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8/10

DUNKIRK NOTES
From Lt. J.A.Simson. In Command of Unit of M/S Trawlers
"Lord Grey"&"Clythness"
Based on Dover we had heard and seen a good deal of what was afoot over the other side. Tragic stories, humorous stories, stories of great courage.
As we were engaged on sweeping for magnetic mines with ships & gear that were then a well-guarded secret, we did not actually anticipate being sent over unless magnetic minelaying took place off Dunkirk. As the Germans did not know then how to deal with the clearance of their own magnetic mines we did not think they would lay them except in the last resort.
However on Thursday the unit was given 1 hour's notice to sail for
Dunkirk and sailing & route orders were duly supplied. We sailed out at 15.30 on a dull, cloudy day and the sea was as calm as a lake.
We had instructions to contact H.M.T. Fyldea if we met her homeward bound, and ask for any information which might enable me to judge whether our original orders should be modified. As our route was changed twice in the course of the voyage - by wireless signal - it is perhaps not surprising that we missed Fyldea.
Dunkirk was visible about 30 miles distant as it was burning furiously. On the way across we had met numerous British & some French
Destroyers going 'full bat' for home, their decks a mass of khaki &
all their guns at maximum elevation - ominous! We seemed to be the only people going our way and I suspected the worst - that we were too late. My orders were to enter the harbour and make fast to the most convenient stone quay, and report to Capt. Tennant.
As no one aboard the ship had been to Dunkirk before, we approached s/o/
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of
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OF
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was wanted down to there the as correspondent for a well-known who konked out within this a wretched boat in the Government the only effort made see by show for himself. This was about paper and
TO
bing it ourselves, could rowing boat to come out and fetch off ships and get a anchor to prevent drifting other refused fire so I had to few yards of leaving moorings and service, it to course.
should report the trouble. Within an hour, a me good deal so that I
and Sub-Lieutenant, R.N., two Petty Officers Artificers R.N.V.R., an Engineer say, we had an Engineer-Lieutenant Commander, less I
engine one trouble. leading Artificer, investigating the question of our dripping stoker away, and here I rather suspect the activities simply of
One not unimportant item was that the magneto was with using the oil can I know, but he seemed to be quite familiar had rating who was the senior again of my crew, who my been oil the petrol engines and I certainly did not see him to face magneto, but I noticed a change of expression trying oil. when the Mag. was detached and found to be actually on his by which Thames as the experts worked on her until 20.00 that from night, the that boat was ever brought round to Ramsgate to me This, that however, was not the only trouble and it is a mystery oozing take engine running again. We raised anchor and started we to got the time they had succeeded in getting a spark, and was no between two ships at anchor and opening throttle, a there right space so long as we were going dead slow but on getting all clear her for a trial run round the harbour. This went clutch increase in speed but a most terrible noise from engine identified the engine on sight as a very old very Camel amused, he had who was with me on the little bridge was
Commanded which was obviously slipping badly. The Engineer-Lieutenart the of neutral the clutch lever and putting the gear lever my in efforts at joggling converted and I think he realised that all Lorry was pretty were not going to have the least effect as the and out be done hopeless. As it was quite clear that thing to the except move her ahead at dead slow, I brought nothing her could over side and tied up out of the fairway.
were kept my foot being secured, I had, as an additional precaution, ropes
While already the gear was in neutral and the fore and aft down on the hard down on the clutch pedal which out with deck, so that the clutch should have was right commenced a to good deal to spare; in spite of this she been suddenly well most joggling, or verification of the fact that the clutch go gently astern and " no amount of unsafe in she started to go slowly ahead. It was a or two clearly when in neutral, seemed to have any effect gear for lever moment was at all so I a crowded harbour to have this wretched clearly and have her called down to the stoker to switch off engine the engine running worked to get her tied up securely. Again the was required manhandled for the little adjustment that was that they took down pretty well everything. The Sunday, final 2nd
June, on her until 22.30 that night and all day engineers to the engine was worth about £10 and it would report four found myself living on a house boat with my own about it and repair I it. so they did not propose to do any more cost £20
whose ratings and a lodger in the shape of another stoker crew rating of had original boat had been lost somehow with his kit. He been supplied with a new kit at Merrie England, the temporary thought he Naval might barracks, as well throw and being in his a luck friend with of my us. stoker rating by contingents were being brought off from Dunkirk Jetty itself last
By this time the beach show was well over and the destroyers, etc., this being a deep water job.
last lunch on Sunday that volunteers were wanted to just before
There time was a rumour round the harbour precincts of the Dunkirk troops off the Jetty, this cleared fetch all the the