TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

BONNIE HEATHER
Cable Address:-
CREEK HOUSE
ARZOC LONDON
SHEPPERTON
Telephone:-
MIDDLESEX
WALTON ON THAMES 364
26th September, 1940.
The Director of Sea Transport,
Ministry of Shipping (H.O.),
19
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
W.1.
RECEIVED
the
Dear Sir,
18/12/11
In reply to your circular headed T.0.9144/STN.6B, I
have been fortunate enough to receive from Lieut. Charles
Waterland Read, D.S.C., R.N.R., who was in charge of my boat
BONNY HEATHER at Dunkirk a very interesting account of his activities in this connection, and I presume that I am entitled, without his permission, since it is difficult to get in touch with him, to send you on a copy of the relevant parts of his letter for the purpose you indicate.
Hape
In view of the remarks contained in this letter and the fact that the boat is still retained by your Ministry, I am wondering whether it would not be possible to have the Ministry take over the ship outright and compensate me for its approximate value.
You will appreciate that, being paid the sum of £9. a month for the hire of it (of which I have so far received one month) is not entirely adequate in view of the fact that I have still to pay the balance of an account of nearly £50. spent on the boat to put it into commission at the beginning of the season, apart from the original cost of the boat itself.
Any suggestions that you would care to make as to the quarters to whom I should address any representations on these lines would be greatly appreciated.
We
Yours truly, headers body Twousd ust suggest ther unless I meded the money - to pay Toures!
currey
VA
back that to few town of them very masing felt regretfully able arrangements to by sign train. with on for employers, a month and etc. wont so able seemed The to warn my partners to playing miss in boats any case, for a month and I had with the or
Le late in the afternoon Dockyard and interviewing mumorous people on and toured but there Sheerness was some difficulty that in I should getting be signed away for a bith bue The to accurate be put idea off, what so appealed the job by to was about and was 17.00 quite had determined formed a TW that was the supervising basin. the fuel and victualling the Commodore of himself be with few
Within half-an-hour of explaining the motor to night's

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On the way back to England we avoided a drifting mine, but the two Officers' pistols and the A.A.Lewis guns were unable to pop it,so we informed another ship that was outward bound and it was duly popped in due course.
The troops on board Laudania evinced no interest whatsoever in the nor the popping of it, it was first sighted on our starboard buby and as the tide was running that way we sheered off and passed behind it, the troops evidently regarded this as entirely a naval matter and I do not think any of them oven got up to see what happened to it.
40
the whole course
Off the Foreland we enquired of the local Policeman, a from Ramsgate like to gentleman in his shirt-sãeeves on a drifter, as to which port
Dunkink was would take us and were sent to Margate. Three other ships and a
main street in two destroyers also had loads for Margate and we eventually a busy town.
tied up outside two destroyers and landed the whole issue haffer, several across each ether about 17.30 may.
abreast joing each
I reported to the Naval Office with my crew of two and we way.
were promptly put in a taxi and sent back to our own port at
Ramsgate, a matter of a few minutes which might have been a dreary journey by train. As throughout, there was no red tape in the Navy at all, they had ready everything that was necessary and our general instructions were that if we were in any sort of trouble we could close any ship we saw as it would be one of ours.
at
On arrival at Ramsgate I reported to the Commander of the
Naval Office and within five minutes my crew had been taken off to the temporary barracks established by the Harbour and I was on my way to getting a bed for the night inaan Hotel.
On Saturday, 1st June, I reported at Pier Head about09.
and asked for another boat and before lunch time had taken over one which had only been brought into Ramsgate that morning and put her into commission with a new crew. This boat was an old german Admiral's barge from the last war, to which the only conversion of any importance seemed to be that the steam engine had been taken out and a petrol engine substituted, a dummy funnel being fitted where the original funnel existed. The engine was a fourcylinder engine with cylinders of enormous size, it had no self-starter and worked with a clutch, being in fact a lorry engine. The engine was a brute to start and the gear lever required a strong man to put it into any position, but the engine was started and run over for a few minutes by the man who stated that he had brought the ship round from the Thames and he assured me that it was good for 12 knots without undue pressing.
my new crew had
As we were all anxious to go over again, but I did not relish not yet been over the idea of being towed any more, the prospect of being able to in fact.
go over under my own steam at 12 knots and so make the journey in about six hours each way was very welcome, and I decided that on this occasion we would do what most of the larger motor boats had been doing, namely run over under our own steam, pick up a boat-load and come back with them. I was informed that the new boat only drew 3'2" so that it would be quite sible for the troops to get to the boat without swimming. This still did not strike me as being a very efficient method of getting the troops off but I felt that some real work had been done with Constant
Nymph and I had been informed that morning that 187, were already off so that I felt justified in indulging in something boat could more in the nature of & pienic, especially as cigarettes and have taken 35
other little comforts had been provided on the boat by the mou I should owner for the rescued troops. LWe had already victualled the boat and obtained our water supplies and directly after lunch we cast off to go across the Harbour and get petrol, having as
& quite unauthorised passenger an old member of my own Club who

