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Tuesday June I940 a police message arrived asking me to ring Commander Bowles Southend Naval Control.
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Several questions were asked as to condition of Motor
Vessel "Shamrock". She was in perfect condition and Fuel Tanks full, having just been passed by the Ministry of Shipping for the carrying of passengers on short trips from Canvey beach.
Can you make the South Downs he asked, where is that
Sir I replied, just off Deal and Dover. I agreed to try, and upon instructions proceeded to take on board 30 Gallons Fuel in
5 Gallons containers, sufficient food and water for four days, and discard the Buoyant apparatus which are always carried.
Roy Brown aged I8 of Canvey Island answered my request by turning up at dawn with food and kit, we left with Donald my 29/-
youngest son to see us off.
On reaching Southend Naval Control we were informed the journey was to Dunkirk and a further IO Gallons of petrol was provided. Roy Brown at this stage was given an opportunity to stay behind but he declined and expressed his desire to accompany me. A requisition note was handed to me also a Special Route for Small Craft Thames to Dunkirk. reading:- you are to proceed at your utmost speed direct to the beaches eastward of Dunkirk, and course etc; before leaving I regret to note with displeasure four Skippers of upper Thames passenger Vessels said No when asked if they could make Dunkirk, although their bunkers were full and a heap of Fuel on deck they were immediately ordered to take their
Vessels with the letter "M" on their funnels to Sheerness presumably to be taken over by Naval Units.
Our four little crafts set off in Convoy, The Princess
Maud Manned by Naval Ratings, The Canvey Queen by I Naval Rating and I Civillian, The Queen of England by 3 Civilians, The
Shamrock by myself and Roy Brown, when off Shoeburyness the
Canvey Queen received Engine trouble and we took her in fow almost to Mangate when she was able to proceed under her own power and remain SO.
It was about 6 miles off Margate we sighted a British
Fighter Aircraft about 50 feet above the water making a desperate bid to reach our shores, smoke pouring from its Engine as it wobbled and whizzed by us, we could only look and wish him silently a happy landing. The Maud called me alongside she was taking water rather badly and borrowed and kept my Bilge Pump she also seemed to have difficulty in keeping his proper course in spite of having both the Canvey Queen's Compass and my own on board.
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Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few troops, and WE proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads off the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide.
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being

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Bombs were falling rather thick and heavy making Vivid reen flashes and showers of sparks which must be seen to be elieved.
Our search for the other two convoy mates continued, we found the Canvey Queen only and took her in tow, her engine had stopped. I came close to a burning troop ship and dropped Anchor thinking the bonbers would not trouble to bomb her again, I was right but the continuous explosions on board made rather an uncomfortable shelter.
Dawn soon came we stared and stared at what looked like thousands of sticks on the beach and were amazed to see them turn into moving masses of humanity. I thought quickly of going in picking up 70 to 80 and clearing off, with the sun behind me I
calculated I should find some East Coast town. We got our freight so did the Canvey Queen when I realised it would be selfish to clear off when several destroyers and large vessels were waiting in deep water to be fed by small craft, so I decided what our job was to be.
We could seat 60 men and with those standing we had about
80 weary and starving British Troops some without boots some only in their pants but enough life left in them to clamber on board the
Destroyers with the kind hand of every available seaman.
Again and again we brought our cargo to this ship until she was full, the Canvey Queen and the Maud were doing likewise.
The Destroyers moved off whilst we were still made fast and we were carried to a very awkward position under her stern and saved from anything more serious by the quick work of an A.B.
who set us adrift.
By this time I was numb to anything else that was taking place, Aeroplanes, Guns, and flames it was not bravery but just a will to snatch those boys away from the hell which might overtake them at any time.
Our next Load nearly all north county lads had an officer a captain I believe, who demanded that his men be taken to a
Destroyer and not a Troopship as I had been ordered. I regret having to tell him to shut up but having done so the whole crowd were silent and well behaved and were put aboard the Troopship.
Navigation was extreemly difficult owing to the various wreckage upturned boats floating Torpedos and soldiers in the water trying to be sailors for the first time, they paddled their collapsable little boats out to me with the Butts of thrir rifles and many shouted that they were sinking, we could not help them, I was in shore as close as I dare, stop shouting and save your breath and bail out with your steel helmets was the only command suitable for the occasion scores offered me cash and personal belongings which I
refused saying my name is Barrell Canvey Island send me a poatcard
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Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few troop
WE and proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads off the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide.
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being

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you et home alright, they have all forgotten, no wonder.
Frantically we kept running in front of the large red rick building which will be familiar to thousands, the remains of he white hot Crested Eagle still smouldering just eastward and still bey marched column after column through the gaps in the sand dunes.
Whilst serving the Destroyer H.M.S. 4.40 I could not get a volunteer from the soldiers to take the 3 or 4 ships life boats back to the shore "They were all done up".
I ordered Roy Brown to do so he did this without hesitation and continued this work for a considerable time, while his place on the Shamrock was taken over by a seaman lent to me by the Destroyer
Commander. The Princess Maud ventured in too close and was aground, scores waded out and climbed on board her but it was obvious she was to be another souvenir for Fritz.
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I was ordered by an officer of this Destroyer not to bring anymore wounded but my very next trip found me helping aboard a badly wounded young lad, for this I was shouted at by the same
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officer my reply was a rude army one which could not be withdrawn.
The officer was right, there was no room for medical attention on his ship, burp what could you do.
I took in tow 3 large Carley Floats one behind the other these were filled to capacity about 50 men in each standing up to their waists in water in the net inside.
My craft was well loaded too, we were just making for our
Destroyer when I was brought to a standstill, my ungine stopped the propeller had fouled, I believe a human @bstruction. There were many in the shallow water. I signalled the Canvey Queen to take me in tow and with a struggle against the tide she got us along side and every man got aboard o.k. one of them took my revolver from under my nose; its a way they have in the army. Naval men came down and tried to free the obstruction without success. I was too weak to dive under the thick black oil which surrounded us, so rather than be left sitting on our useless craft I asked to be taken on H. S. ship
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this was the last straw, having to leave my vessel which constituted ay life savings.
the followed fire expinguishers were taken on the Destroyer. Roy Brown
My spare fuel was taken off by a small Naval motor boat, one more glance at the beach.
me up quickly on board as she was about to leave. I took up youing prayed.
Sat down beneath a gun with my hands over my face and you
These notes are true and unpolished. allanBarrell
La ranna
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few
WE and proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more load the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were bei