for this information.. great
From 1230hrs onwards 19 minesweepers were sailed from Harwich, from Dover and the Downs, for Dunkirk and the beaches. By 2130hrs five of them had arrived off Bray Beach (Albury, Gossamer, Leda, Kellett and Sutton), and four off La Panne (Salamander, Halcyon, Skipjack and Waverley), three reached Dunkirk at 2140hrs (Ross, Pangbourne and Lydd). The Evacuation from Dunkirk
La Panne Beach clearded of troops. Meanwhile the Calcutta was proceeding with the embarkation, having enlisted the assistance of the minesweepers Sutton and Salamander, the tug, Java, five drifters (Golden Sunbeam, Lord Rodney, Lord Keith, Lord St. Vincent and Lord Collingwood) and three motor launches (Angler II, Nayland and New Britannic). By 1357hrs the Calcutta had embarked 1200 troops, with whom she proceeded to Sheerness. In addition to the ships assiting the Calcutta, 7 minesweepers (Emperor of India, Gracie Fields, Halcyon, Hebe, Oriole, Princess Elizabeth and Waverley), four skoots (Reiger, Doggersbank, Jutland and Oranje) and five destroyers (Shikari, Harvester, Anthony, Sabre and Greyhound) also embarked troops from La Panne Beach. Of the destroyers, the Greyhound was bombed and severly damaged. The minesweepers embarked, in all, 3415 troops, the skoots 1137 and the destroyers 2100. Waverley Sunk At about 1630hrs, the Cyclone left the harbour with 500 troops on board en route for Dover. Near Kwint Bank bouy she saw the minesweeper Waverley sinking; a bomb had struck her on the Port quarter and passed right through her bottom, leaving a hole about 6 feet in diameter. Four of the 600 troops she had embarked at La Panne Beach were killed and a number wounded. When the Waverley sank, many of her troops were left swimming or trying to keep afloat, but the numbers thinned out considerably within 15/20 minutes (Report from Captain of the Waverley). The Cyclone picked up 158. About an hout later the Sp. S/V Golden Eagle picked up 285 and, guided by a plane, the tug Java and two drifters picked up a few more. The Evacuation from Dunkirk.
Hello Michael, I suspect one of the files is this one held in piece ADM 267/101 The paddle steamship WAVERLEY official number 111205 built in 1899 for London, Midland & Scottish Railway Co (A & J Inglis) was taken over by the Admiralty at the beginning of the Second World War for service as a mine-sweeper. On May 29th, 1940, when assisting in the evacuation of the British Army from the Dunkirk beaches, she was hit by a bomb and rendered unmanageable. She was carrying approximately 600 troops and orders were given to abandon ship, as she was sinking rapidly, It was not possible for many of those on board to be saved and she went down with about 350 officers and men. Regards Hugh
Just to revive this old thread, my husband and I took a trip up Loch Fyne on the 'new' Waverley recently. The excursions are a wee bit expensive, but well worth the trip if it is near you. (It's amazing what you find out as I never knew the original Waverley was at Dunkirk-one learns something new every day-watch out Andy, it's Dunkirk now I'm interested in, not the Italian campaign). Lesley
Having been onboard her several times, there is a plaque inside telling the history. How the first one was sunk and then how this was rebuilt.