-6-
was down there as correspondent for a well-known paper and who wanted to see the show for himself. This was about the only effort made by this wretched boat in the Government service, it had a konked out within a few yards of leaving moorings and refused to eat it fire so I had to anchor to prevent drifting #Pen other ships and ABet a. rowing boat to come out and fetch me off so that I
wer, of course could report the trouble. Within an hour, a good deal less I
should say, we had an Engineer-Lieutenant Commander, ReNoV.R., an Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, R.N., two Petty Officers Artificers and one leading Artificer, investigating the question of our engine trouble.
One not unimportant item was that the magneto was simply dripping away, and here I rather suspect the activities of my stoker rating who was the senior again of my crew, who had been using the oil can I know, but he seemed to be quite familiar with petrol engines and I certainly did not see trying to oil the magneto, but I noticed a change of expression on his face when the Mag. was tached and foynd to be actually oozing oil. This, however, was not the only trouble and it is a mystery to me that that boat was ever brought round to Ramsgate from the Thames as the experts worked on her until 20.00 that night, by which time they had succeeded in getting a spark, and we got the engine running again. We raised anchor and tarted to take her for a trial run round the harbour. This went all right so long as we were going dead slow but on getting a clear space between two ships at anchor and opening throttle, there was no increase in speed but a most terrible noise from the clutch which was obviously slipping badly. The Engineer-Lieutenart
Commanded who was with me on the little bridge was very amused, he had identified the engine on sight as a very old Camel Lorry engine converted and I think he realised that all my efforts at joggling the clutch lever and putting the gear lever in and out of neutral were not going to have the least effect as the thing was pretty hopeless. As it was quite clear that nothing could be done except move her ahead at dead slow, I brought her over to the side and tied up out of the fairway.
While the gear was in neutral and the fore and aft ropes were already being secured, I had, as an additional precaution, kept my foot hard down on the clutch pedal which was right down on the deck, so that the clutch should have been well out with a good al to spare; in spite of this she suddenly commenced to go gently astern and bisk no amount of clutch joggling or verification of the fact that the gear lever was most clearly in neutral, seemed to have any effect for a moment or two, when she started to go slowly ahead. It was clearly unsafe in a crowded harbour to have this wretched engine running at all so I called down to the stoker to switch off the engine and have her manhandled for the little adjustment that was required to get her tied up securely. Again the engineers worked on her until 23.50 that night and all day Sunday, 2nd
June, they took down pretty well everything. The final report was that the engine was worth about £10 and it would cost £20
to repair it,so they did not propose to do any more about it, and I found myself living on a house boat with my own crew of four ratings and a lodger in the shape of another stoker rating whose original boat had been lost somehow with his kit. He had been supplied with a new kit at Merrie England, the temporary Naval barracks, and being a friend of my stoker rating thought he might as well throw in his luck with us.
By this time the beach show was well over and the last contingents were being brought off from Dunkirk Jetty itself by destroyers, etc., this being a deep water job.
There was a rumour round the harbour precincts just before lunch time on Sunday that volunteers were wanted to fetch the last of the Dunkirk troops off the Jetty, this cleared all the

