TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

Ho
MINNE DOS
st. 2161.
98
Road
99
f.09144/s.T.N.6B
2nd October 1940.
I.W.
9ᵗʰ 1940
Sir,
I letter dated 26th September 1940, have to acknowledge receipt of rk.
your enclosing report on the Dunkirk
Operations insofar as your vessel
"MERMAIDEN" took part in these and to you for the operations, information which you
REGIST 17 6 RECEIVED OCT 11/16/18 x enough this report will be of will to supply. It value in that compiling the final report which be drawn up on these operations.
of B.E.F.
big to submit the
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant, uthampton on
May
June by S. Riding lias ciscumotances
Director of Sea Transport.
U separate sheet
Lieut. Cdr. P.M. Felleul, R.N., sotion to duty b
H.M.S. "Watchful", a
Great Yarmouth.
into considerations c
an go
Of
7 White ear par
The for owners of Minnedosa him
(the
Med 6. 7 White & ( poethumour) Ao. Ridina goin tem what place accon in ratings to
Ho we got out favoured 30th with with foresail fresh and mizzen of Portsmouth set, and Harbour motor. about 3.0.p.m. on setting the heavy a Mainsail wind, and so Jib the for Naval & good Ratings run Outside got down. busy we in were assisting May was overhead, so we keep ship going all night, when evening we heard of 30th planes and I
preparing We were making to quite a good headway by the close range. As But many times that night planes Sails, while quit still favoured us. stopped the Motor and relied on our many wj with Sails gunfire was heard, and planes above we were and occasionally daylight broke we could see where came in motive, lowered when it seemed just for the purpose the wind failed seemed to b to near Dover, and to get quickly by there us. So we cont and Sails. The Motor was our only chance now in this strong us, SU
contrary wind.
So with the assistance of the Seamen, I tried starting, but fou she was cold, and that the cold paraffin had given me a wet plug.
had to re-start on petrol and change a plug. I had taken some time to localise our difficulty and to remedy it, that I felt very relieved when she started, as without power, we might very well have been blown
P.T.O

MINNE DOS
/. Milton Road
99
ate
Cours. I.W.
Director of Sea Transport
Oct. 9ᵗʰ 1940
Ministry of Shipping, (H.O.)
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
London, W.I.
T.O. 9144/STN. 6B.
Dear Sirs,
REGIST 17 RECEIVED OCT Hilliams A
M.S.B" Minnedosa - Evacuation of B.E.F.
MF Riding and myself beg to submit the enclosed details of the voyage from Southampton S. on the Mate Engineer aged 19 under peculiar
May 29 the to Nortsmouth June made by incumotances Riding which I submit for your approbation on separate to sheet
&
under such incumstances, might be taken considerations, hoping that the boys initiative and devotion into duty o
Having the honour to be, ai your humble servant,
50
E. F White
Of ea pa:
The for ownere of Minnedosa hin
Meso 6. 7 White & Ab. poethumour (Riding
(th goi tem wha plac acco
111
ratings to favoured 30th L. with foresail we got and out mizzen of Portsmouth set, and Harbour motor. about 3.0.p.m. on May setting the with a fresh wind, so the Naval Ratings Outside got busy we in were assisting heavy Mainsail and Jib for & good run down.
We were making quite a good headway by the evening of 30th was overhead, preparing to keep ship going all night, when we heard planes and I
close favoured us. But many times that night planes came in quij still so we stopped the Motor and relied on our Sails, many while wj range. As daylight broke we could see where we were and occasionally gunfire was heard, and planes above us. So we cont with Sails to near Dover, and to get quickly by there seemed to b motive, when it seemed just for the purpose the wind failed us, SU
and contrary wind.
lowered Sails. The Motor was our only chance now in this strong
So with the assistance of the Seamen, I tried starting, but fou she was cold, and that the cold paraffin had given me a wet plug.
had to re-start on petrol and change a plug. I had taken some time to localise our difficulty and to remedy it, that I felt very relieved when she started, as without power, we might very well have been blown
P.T.O

