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.

QUEST
135
-2-
Again we went on our original course, and after approximately
11 hour steaming, another sailing barge broke adrift from #Sun III"
which I also took in tow, arriving off Ramsgate Harbour about 6 a.m.
on the 2nd June.
We signalled the authorities, and were told to lay off and small craft would be sent out for the survivors.
At about 7.30 a.m. I left the three sailing barges off the
Downs and proceeded into the Harbour and awaited orders. At about
8.30 a.m., I was sent out to fetch the Ferry Boat into Harbour as she was disabled. This I did, then tied up andawaited further orders.
At 10.30 a.m. we received orders to stand by to coal and take stores aboard ready for another journey to Dunkirk, but these orders were later cancelled.
We stood by until 8 o'clock on Monday morning, 3rd June, and then received orders to proceed together with the S.T. "CONTEST", acting as Pilot on an Admiralty course to Shoeburyness, arriving there at 6.30 p.m. We received instructions from the Naval Patrol
Boat to proceed to Dagenham Dock, arriving at 9.15 p.m., and after putting gear into Stores I tied up at 9.45 p.m.
( Signed )
Capt. B.P. Mansfield.
) H. Willis (Junr.)
Crewe
C. Sweetlove.
my my
)
A. Campbell.
Driver
W. Nye.
from
Firemen of rated r our wed
, for a ke a in the fter eing/

QUEST
SERTION IN REGISTERED PAPERS
Ext. 2161.
по
CLUB
MOORINGS OFF
HURL
LETTER SENT
WANDSWORTH PARK AND
HURLINGHAM.
LANDING STAGES
1 OCT1940
AND DRY DOCK.
T.09144/S.T.N.6B
POST ROOM
137
4
AD
30th September 1940
Gentlemen,
136
I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 18th September 1940,
29. Burstock Road enclosing report on the Dunkirk
Putney S.
Operations, insofar as your "PRINCE",
"PRINCESS" and "DUKE", took partin
October 5ᵗʰ, 1940.
then these operations, and to thank you for the most interesting information which you have been good enough to supply.
the report operations. which burcular will be drawn up final on these 7144 / STN 6 B.
be of value in compiling the
It is anticipated that this report will
2n
I am, Gentlemen, to a record of the
Your obedient Servant, happenings of (Sgd.) (say I boat MEREDITH. QUEST
with impelf and that this does not friend onew
Lane to as
Director of Sea Transport.
I am. moventheless make very
Messrs. qu Samuel Williams & Sons Ltd., mion escpressed by others
8, Lloyds Avenue, of the E.C.3. finistry of make shipping the effect that such would a
intable pictorial happenings introduction to a film
Lane in mind fontraying che efforts of amateur Yachi men to do the an B.b. in their I.
famer to assist in the ation of from
Dunkink.
I am. at the request of the ministry of shipping. lianing the eational condition of Quest excactly as she arrived back from Deunkink.
The engine is being put back into wonking with them to Dunkirk. He that returned as the on weather Tuesday had and deteriorated we report for our over to C.O. Davies who informed would be us used and he had no further use borrowed no more small We boats obtained our clearance London. paper and, with a services. chart and compass started for one of the worst experiences was of tossed the whole about job like for a a heavy Here sea began was running and and at our 10 little p.m. Tuesday boat night morning we anchored and, after in the cork Swale. but we An made early it start was made on Wednesday being/

