TNA ADM 334 83

Collection details

TNA ADM 334 83

Little Ships Club correspondence and personal accounts relating to the Dunkirk evacuation, covering 1940–1941.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: ADM 334 83

View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 334/83. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Page	Image	OCR text	OCR tags
54	Log in to enlarge	5 selves and the boat as best we could and breakfasted at a restaurant at which I had often called in the past when sailing round the coast. On further application at the Naval Control Office we were told that if our services were wanted, the flag would be hoisted, and until then we could do what we wished. We shopped, I and I bought myself some workmen's trousers, a persey and plimsolls, in order to produce a more nautical effect than that of my outsize dungarees; these clothes, combined with a battle dress tunic, made a combination that sh ocked naval ratings, but seemed fitting for such an amphibios expedition. At about 1100 the X flag went up, and we were told that a convoy would set off at 1600. We were to commandeer the necessary petrol, if we had not already got enough for the double journey, lifebelts, and two long ladders. As we were to be towed over, we were also instructed to obtain appropriate lines. Whilst we were busy doing this, a Lieutenat Atterbuy Atterbury, R.N.V.R., asked us whether we were going over and received permission to join us. He was able to help us in getting stores, including the much-needed blankets, and a Lewis gunner with his gun, which was lashed in the after cock-pit. As soon as the gunner had done that, he lay down in the cabin and slept for several hours without taking any notice of the noises going on round him: he had been over the previous night. Our preparations, and getting a meal, took up most of the remaining time. Just before we were due to leave, Lieut. Atterbury went ashore to received sailing instructions, but as I was not present speaking I never heard the exact details. Broadly/ however, we were to a machine gun and ammuni tion Van masts and putting on quay and fixing machine all ready to sail at 2.30 p.m. Orders came to proceea outside harbour at 4 p.m. to the Tug "SUN XV" to be towed across in company with other yachts. Three other yachts make fast astern of us, under way 6.35 p.m. Engines running at half-speed to ease the strain of the tow ropes. Slight swell. The tow ropes of two of the yachts broke and they were told to proceed on under own power. Arrived off Dunkir at 11.30 p.m. and cast off from Tug. Proceeded into Dunkir past the Mole, and up the Canal for about 2 miles. Moored alongside the quay and proceeded to take troops on board. Could find no Englishmen so took on board 40 Frenchmen.	Boat Broke Sun Sun XV Lewis Long Miles

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 54.

5
selves and the boat as best we could and breakfasted at a restaurant
at which I had often called in the past when sailing round the
coast. On further application at the Naval Control Office we
were told that if our services were wanted, the flag would be
hoisted, and until then we could do what we wished. We shopped,
I
and I bought myself some workmen's trousers, a persey and plimsolls,
in order to produce a more nautical effect than that of my outsize
dungarees; these clothes, combined with a battle dress tunic,
made a combination that sh ocked naval ratings, but seemed fitting
for such an amphibios expedition.
At about 1100 the X flag went up, and we were told that
a convoy would set off at 1600. We were to commandeer the
necessary petrol, if we had not already got enough for the double
journey, lifebelts, and two long ladders. As we were to be
towed over, we were also instructed to obtain appropriate
lines. Whilst we were busy doing this, a Lieutenat Atterbuy
Atterbury, R.N.V.R., asked us whether we were going over and received
permission to join us. He was able to help us in getting stores,
including the much-needed blankets, and a Lewis gunner with his
gun, which was lashed in the after cock-pit. As soon as the
gunner had done that, he lay down in the cabin and slept for
several hours without taking any notice of the noises going on
round him: he had been over the previous night. Our preparations,
and getting a meal, took up most of the remaining time.
Just before we were due to leave, Lieut. Atterbury went
ashore to received sailing instructions, but as I was not present
speaking
I never heard the exact details. Broadly/ however, we were to
a machine gun and ammuni tion Van
masts and putting on quay and fixing machine
all ready to sail at 2.30 p.m. Orders came to proceea
outside harbour at 4 p.m. to the Tug "SUN XV" to be towed
across in company with other yachts. Three other yachts
make fast astern of us, under way 6.35 p.m. Engines running
at half-speed to ease the strain of the tow ropes. Slight
swell. The tow ropes of two of the yachts broke and they
were told to proceed on under own power. Arrived off Dunkir
at 11.30 p.m. and cast off from Tug. Proceeded into Dunkir
past the Mole, and up the Canal for about 2 miles. Moored
alongside the quay and proceeded to take troops on board.
Could find no Englishmen so took on board 40 Frenchmen.