TNA ADM 334 83

DUNKIRK
MAY/JUNE 1940
LOG OF "LETITIA"
"LETITIA" was an ex-naval harbour launch conversion, 52-ft.
long, 12-ft. beam and 4-ft.9-ins. draught, schooner rigged, fitted with twin screws driven by Thornycroft R.A.4 petrol-paraffin engine.
She attended the Pavillon d'Or Rally at Liege, Belgium, in
July 1939 her number being 73. After the Rally she returned to her moorings in Chichester Canal just before war broke out and was laid up there until requisitioned by the Ministry of Shipping on the 30th of May 1940 for the Dunkirk Evacuation.
EXTRACT FROM LOG:
"Friday - 31st May 1940. In Chichester Canal, painting yacht grey, preparing for sea and getting crew together.
h.
Saturday - 1st June 1940. Filling up tanks with petrol and paraffin. Orders came through at 6 p.m. to proceed to Ramsgate. Waiting tide until 10 p.m. when locked out d
of Canal and proceeded to moorings outside awaiting daylight. Went ashore for final orders.
er-
Sunday - 2nd June 1940. Left moorings at 6 a.m. and proceeded down Harbour in company of yachts "FALCON", "WARRIOR"
and "IDAHO". Clear of Chichester Harbour at 7.15 a.m., proceeding up Channel, Owers Light Vessel abeam at 10 a.m.
-
Beachy Head abeam 3.45 p.m. Wind strong from the east with some swell. "ROYAL SOVEREIGN" abeam 5 p.m. Swell getting h
worse. Noticed some trouble on board "IDAHO" and nearly rammed by same. "WARRIOR" standing by "IDAHO" at 5.15 p.m.
age
"FALCON" came alongside and gave us instructions to proceed
.ved on passage at 5.30 p.m. "IDAHO" in tow of "WARRIOR" 6 p.m.
Lost sight of them at 6.30 p.m. Lost sight of "FALCON" at the
7.15 p.m. Proceeded on passage alone. Ship dipping nose
40 p.m under swells with smart breeze. Dungeness abeam 9 p.m.
Darkness came on; we went in close to the coast and anchored in 10 fathoms of water off Hythe at 10.15 p.m.
Monday - 3rd June 1940. Hove up anchor at 4 a.m. and proceeded on passage. Wind and swell abated in the night.
Dover abeam at 6.35 # a.m. Reported to the Admiralty the arrival of the "LETITIA". Sub-Lieutenant and three sailors came on board and took over. Proceeded alongside oil wharf to get more fuel on board and alongside another wharf to get a machine gun and ammunition on board. Taking out ship's masts and putting on quay and fixing machine gun on deck - -
all ready to sail at 2.30 p.m. Orders came to proceed 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 Dunkin 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.

DUNKIRK
MAY/JUNE 1940
LOG OF "LETITIA"
"LETITIA" was an ex-naval harbour launch conversion, 52-ft.
long, 12-ft. beam and 4-ft.9-ins. draught, schooner rigged, fitted with twin screws driven by Thornycroft R.A.4 petrol-paraffin engine.
She attended the Pavillon d'Or Rally at Liege, Belgium, in
July 1939 her number being 73. After the Rally she returned to her moorings in Chichester Canal just before war broke out and was
$
laid up there until requisitioned by the Ministry of Shipping on the 30th of May 1940 for the Dunkirk Evacuation.
EXTRACT FROM LOG:
r
"Friday - 31st May 1940. In Chichester Canal, painting yacht grey, preparing for sea and getting crew together.
ch.
k
Saturday - 1st June 1940. Filling up tanks with petrol and paraffin. Orders came through at 6 p.m. to proceed ed to Ramsgate. Waiting tide until 10 p.m. when locked out of Canal and proceeded to moorings outside awaiting dayrerlight. Went ashore for final orders.
Sunday - 2nd June 1940. Left moorings at 6 a.m. and proceeded down Harbour in company of yachts "FALCON", "WARRIOR"
and "IDAHO". Clear of Chichester Harbour at 7.15 a.m.,
S-
proceeding up Channel, Owers Light Vessel abeam at 10 a.m.
Beachy Head abeam 3.45 p.m. Wind strong from the east with th some swell. "ROYAL SOVEREIGN" abeam 5 p.m. Swell getting worse. Noticed some trouble on board "IDAHO" and nearly sage rammed by same. "WARRIOR" standing by "IDAHO" at 5.15 p.m.
ived
"FALCON" came alongside and gave us instructions to proceed on passage at 5.30 p.m. "IDAHO" in tow of "WARRIOR" 6 p.m.
t the
Lost sight of them at 6.30 p.m. Lost sight of "FALCON" at
6.40 p.
7.15 p.m. Proceeded on passage alone. Ship dipping nose under swells with smart breeze. Dungeness abeam 9 p.m.
Darkness came on; we went in close to the coast and anchored in 10 fathoms of water off Hythe at 10.15 p.m.
Monday - 3rd June 1940. Hove up anchor at 4 a.m. and proceeded on passage. Wind and swell abated in the night.
Dover abeam at 6.35 # a.m. Reported to the Admiralty the arrival of the "LETITIA". Sub-Lieutenant and three sailors came on board and took over. Proceeded alongside oil wharf to get more fuel on board and alongside another wharf to get a machine gun and ammunition on board. Taking out ship's masts and putting on quay and fixing machine gun on deck -
all ready to sail at 2.30 p.m. Orders came to proceed 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.