TNA ADM 199 790

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made for the coast.
All five of us had so far crossed safely.
At 0500 arrived at beach near La Panne, and recognised
it as Cupola, hundreds upon hundreds of troops waiting to be
taken off. I proceeded, stopped just out off the surf and
commenced towing boatloads of soldiers to Destroyers and Trawlers.
I continued without stopping for any reason until about
1200 30/5/40, when alongside a Destroyer, a voice hailed me, saying,
"Well done, motor boat, wait for me".
An Officer wearing a
lambskin coat came on board. He was wet through, however, he
said he wanted me to carry on as I was doing and that then he would
have one or two other jobs for me.
So I carried on taking off troops to ships. In the late
afternoon the Officer above mentioned, whose name I then leanred
was Commodore Stephens or Stevens, asked me to run him down to a
certain position on the beach, and he instructed me not to do
anything until he returned as he was going ashore to look for Lord
Gort, and, if he got him, I was to take him straight to England.
Enemy shore batteries were now on and off dropping heavy shells
quite close. Commodore Stephens waded ashore through the surf,
up to the neck in water. In an hour's time he returned, waded
out again, but did not mention Lord Gort's name, and I did not ask
him why he had not come.
I made a good guess.
The Commodore
then ordered me to close a destroyer, and I had the honour of
receiving my Admiral on board with C.O.S. ( I can't remember his
name). I closed the surf to land him by his whaler which I was
towing. However, he ddd not land and I returned him aboard
his ship. shells stillfalling around.
Commodore Stephens and I then carried on taking troops
to ships.
Long before this I had spoken to "SILVER QUEEN" and
made sure she had distributed her petrol supplies.
She
disappeared about this time and I did most of the rescue work myself,
(with one or two boats from destroyers) from now on until the
following afternoon. At 0100, rescued 7 soldiers from drowning.
Continued rescue work until 0200 (approx.) 31/5/40
when, being in very close inshore, I went aground; I knew the tide
was rising so didn't worry, but put out my anchor astern and tried
to heave her off.
Succeeded in floating her at 0400 and carried
on as before.
Now I was feeling the strain somewhat, but worse
lay ahead. At about 0800 strong North wind and very heavy swell,
boat rolling and pitching at every turn and going alongside ships
was very difficult.
Commodore Stephens now asked me to take him out to an
M.T.B. which had come in, and he asked me to continue the good work
alone.
He said I had done good work, but could not allow me to
rest, too much remained to be done.
I might say that the
Commodore said I was "A good fellow", and on other occasions said
I was "a bloody fool". It is not my place to pass remarks about
Senior Officers, but this Officer, without cap, soaked through,
without food, was a great example to me.
He helped me to steer,
to pass lines, to haul drowning soldiers aboard, and very often
would say, "Come on the Army".
"Where have I seen you before,
you are so good looking, I'm sure I know you".
Other times he
cursed the lot as stupid.
I carried on after he left me and so I come to 1330 on
31/5/40. sight, and heavy shelling was taking place, suddenly the shelling
I was heading close inshore at this time, no boats in
became terrific, and my Cox. called out "For God's sake get off,
Sir, look, all the destroyers have left".
It was as he said,
but a small Merchant ship remained.
I closed her and saw she
too was heaving up. so I proceeded after the destroyers towards
Dunkerque. the last Naval Boat. The troops had all disappeared from the
I was the last Naval Officer to leave La Panne, and
beach. to the most Easterly position from Dunkerque in which our ships
I proceeded along the beach close inshore, until I came
lay.
I got a very heavy boat load of troops in tow.