TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

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/

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
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