TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

QUEST
PRINCE
HO
Ext. 2161.
PRINCESS
LETTER SEN
DUKE
T.09144/S.T.N.6.B
1 OCT1940
POST ROOM
4
132
30th September 1940.
Sir,
130
I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23rd September 1940, enclosing report on the Dunkirk
Operations insofar as your "PEGGY IV"
am at 10 a.m. for took part in these operations and to cked up a pilot and thank you for the information which you
1. We arrived at Southend have been good enough to supply. It is
Ramsgate. On our way anticipated that this report will be of ling barge "Asnington"
value in compiling the final report
5 p.m., and entered the which operations. will be drawn up on these arge "Snowdon" from the e, moored her, and ran back
I am, Sir, our Captain's
Your obedient Servant, urday, 1st June, and ded stores and gear.
the names that icking up the train ferry this will eeded to Dunkirk. We had that
P.
MEREDITH, you
1 the Commander of the rse and tow back to
Yours faithfully
Director of Sea Transport.
5 back at Ramsgate at 7.30
F. Bridge, Esq., SONS LTD.
'Fishbourne" to and from
1,41,15,
6, High Street, rd the S.T. "Princess" were
Leigh-on-Sea.
SEP
10
gate Harbour awaiting orders.
Director.
ed for 6 a.m., and we left eded to the Downs, picking
We arrived at Southend at iham, where we arrived at
Encl.
(signed)
Captain.
Mate.
S.Tall.
F. Soper.
G. Johnson.
CRewe.
T. Scott.
F. Tyson.
at ed fo e
te:
in

QUEST
EJKGYBS
TELEPHONE & TELEGRAMS ROYAL 3171.
WILLIAMS & SONS LTD.
PRINCE
8. LLOYDS AVENUE.
PRINCESS
AND AT
LONDON, E.C. 3.
SENHAM DOCK.
ESSEX.
18th September, 194. 0
DUKE
TELEPHONE RAINHAM 580.
The Director a of Sea Transport
131
132
Ministry of Shipping (H.O.),
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square, W.1.
m at 10 a.m. for
Dear Sir, ked up a pilot and
1. We arrived at Southend
We are in receipt of your letter,
Ramsgate. On our way reference T.0.9144/STN.6B, regarding ling barge "Asnington"
information of the part played by our p.m., and entered the tugs "PRINCESS", "PRINCE" and "DUKE" in arge "Snowdon" from the the evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk.
, moored her, and ran back
We enclose herewith copies of our Captain's statements, together with irday, 1st June, and the names of the crews. We trust that led stores and gear.
this will contain all the information cking up the train ferry that you require.
eeded to Dunkirk. We had
1 the Commander of the se and tow back to
STATE 15 state 10 & 61
Yours faithfully, back at Ramsgate at 7.30
SAMUEL WILLIAMS & SONS LTD.
Fishbourne" to and from rd the S.T. "Princess" were gate Harbour awaiting orders.
S
Director.
BI
ed for 6 a.m., and we left eded to the Downs, picking
We arrived at Southend at
Encl.
iham, where we arrived at
Captain.
Mate.
S.Tall.
F. Soper.
G. Johnson.
T. Scott.
.....
CRewe.
F. Tyson.

S.T. "PRINCESS".
132
Sirs,
On Friday, 31st May, we left Dagenham at 10 a.m. for
Gravesend, arriving at 11.30 a.m. We picked up a pilot and left Gravesend at 11.40 a.m. for Southend. We arrived at Southend at 1 p.m., leaving again at 1.35 p.m. for Ramsgate. On our way we assisted the S.T. "DUKE" to tow the sailing barge "Asnington"
to Ramsgate. We arrived at Ramsgate at 6 p.m., and entered the
Harbour at 6.45 p.m. We then towed the barge "Snowdon" from the east side of the harbour to the west side, moored her, and ran back to the ast side for further orders.
Steam was ordered for 5 a.m. on Saturday, 1st June, and acting upon instructions received we loaded stores and gear.
At 9.30 a.m. we left Ramsgate Harbour, picking up the train ferry
"Fishbourne". Taking her in tow we proceeded to Dunkirk. We had arrived at about 2 miles off Dunkirk when the Commander of the
"Fishbourne" ordered us to alter the course and tow back to
Ramsg te Harbour, which we did,, arriving back at Ramsgate at 7.30
a.m. on the 2nd June. While towing the "Fishbourne" to and from
Dunkirk, all the ropes which we had aboard the S.T. "Princess" were broken.
On Sunday, 2nd June we were in Ramsgate Harbour awaiting orders.
On Monday, 3rd June steam was ordered for 6 a.m., and we left
Ramsgate Harbour at 11.15 a.m. We proceeded to the Downs, picking up s.t. "Contest" as escort to Southend. We arrived at Southend at
6.45 p.m., cleared and proceeded to Dagenham, where we arrived at
9.30 p.m.
(signed)
J.Wallis, Captain.
F.Berry, Mate.
S.Tall.
F. Soper.
G. Johnson.
CRewe.
T. Scott.
F. Tyson.
a ed f
e te eir

