TNA ADM 199 790

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H.M.S. "KING ALFRED"
533
12th June, 1940
Report: DUNKIRK EVACUATION.
By:
Proby. Temp. Sub. Lieut. T. Laurie, R.N.V.R.
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beaches. the next five days was briefly as follows:-
May, to take My time table for river craft to Dunkirk to embark troops from 29th the
I was light sent draught to Sheerness with about 12 others on Wednesday,
Thursday, 30th May. Left Sheerness on "Maldon Annie* bound for
Ramsgate and Dunkirk.
Friday, 31st May. Reached Dunkirk in tow with engine broken down
cutter. and vessel derelict. Embarked men from the beach in & naval
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Saturday, 1st June. In Ramsgate on harbour duties.
Sunday, 2nd June. To Dunicirk in motor boat "Wind of the Morning".
Monday, 3rd June. To Dunkirk in charge of tug "Dromodary".
I regret to report that "Maldon Annie", the small Thames pleasure
boat of which I was in charge had to be abandoned.at Dunkirk. The magneto of
her engine broke down before we reached Ramsgate and she vas then towed by the
convoying trawler "Strathelliott". "Mation Annie" was only built for river
work and she was not strong enough for the sea. The tow rope pulled all the
bollards and cleats out of her, one after another, (the fastenings wro & bit
nailsicktoo), and eventually it was only possible to tow with & strop right
round the boat. At the same time the pumps choked and could bot be freed,
as her bilge was full of rubbish, and she made water faster than - could sail.
By the time we reached Dunkirk after a slow crossing, she was derelict and
had to be left on the beach.
I transferred to a large diesel-engined barge and carried about
120 French troops to her in a Naval cutter. We left for Ranagate with & full
load about midnight.
I reported the next morning, (Saturday) to the Port Captain. That
day the only work available was landing troops from transports and carrying
orders to ships, but on Sunday I was able to get another motor boat, called
"Wind of the Morning".
We left in the late afternoon with a number of other notor boats;
enemy aircraft were about all the way across, and when we were 10 miles from
Dunkirk their fighters circled over us for some time in the dark. To vent.
dead slow so that the phosphorescence in our wake should not show us up and
after a time the enemy attacked the next boat ahead which replied with machine
gun fire. After two unsuccessful attacks the enemy went off and we went on
our way. Before reaching Dunkirk however, we were stopped by & British
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.