QUEST
ORIGIN
FILLING STATION FOR
HURLINGHAM YACHT
CLUB
MOORINGS OFF
PETROL.OIL & WATER.
WANDSWORTH PARK AND
HURLINGHAM.
LANDING STAGES
AND DRY DOCK.
43A DEODAR ROAD
137
impegop
PUTNEY S.W.15
Telephone
PUTNEY 3209
29. Burstock Road
Putney S. W.15.
Hirector of Sia Frans hand.
October 5ᵗʰ 1940.
Diar Sir,
Re burcular letter T.O. 9144 / STN 6 B.
In submitting to you a record of The happenings of my boat "QUEST". with impelf and friend as crew, 2 Lane to confess that this doco not make very eseciting reading. I am. mementheless quickd by the advice and opinion escpressed by others of the ministry of Shipping. to the effect that such
Lappenings would make a suitable pictorial introduction to a film they Lane in mind pontraying the efforts of amateur Jacktomen to do an in their
Dunkink. Lawer to assist in the wasnation of the B. b. 7. from
I am. at the request of the ministry of shipping. lianing the eaternal condition of "Quest"
exactly as she arrived back from Dunkink.
The engine is being put back into working over with them who to Dunkirk. informed us He that returned as the on weather Tuesday further had and deteriorated we use reported for our to C.O. Davies boats would be used and he had no borrowed no services. more small We obtained our clearance paper and, with a chart and compass started for London.
of the worst experiences of tossed the whole about job like for a a
heavy it and at 10 p.m. Tuesday morning and, after
Here sea began was running one and our little boat was night we anchored in the cork Swale. but we An made early start was made on Wednesday being/

139
On the evening of May 30th I arrived home at 6 p.m. being met as usual by the dog to collect the evening paper. Having finished my meal and whilst reading the evening paper a ring came from the front door. My wife answered and found two
Naval Officers armed with their revolvers waiting. The Officers asked for, and my wife called, me.
Although surprised to see the callers I was not astonished, for I had, after reading the news from France, some suspicion of what might be on foot by the Royal Navy.
After identifying myself and giving the assurance that I
was the owner of the M.V. "Quest", the Officers asked if I had a photograph of the vessel. The expression "Just the type of boat for the job" was made after seeing a small snapshot. I
was hereupon handed a paper and requested to consider both myself and "Quest" at the disposal of the Naval Authorities.
I was given, in confidence, a brief outline of the situation and the intentions of the Authorities with the usual Naval advice to "Keep it under your hat".
I was requested to get under way as early as possible with the instruction that if necessary I was to commandeer crew, food and fuel. Any refusal to be met by the showing of the paper to the nearest Police Officer. I mentioned the business on hand to my chum Ted Avery who immediately volunteered to come along with me.
After donning our boating kit and sweaters we went along to the Hurlingham Yacht Club, got "Quest" off her moorings, and brought her alongside the landing stage, where, with the assistance of women members of the Club we unloaded all masts, sails and anything movable, which, as mentioned by the Naval
Officers, would impede numbers of troops scrambling aboard and packing themselves as tightly as cabin space would permit.
Life jackets and Life Buoys were left on board.
While the unloading was in progress I was hailed by a
Naval Pinnace from the river and asked to hurry my departure as things were getting rather desperate. A further Naval
Officer appeared at the Club Jetty again emphasising the necessity for all speed.
After saying Au Revoir to our women folk and others at the
Club we got under way at approx. 8.50 p.m. The tide being against us our speed was not too good, normal speed being only approx. 7 knots. Just below Wandsworth Bridge the Naval
Pinnace came up with us and asked if we were making our maximum speed. We replied this was so but of course we were receiving no help from the tide. The Officer in command thereupon suggested he take us in tow as far as Tower Bridge, by which time we should have the tide under us. As a conversion "Quest"
was never intended to travel at a speed of 12 knots which we did in tow of the Pinnace.
over with them to Dunkirk. He returned on Tuesday and "
to C.O. Davies who informed us that as the weather had deteriorated no more small boats would be used and he had no further use for our services. We obtained our clearance paper and, with a borrowed chart and compass started for London.
Here began one of the worst experiences of the whole job for a heavy sea was running and our little boat was tossed about like a cork but we made it and at 10 p.m. Tuesday night we anchored in the
Swale. An early start was made on Wednesday morning and, after being/