DUEST
P33
S.T. "PRINCE"
10th June, 1940.
Sirs,
On Friday, 31st May we 10 left Dagenham at about 10 a.m., for
Gravesend and arrived at 11.15 a.m. We picked up a pilot and then proceeded to Southend where we arrived at about 12.30 p.m. Instructions were received to tow the sailing barge "Bassildon", to Ramsgate.
Leaving Southend 1.30 p.m., we arrived at Ramsgate Harbour at about 6.30 p.m. Orders were given by the Naval Officer to take her off in the Downs, drop anchor and leave her, and proceed in harbour for further orders. We assisted craft in the Harbour - trawlers, etc., and shifted stores and barge. We had to stay on board while in the Harbour and wait for orders.
by at
At 5 a.m. on Saturday, 1st June, I had orders to get stores and gear abaord, together with two naval ratings, and to assist tow the "Fishbourne" - a Portsmouth (Isle of Wight) ferryboard - over to Dunkirk. Taking the "Fishbourne" in tow, we left Ramsgate
Harbour about 9. 30 a.m. We towed her until 11 p.m., when we were
2 miles offDunkirk. Her Commander then told us to turn roun and get away home as soon as possible as enemy aircraft were about.
We arrived off Ramsgate Harbour at about 7.30 a.m. on Sunday, 2nd
June, and proceeded into Harbour to await orders. I had instructions to stand by, as they expected we were going over to Dunkirk again. and cook our place.
On Monday, 3rd June, steam was ordered for 6.a.m. and we told to stand by. After shifting sailing barges, etc. in Harbour, we received orders to proceed home. We left Ramsgate Harbour Sticeep about 11.15 a.m., and proceeded to the downs. We picked up the
Gravesend tug #Contest* who escorted us up to Southend. After
9.30 clearing at Southend III I proceeded up to Dagenham, arriving at CO
you bed p.m. and the difficulty in the Sailing Barges in tow, we lost contact with our other and the Ferry Bost.
the Mary" had the "Sun 1714, I
decided to keep her my COW, H. Mansfield. Mate.
in Signed ) Capt. J. Benson. with two barges each.
G. Young.
H. Mansfield. Hands
Dunkirk (socording to the reckoning W. Mance. of the S.T. "Sun
At about 2.40 p.m., when approxim board side, during which our own George. shlit up the
WO Cound a violent air raid in progr J. Hardy. Stokers. our enemy craft. At the same time we sighted a life boat adrift with about 40 English soldiers aboard and one Navel rating. We picked to
20 soldiers and left the rest aboard the S.T. *Sun III". Things
Looking very bad, and upon the advice of an officer in charge of the soldiers, and owing to the fact that us did not know the executive shereabouts of our destination having lost contact with our
Commander who VIRB abroad the Ferry Bost, we steamed about for an hour and then followed the "Sun III". About 4.20 R.M. 10
sighted smother life boat which turned out to be from the destroyer
"Hasilisa" which had been sunk in an air raid off Dunicine
There WILLIAM 12 survivors aboard 11 sailors and 1 interesta rat
We took abroad. Their boat was then put adtorn or suffing anst.
r C
ed
We sysin proceeded on our sourse, and at 5+5 two British aircraft circled come us and mighalled CLS to wes not course for
Bouth. This 410, AND the followed. After fo for about TO minutes, was with of the accordes, ke two life busts, und X the of the to the in we book Fena who 14 Canadian te:
ein

(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/