TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

(34
S.T. "DUKE"
VETO
Sirs,
We left Dagenham at 10.30 a.m., May 31st, arriving at
Gravesend at 11.10 a.m. where we picked up as Pilot. We then proceeded to Southend, arriving there at 12.30 p.m.
Acting on orders from the Admiralty, we put two hands aboard the Sailing Barge "Ashingdon" and took her in tow, and proceeded to Ramsgate Harbour, arriving off the Harbour about 6.40 p.m.
Acting upon instructions received from the authorities, we left the S.B. "Ashi ngdon" at anchor in the downs below the Harbour, and took the tug into the Harbour about 8 p.m. to await further orders.
On Saturday morning, 1st June, we had orders to stand by at daylight, and received further orders to take stores, water and armoury together with some amunition, aboard, and stand by to tow the Ferry Boat ishbourne' to Dunkirk. We had four Naval ratings put aboard and at 9.20 a.m., together with the S.T. "Princess", we took the F.B. "Fishbourne" in tow. After towing for about 70
minutes, we put our rope into the S.T. "Princess" and then went ahead of the S.T. Princess with our two ropes in her head. About
11.20 a.m., owing to the starboard rope of the S.T. Princess"
breaking, we were forced to slip our rope to enable them to get another rope aboard the Ferry Boat; the S.T. Princess" then came alongside and took our place.
After steaming for about 12 hours, we were ordered up alongside the Ferry Boat where the Commander gave us orders to turn back and find the Steam Tug "Sun III" and four Sailing Barges, and also keep in contact with him. We sighted the Steam Tug and Sailing Barges off our starboard bow, and went over and took the S.B. "Haste-Away"
ying from S.T. "Sun III" and left him with the other three. Owing to bad visability and the difficulty in keeping the Sailing Barges in tow, we lost contact with our other gugs and the Ferry Boat. After the S.B. "Ada Mary" had broken adrift twice from the "Sun III", I
decided to keep her in my tow, proceeding to our destination with two barges each.
Firemen
At. about 2.40 p.m., when approximately 2 miles north of
Dunkirk (according to the reckoning of the Master of the S.T. "Sun III)
we found a violent air raid in progress, with bombing off our starboard side, during which our own fighting aircraft split up the enemy craft. At the same time we sighted a life boat adrift with about 40 English soldiers aboard and one Naval rating. We picked up
20 soldiers and left the rest aboard the S.T. "Sun III". Things were looking very bad, and upon the advice of an officer in charge of the soldiers, and owing to the fact that we did not know the exact whereabouts of our destination - having lost contact with our
Commander who was abroad the Ferry Boat, we steamed about for an hour and then followed the S.T. "Sun III". About 4.20 p.m. we sighted amother life boat which turned out to be from the destroyer
"Basilisk" which had been sunk in an air raid off Dunkirk Harbour.
There were 12 survivors aboard - 11 sailors and 1 midshipmany whom rated we took abroad. Their boat was then put astern of sailing craft.
r our ed
We again proceeded on our course, and at 5.5 p.m. two British aircraft circled round us and signalled us to set our course for
South. This we did, and the +Sun III" followed. After steaming for a for about 70 minutes, and with the help of the aircraft, we sighted ke a two life boats, and leaving the larger of the two to the S.T. "Sun III'
in the we took from the other 11 Spaniards and 1 Canadian soldier.
ter eing/

DINNCTRK CLAIMS
COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH CLAIMS OF SMALL CRAFT
EMPLOYED IN THE DUNKIRK OPERATIONS. AND SUBSEQUENT EVACUATION
MEETING held at 10.30 a.m. on WEDNESDAY,
24TH JULY, 1940, at the MINISTRY OF
SHIPPING - Room 8021A.
AGENDA:
1.
Minutes of Meeting held on the 10th July.
2.
Matters arising.
3.
Report of Payments for fortnight ending
23rd July 1940.
4. Cases for settlement and discussion on the table:-
Owner or Owners.
(a) "BRITANNIC"
H. and J. Budd.
(b) "COMMODORE"
J. Coleman.
(c) SAILING BARGES -
"SHANNON"
A. J. Peters.
"HASTAWAY"
S. J. Peters.
"ASHINGDON"
"ADA MARY"
"BASILDON"
W. H. Theobald & Co.
"BARTON"
(d) Any other.
5. Any other business.

Committee to deal with claims of small craft employed in the Dunkirk and subsequent operations.
Meeting held at ll.a.m. on Wednesday 31st July 1940
at the Ministry of Shipping. Room 8021.A.
.......
Present:-
Mr. Allen (Chairman)
" Moore
"
Riddell
" Wand
.....
1. Minutes of Meeting held on 24th July were agreed.
2. Matters arising were discussed
(a) "Britannic": Rye Fishery Officer is endeavouring to find a suitable boat.
(b) Sailing Barges:
"Ada
Mary": Agreed to Repair and negotiate settlement.
"Hastaway"
"
"
"
"
"
"
:
"Ashingdon"
"
"
"
"
"
"
:
"Basildon"
"
"
:
have valued.
"Burton"
"
If
:
"
If
"Shannon"
If
"
"
"
:
(c) "Iote": Agreed to invite owner to call and discuss terms of settlement at £1,250 - £1,400.
(d) "Count Dracula": Agreed to obtain valuation from
Messrs Tough's.
3. Report of Payments for week ended 30th July amounting to
£1,541.17.10d was presented and passed.
4. The following Total Loss Cases were discussed:-
(a) "Warrior": Agreed to offer £125 in full and final settlement.
(b) "Rocinante" Agreed to offer £300 in full and final settlement.
(c) "Viewfinder":
"
"
"
£900
"
"
If
It
"
(a) "Beverley":
"
"
"
£425
"
"
"
=
=
5. "Elvin": Claim for wages was deferred until next meeting.
6. Next Meeting fixed for ll.a.m. on Wednesday 7th August, 1940.
his alm 7/8/40.