Cericumstances attending the use of Munnidosa May 1940 June 6
Minnedosa was discharging scrap ison at meas Pollock &
Brown's Whatf at nostham, Southampton on May 29 the
100
The Master, W. Riding, was under the doctor and had lift the vessel the previous day in charge of his son, Sidney Riding aged 19
to proceed with unloading, while he (W. Riding had to go the to semoval of discased bone roulling from an accident to hand rk.
East Cowes Hoopital for some days as an in patient for the some weeks before
The mate, G. absook was also involved in a serious with the winch, was a hospital case at Ryde for some Ak was accident on may 2nd previously while getting out cargo weeks at Rewpost with contucions of the head of body and a nd broken ankle the away from It two was usual under these duties uicumstances from May 2 that to the Sept. Mastes, Y Riding made the latter was the only one ow boards to it accept the order, & himself consequently artangements for his son Sudney Riding to selieve humself 9 mate, and go with the ship on May 29
W. Riding lost his mother on or about July 1st and his father
B
3 weeks later very suddenly
Both Mastis and Malb were very cotty at not being able to go
1
1
with this ship on this occasion due to the above causes. that & but were pleased to know that she did so well such and Riding to was able to take charge in imergency at ah early ago, b
a1
help the Havy carry out their work.
ca as owners, on behalf of my lato partnes MF a I Rading and his family, I would thank you for giving the above above all facts an got
Off difficulties your we founds surselve in, to be of use is Havy for kind consideration in that we were pleased the ear par these purposes. yours faithfully
The him for Quinere Minnedosa," White & Riding)
(tho
For Macter of Crew
E. 7. White goin tem hs. Riding extra hand what place accom
G Alrooh mate s. Riding ratings to
H
30th favoured with with foresail we got and out mizzen of Portsmouth set, and Harbour motor. about Outside 3.0.p.m. on May setting the heavy a fresh Mainsail wind, and so Jib the Naval for & good Ratings run got down. busy we in were assisting was overhead, preparing to keep ship going all night, when we heard 30th planes and I
We were making quite a good headway by the evening of still favoured so we stopped the Motor and relied on our Sails, many while wj close us. But many times that night planes in qui occasionally gunfire was heard, and planes above us. So cont range. As daylight broke we could see where we came were and with Sails to near Dover, and to get quickly by there seemed we to b motive, when it seemed just for the purpose the wind failed us, S
and contrary wind.
lowered Sails. The Motor was our only chance now in this strong
So with the assistance of the Seamen, I tried starting, but fou she was cold, and that the cold paraffin had given me a wet plug.
had to re-start on petrol and change a plug. I had taken some time to localise our difficulty and to remedy it, that I felt very relieved when she started, as without power, we might very well have been blown
P.T.O

101
"Minnedosa" Voyage to Dunkirk May - June, 1940.
The following is a brief account of what happened in the Voyage of
M.S.B. Minnedosa from Southampton down the Channel to Ramsgate from which we were used for the disembarkation of our troops from Dunkirk.
(Slender details from the Mate-Engineer aged 19 who was the only member of our crew able to sail with her on account of Skipper W.
Riding being in hospital with crushed finger, and Mate G. Abrook attending doctor with broken ankle).
Taken in collaboration with S. Riding, the Mate Engineer.
Our vessel the M.S.B. "Minnedosa" is a Thames Sailing Barge, fitted with a Kelvin Ricardo Motor as auxiliary power, giving her a speed of 5 knots approx., and our usual trading runs are between the
Isle of Wight and the Mainland with coal, coke or scrap iron freights.
My father had left me in charge of unloading one of these freights
(scrap iron) at a Southampton Quay on May 29th, to go to hospital for the removal of some injured bone in a crushed finger he had got some weeks before.
Accordingly, when some Officials arrived with orders that Ship was wanted on urgent Government work, I stated the case, they asked me would I go. I rang up to my home and told Mother I was going, hoping to be back soon, trusting to luck.
I had some experience of being on my own in small sailing craft, but nothing like this before. Stating the case to the Officer, he arranged for some Dockyard men from Portsmouth to assist me to unload cargo, and get vessel to Portsmouth by the next morning (30th).
I ran the Motor and took the wheel, they assisted in the ropes and getting up sails, and mooring up at the Dockyard on arrival. We got on well together and it is surprising what these men can do. The
Officer got 6 Naval Ratings aboard with their kits. Morning and early afternoon were taken up by them bundling in provisions, stores, paraffin, petrol, lubricating oil, - it looked to be for a long voyage.
The Officer was making sure of everything, for a few questions from him soon put him at ease, but I felt a little worse off for not knowing
(though I might have surmised) where we were going to, or what we were going to do. I felt I might be in for a hot time, and my job as pro tem for the Skipper (Father) and Mate to be quite a "swizzle", and what did it mean with the disciplined seamen on board, seemingly in place of them. (The Officer chose some 6 good Naval ratings to accompany him).
However, we got out of Portsmouth Harbour about 3.0.p.m. on May
30th with foresail and mizzen set, and motor. Outside we were favoured with a fresh wind, so the Naval Ratings got busy in assisting setting the heavy Mainsail and Jib for & good run down.
We were making quite a good headway by the evening of 30th and I
was preparing to keep ship going all night, when we heard many planes overhead, so we stopped the Motor and relied on our Sails, while wj still favoured us. But many times that night planes came in quit close range. As daylight broke we could see where we were and occasionally gunfire was heard, and planes above us. So we cont with Sails to near Dover, and to get quickly by there seemed to b motive, when it seemed just for the purpose the wind failed us, S
lowered Sails. The Motor was our only chance now in this strong and contrary wind.
So with the assistance of the Seamen, I tried starting, but fou she was cold, and that the cold paraffin had given me a wet plug.
had to re-start on petrol and change a plug. I had taken some time to localise our difficulty and to remedy it, that I felt very relieved when she started, as without power, we might very well have been blown
P.T.O