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140
88
We found great difficulty in keeping "Quest" to a true course waked
GQ
Иалат at such speed and feared the steering gear might give way.
NEB
With the assistance of a temporary tiller and Ted Avery holding fast to the wheel we made Tower Bridge without mishap.
We cast off from the Pinnace and proceeded unaccompanied downstream with the parting warning to stop if challenged by the Naval Authorities. We expected many such challenges but received none throughout the journey. With navigation lights burming dim and engine working smoothly we made good progress.
Off Barking we were hailed by another small vessel bent upon the same errand but whose crew, were in the darkness, finding themselves in strange waters. Although making for the same port they were travelling the wrong course, upstream.
They asked if they might tuck in behind, we of course agreed.
The absence of any land lights and marks being unrecognisable in the inky blackness made navigation a tedious business necessitating a continuous look out.
We reached the waters of, and were logged as sighted, by the Naval Control Station, Southend Pier, at 3.40 a.m. We tied up at the Jetty at 4 a.m. We waited here while the
Officer on duty sought instructions for our destination. We received instructions to proceed to Sheerness, O.C. H.M.S.
Wildfire. It was very noticeable to see so many craft in these waters. Vessels of all tonnage and shapes apparently awaiting orders. We saw two "Sun" Tugs going out each having in tow ten small craft, also the arrival from the Oxford district of a number of small flat bottom up-river craft.
We cast off from Southend Pier and were amazed to find the hundreds of vessels lying off to have vanished from sight.
We arrived at Sheerness at approx. 5 a.m. where civilian mechanics came aboard to try the engine, locate petrol,
Water etc., We handed over to the Officer on duty being given a receipt for the vessel. Returning to "Quest" we found signs that a naval crew had taken possession, their arms and ammunition being aboard.
Whilst at Sheerness we witnessed the arrival of several shiploads, including one or two paddle steamers from home waters, of our forces from Dunkirk.
Before saying "Goodbye old girl, do your stuff" we nailed the club burgee to the mast stepping. We left Sheerness having been given free travel warrants back to London, we being termed as Motor Boat ratings.
The last seen of "Quest" was by a rating on board H.M.S.
Galatia when, to use his words," she was proudly flying the
White Ensign with a machine gun mounted on her foredeck."
over with them to Dunkirk. He returned on Tuesday amu we to C.O. Davies who informed us that as the weather had deteriorated no more small boats would be used and he had no further use for our services. We obtained our clearance paper and, with a borrowed chart and compass started for London.
Here began one of the worst experiences of the whole job for a heavy sea was running and our little boat was tossed about like in a cork but we made it and at 10 p.m. Tuesday night we anchored the
Swale. An early start was made on Wednesday morning and, after being/

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0.9144/STN6B.
RECEIVED JAN P.M.
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23rd October, 1940.
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Sir,
1940.
01/16/18
45
150
I have to acknowledge receipt of
"See Hawk".
your letter dated 5th October, 1940
enclosing reports on the Dunkirk pt of to the use to
Operations insofar as yourvessel r.
1940
in giving you the
"QUEST" took part in these operations, and to thank you for the most
CKSILVER
interesting information which you have and to y morning "Ist May, been good enough to supply. It is
Ing sorthy 30 ft. cabin anticipated that this report will be good
River Themes at of value in compiling the final report ated plenty of boats but which will be drawn up on these le in tely volunteered to operations.
will
I am, Sir,
Pier at 1.30 p.m. the
Your obedient Servant,
R.I. Grierson (of ant,
Mr. J.A. Hyde on at
ITH.
Southend in
Director of Sea Transport.
arrived Ramsgate to "Hesard") in cansport mere sent over to
C.L. Hunt Esq., kept by the Naval
29, Burstack Road, en to the ships in the
Putney, eooccasion sent
S.W.15.
at Dest had been bombed and very handy for the leave at
Southend.
left and Mr. Grierson navigation jobs with butwas not
DE.
&
chaboats going % other who knew We the ropes, constantly this engaged one enother and always expected/
On we were told to have we ourselves to and more on picket numbers 01 trawlers, etc for their Cmdrs.
giving them their sailing orders - a job far different to what I
wanted or expected to do but as it seemed to be so greatly appreciat by all concerned, I consoled myself by its apparent usefulness.
On Monday night on one of these runs I again lost my one and only member of the crew who jumped aboard a Dutch Schut and went over with them to Dunkirk. He returned on Tuesday and we reported to C.O. Davies who informed us that as the weather had deteriorated no more small boats would be used and he had no further use for our services. We obtained our clearance paper and, with a borrowed chart and compass started for London.
Here began one of the worst experiences of the whole job for a heavy sea was running and our little boat was tossed about like a cork but we made it and at 10 p.m. Tuesday night we anchored in the
Swale. An early start was made on Wednesday morning and, after being/