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ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.
SERVICES OF THE RAMSGATE OTOR LIFE-BOAT, "PRUDENTIAL",
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IN CONNEXION WITH THE EVACUATION OF DUNKIRK.
Report by the Honorary Secretary, Captain J. Houghton, East
Cliff House, Ramsgate.
1100/30
Ramsgate Hon. Sec. was summoned by Admiral Somerville to the
office of N.O.I.C. Ramsgate, and instructed to place life-
boat at disposal of Naval Authorities, fully manned, fuelled
and stored for service in DUNKIRK: Coxswain and other members
volunteered to serve: Instructions were given to load various
stores and coils of rope, and to tow eight craft of various
types, mostly wherries (loaded with cansof fresh water for
the troops) manned by naval ratings to a given destination,
and upon arrival to render all possible assistance in ferrying
troops from the beach to the waiting ships, and towing the
smaller boats to and fro in this service.
S
Request by Hon. Sec. that those who had volunteered should be
supplied and fitted with respirators and shrapnel helmets was
granted; this was done and after loading stores and assuring
themselves the lines for towing were satisfactorily and
securely connected, life-boat sailed at 1420/30.
0630/1
Life-boat returned.
Coxswain's report attached.
0700/1
Re-moored.
les
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This service was rendered during the greater part of Thursday,
all Thursday night, Friday, Friday night and part of Saturday,
under fire from enemy airplanes, and other implements of war:
I respectfully submit the men concerned are deserving of the
greatest credit and admiration for their courage and determina-
tion in the successful manipulation of the Life-boat and the
wherries they manned without hesitation, and their successful
transfer of over two thousand eight hundred British, French and
Belgian troops to comparative safety from the insecurity of the
open beach by their individual efforts, with explosives bursting
round them continually; the Life-boat bears many scars
significant of the ordeal.
Should the institution consider this service worthy of high
consideration, may I in all sincerity, if in zealous excess of
my privilege, put forward the names of H. Knight (Coxswain),
A. Moody (Acting 2nd Coxswain) T.H. Read (Asst. M.M.) and
A. Liddle (one of the crew) for consideration for the award of
your Gold Medal, and E. Attwood (M. Mechanic) C. Knight (aged
69) E. Cooper, I. Hawks and T. Goldfinch (crew) for consideration
for the award of your Silver Medal.
(signed) J. Houghton
Hon. Sec.
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