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Zeesleepvaart Maassluis
Robin Williams Films
wishes to express deep gratitude to Willem Pop for sharing an article entitled:
THE NORMANDY INVASION
PARTICIPATION OF THE DEXTEROUS IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY, JUNE 1944
Note: Dutch to English translation by Willem Pop and Robin Williams.
Two books by Willem Pop, Dutch Author
View from the Bridge is about his father
VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE A portrait of a sailor in the first half of the 20th century.
CAPTAIN B. C. WELTEVREDEN
Nicknamed “Uncle Ben” he was one of the most famous commanders of deep sea
rescue tugs and he was Master on the HUDSON during WWII.
From 1913 to 1954 he served on various tugs of L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst
.
Enjoy!
Robin &Rosetta Williams
PARTICIPATION OF THE DEXTEROUS IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY, JUNE 1944
The Dexterous with Captain Kalkman and first officer Pop and a predominantly Dutch crew also took part in the invasion of Normandy.
On the 3rd of June all captains of the tugs got their instructions (more than 200 pages) at 15:00 on board the Empress of Russia. After the conference six captains of the tugs got special orders. They would head for the coast of Normandy. An admiral praised the cooperation between the different countries of the free world and the achievements of the little ships; the tugs and the trawlers. Lastly he wished them a good voyage and a safe return.
SHIP POSITIONS FOR ON SHORE BOMBARDMENT
NORMANDY INVASION-WESTERN TASK FORCE-
The Dexterous and another English tug were instructed to deliver their Phoenix blocks seven miles off the coast of Issigny in Normandy. Smaller tugs would tow the caissons to their location near the coast. The crew of the Dexterous could watch the battle on the beach very well. During the night they were warned of an attack by German one-mansubs. Captain Kalkman was instructed to unfasten the hawsers from the Phoenix and to anchor it with two concrete blocks. Though Captain Kalkman had warned the commanding American officer that such anchors would not be proper for these heavy Phoenixes, the officer insisted that he try it. As soon as the Dexterous had unfastened the hawsers and had dropped the concrete anchors overboard, they appeared unfit for their task. The situation became very dangerous when the Phoenix block floated in the direction of the warships and the landing craft. The threat increased when the caisson coursed to an ammunition ship. In a short time the Dexterous succeeded to fasten the Phoenix again to avoid a disaster. The second Phoenix from the English tug which had been carried over to a little American tug also could not be kept in check. This caisson also floated toward an ammunition ship and the little tug soon asked assistance from the Dexterous. Despite that the Dexterous was seriously restricted in her movements she could fasten the second colossus behind the first and tow them away from the danger area. The American officer was very enchanted and shouted, “You will hear more about this!” “If it may be something good?" the first officer Pop answered. Afterwards the Dexterous sailed to a safer location where the two Phoenixes could be carried over to other little tugs. Captain Kalkman was decorated for his appropriate action later on.
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