TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

3.
"ADVANCE"
Preliminary.
and leaving the boats to be taken over by Naval or other crews.
The (Trades Union?) crew of the passenger launch 'Queen Boadicea'
took advantage of this offer (apparently being more concerned with their 'dues' than with their duty).
NOTE:
The remaining boats which had left Sheerness with us, and had dropped out during the night, arrived at intervals during the morning; except one which had been sunk in collision; her crew, however, had been picked up and were redistributed.
0645 hrs. Fine clear morning, no wind. Slipped and proceeded
29/5
in company with other boats, again following Leader as No. Two.
Led Convoy for a short time, while Leader was investigating a straggler with carburettor trouble.
9
Nothing else of note, so we were able to get a little sleep on turns, and dry clothing in the sun.
0900 hrs. Found old hacksaw blade in a locker and so were able to open tin of beef, and make sandwiches.
"ADVANCE"
DUNKIRK.
29 May. 1130 hrs. Realised that cloud-bank observed ahead was actually smoke from burning town.
1200 hrs. Fairly close in, turned East, parallel with Coast line.
1230 hrs. Approaching Dunkirk. Two enemy aircraft believed to be J.U.87's dived on convoy and machine gunned it. No casualties or important damage noticed, but 'Advance' signal mast carried away.
(Apparently by under-carriage of second machine).
NOTE:
A good deal of wreckage about, also sunken ships and crashed aeroplanes. A lot of firing going on. Passed a moored hulk, flying
French flag and mounting several AA-guns, firing a good deal at no very apparent target.
Saw aeroplane (unidentified) dive into sea and explode, some distance out.
Saw what appeared to be several fires on the beach. (Was later told that they were exhausts of torpedoes from a British Destroyer, set on fire during the morning.)
in their pockets was
The medical 120 men, whom they transferred **** to a on attention.
lcue or a that day's day, so they Daylight returned prevented to England, them reaching Dunkirk but were rest. Following this they again and were allowed to and England. bombing, unable there to were remove none any on troops the beach, as, owing went so they to to shelling Dunkirk returned

DUNKIRK CLAIMS COMMITTEE.
205
given sailing directions and told to join a convoy which had left an hour previously with "Queen Boadicea"
and "Queen of the Thames". Before leaving, the Officer in charge kindly agreed to send telegrams to our respective wives that we would not be home for a day or two.
We set off at full speed and enquired of the Nore Lightship if they had seen the convoy, but without success, so
Horse Gore and South Channels we proceeded via the Cant. Four Fathoms/ and passed a convoy of about six vessels, but they were bound for Ramsgate.
We arrived off Margate without having seen our convoy and as our compass has not been adjusted and could not be relied upon, we reported at Margate to Commander
Stanslet, the Naval Officer in charge, who instructed us to proceed to Ramsgate. About 6 p.m. we arrived at
Ramsgate and reported to the Officer in charge, and were supplied with steel helmets and life belts, and were instructed to join a convoy leaving Ramsgate the following day; having no facilities for sleeping on board, we stayed the night at an Hotel adjoining the harbour.
On Thursday the 30th May, before we left Ramsgate a number of Naval Ratings whose boats had broken down were endeavouring to obtain berths as additional crews on boats which were leaving for Dunkirk, so we consented to take with us a man called McPherson who, I understood, had once been in the Naval Air Force and was a very useful man. At 6.45 p.m. on the same day we joined a convoy of ten craft headed by "Bonny Heather" all towing ship's boats, and proceeded on a coursefor Dunkirk.
At 8 p.m. the engine started to falter, the cause obviously being a failure of the petrol supply. I stopped the engine and disconnected the petrol pipes and endeavoured to clear the obstruction, and had the engine going again in about 25 minutes.
-2-

DUNKIRK EVACUATION
CLAIMS OUTSTANDING:- "TOTAL LOSS"
AS AT 10-10-41
Name of
File No.
Claim.
Remarks & Action
Vessel.
Taken.
8
EMPRESS
Negotiations continuing and
QUEEN OF
mm
T.M. 3716/40
£2,250
}
awaiting letters of
ENGLAND
£1,750
administration.
NEMO IV
T.M. 3889/40
£4,500
Offered £1,028 less £250
already advanced on account.
Case may go to Tribunal.
NEW WHITE
$3,000
Offer of £1,325 made,
HEATHER
T.M. 3899/40
awaiting reply.
Lifeboats
FURNESS WITHY
T.M. 7508/40
£459.3.4d.
& CO. LTD.
Total Loss (3)
Under consideration.
& Equipment
Doubt as to whether these
W.D. INGLIS
T.M. 5094/40
£321.18.-d.
were used for Dunkirk
& S.J. MILLS
evacuation.
BLUE STAR LINE
.12534/40
£1454.15.-(9)
Obtaining more details.
CLAIMS OUTSTANDING OTHER THAN "TOTAL LOSS"
9:
AS AT 10-10-41
QUEEN BOADICEA
T.M. 3718/40
Repairs
Offer refused. Requires replacement of engine.
Negotiations continuing.
WHITEWATER
T.O. 9364/40
Repairs
L.A. Robinson's estimate of cost of repairs not accepted by owner. Negotiations continuing.
BLUE STAR LINE
M.12534/40
£1665.5.
Obtaining further details.
LTD.
Repairs equipment and labour expenses.
"S
"Si,
Lifeboats.
Involved with Netherlands Commission from whom we have not
This the been able to get a clear statement.
followed up. Mt.

JR/Ris
DUNKIRK EVACUATION.
Claims Outstanding (other than TOTAL LOSS).
Name of
File No.
Claim.
Remarks & Action vessel.
taken.
BLUEBIRD
T.M. 4136/40
£99.17.0d
Awaiting T.619
+ Hire
EILEEN
T.M. 8435/40
Hire £3
Awaiting report of local payments.
FERRY KING
T.M. 8438/40
Hire
Awaiting claim &
T.619.
FOLKESTONE
BELLE
T.0.9201/40
Repairs &
Offer made.
Compensation for lost engine.
QUEEN
BOADICEA.
T.M.3718/40
Repairs.
Awaiting reply to offer.
RAUMA
T.M.5438/40
Repairs.
Awaiting claim.
TRUE BELLE
T.M.8436/40
Hire.
Awaiting report of local payments.
WHITEWATER.
T.0.9364/40
Repairs.
L.A. Robinson's estimate of cost of repairs not accepted by owner.
MOTOR BARGES.
FERROCRETE.
T.O.7976/40)
MOLLOU
T.0.9424/40)
Awaiting rate of hire
MOUNT
T.0.9125/40)
Hire for M. Barges to be
OLIVE MAY
T.0.8532/40)
agreed with owners.
PUDGE
T.O.7764/40)
SHERFIELD
SHAWFORD
T.O.9423/40.
LIFEBOATS.
Involved with Netherlands Commission from whom we have not been able to get a clear statement.