TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

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DUNKIRK CLAIMS
WINDSORA
her
EM
GERBERA
WINDSONG
TELEGRAMS: ROYAL INSURANCE, BRIGHTON."
(S)
TELEPHONE: BRIGHTON No 5711/2.
Royal Insurance 9M68 Company Limited
Lussex District Branch,
All Letters to be addressed
162, NORTH STREET,
198
to the Local Manager.
Brighton 1st October, 1940.
Dear Sir,
Your Reference TO.9144/STN.6B. - Small Craft - Yacht -
"WINDSONG".
With further reference to your favour of the 16th instant, I now have
pleasure in sending you the information you desire for your records of the part
played by small craft in the evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk.
The crew was comprised of A. Barden of 29, Hill Road, Littlehampton,
and T.H. Falkingham of 4, Talbot Road, Littlehampton. The following is a
description given to me by Barden.
The yacht left Littlehampton under its own power on May 30th, arriving
off Dover the same night and anchored outside until the following morning, when
contact was made with Inspection Boat who gave orders to proceed to east of
Harbour and there await further instructions.
Late that afternoon instructions
were received to proceed to Submarine Basin.
Early on the morning of June 1st
nted
it was refuelled and the next move was to adjoining Basin where, with five other
boats we were taken in tow by "Kinder Star" a trawler, to Dunkirk.
W e made
close to Dunkirk Beach about 4 p.m.
Orders had already been given by the Captain
of the Trawler to have engines running.
We were on the point of making for the
beach when we were heavily raided by dive bombers, one large salvo just missing
our trawler.
We were ordered to cut adrift and make back, it was every man for
himself. Two or three times we were lifted or shot up with the detinations, in
fact, it was marvellous how the boat stuck it.
There were several small and
had
two large transports put down quite close to us. Every moment we thought it
would be our turn for the machine guns which the Huns were using on small craft.
of
Meanwhile, there was wreckage all around us. One of the craft alongside was in
trouble with its engines, and we gave them a hand getting their engines going,
after which we proceeded on our course back to Dover.
Eventually we got
by
across the Goodwins when darkness set in. We made the "Downs" and moored to a
tug until daybreak, finally reaching the east harbour of Dover about 7 a.m. on
as
June 2nd, where we reported our return.
After a while a naval crew took over
the yacht and we then made our way back to Littlehampton where we reported.
there
P.T.O.
after taking on Petrol at Gravesend.
About 10.30 a.m. Wednutay we arrived at Southend Pier and 29/5
were asked to take the vessel to Dunkirk as there were
not sufficient Naval Ratings available. Provisions for
three days and more petrol were taken aboard, and we were
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