ILA
-8-
in spite of a bit of rope round her port propeller, there was far too much rope at Dunkirk, made excellent headway.
There was a north easterly breeze blowing which raised a bit of a lop which was on our starboard baby on the course to the
Foreland, this was just where it was not wanted under the circumstances.
43
Most of the battens carried away and the canvas patching was flapping loose at the bottom over the main damage but she was still only making water in very small quantities as the bad damag above water line and she would have been as dry as a chip an reasonably smooth water.
We calculated that we could get round the Foreland without shipping too much and that we should then have the wind and water pretty well astern, and this proved to be the case so that we shipped no more water after that though there was a fair amount of motion for a time.
We had & chart, but no compass, owing to the bomb splinter at Dunkirk, but it was a sunny day and a course just outside the angle of the light on the water sommed about right. In point of fact we picked up every buoy directly on our course.
We had no dividers on board but using a piece of string to measure the distance on the chart between two buoys and comparing this with the tatitude scale on the bottom of the chart, found that we were doing approximately 15 knots and she must have averaged about 12 knots for the trip although we had to go a bit easy before we had rounded the Foreland.
Soon after we had got through the boom one of the usual busy drifters came pounding after us, flicking her signal lamp which, as usual, we could not read, but we eased up to let her come nearer and, as was off to our starboard a bit, we gave Cairngorm a bit of a sheer to starboard, which gave the drifter a fine view of our flapping patch, this seemed to tell the drifter all he wanted to know about us ur.
and he just waved a hand and turned back.
ned
We tied up in the motor boat basin, landed our crew and reported about 20.00. As soon as we had reported to the
1.
Commander in charge of the motor boats, he enquired if we had dined yet, and finding this was not so, book us into the of
Mess for dinner at once.
air
We slept on board Cairegorn that night, and on Friday the 7th June I was duly examined by the Medical Officer and chased about to two or three different individuals and eventually signed off, as from the date of expiration of my three days'
O
Dunkirk leave.
For this extremely pleasant outing, in the best of good company, I was paid at the magnificent rate of £23 a month and all found as Master of a vessel.
These temporary employees of the navy, signed on under naval discipline, achort periods are not provided with any uniform, and are not bound to wear any uniform, so one saw the
10 And south-east England, and a heap of people who had just come
Club caps and jackets of nearly every Yacht Club in the Thames,
/lub town as they were. As I always keep my ship clothes, including cap and reefer on board, I wore them the whole time and commissions in the R.N.V.R.
net several other members of the Club who had got their
Basipo ng me em,

MERHAIDEN
Ex. 2161.
Wood 1941 SENT ADECO POST LETTER
ky.Councit
SERVICE.
MASSEY
on Fire Buxigade, Forces,
144/S.T.N.6B.
Headquarters,
900
M/RCC.
3rd December 1941.
Albert Embankment, S.E.1
STRay.
Sir,
89
Entered in
1st December, 1941.
I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 1st December forwarding a report on the Dunkirk the B.E.F. from Dunkirk.
Operations in so far as the "MASSEY
SHAW" took part in these operations, ve asked the owners of all boats and to thank you for the information ssist in the evacuation of the B.E.F
which you have been good enough to he available particulars of the part supply.
You may, therefore, be interested activities of the fire boat,
It is anticipated that this report was not requisitioned by you.
will be of value in compiling the final report which will be drawn up
940, the Under Secretary of State, on these Operations.
Commanding, London Fire Brigade, might be required at Dunkirk.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Defence Committee of the London
(Sgd) H. C. RIGGS
and it was decided that the "Massey
She is a 75 ft. steel fire boat,
Director of Sea Transport.
the River Thames with a beam of draft, equipped with Diesel engines
The Chief Commander, re pumps.
The London Fire Forces,
Headquarters, at Ramsgate with a London Fire
Albert Embankment, y, but found that fire-fighting
London, S.E.1.
ticable. The fire boat was, a senior Naval officer at 1400
pops. Between arrival at Dunkirk for Ramsgate at 0400 hours on
1st June, 60 troops were taken aboard from the beaches about 3 miles east of the mole, and were safely disembarked at Ramsgate at 0645
hours. The crew consisted of 13 London Fire Service personnel and
Naval Sub-Lieutenant.
At 1820 hours on 1st June, the "Massey Shaw" again proceed d from Ramsgate Harbour, this time with a landing party of 60 Naval
The Director of Sea Transport,
Ministry of War Transport,
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
W.1.
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, SA
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 fow 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

MERHAIDEN
Telephone No.:
NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE.
MASSEY
RELiance 3811
SHOULD BEADDRESSED
London Fire Busigade, Forces,
Headquarters,
900
XXXXX QUOTING- M/RCC.
to the Chief Commander,
Albert Embankment, S.E.1
London Fire Forces.
STRay.
Entered in Day Book
1st December, 1941.
Dear Sir,
Evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk.
I understand that you have asked the owners of all boats requisitioned in May, 1940, to assist in the evacuation of the B.E.F
from Dunkirk to forward to you the available particulars of the part they played in the operations. You may, therefore, be interested to receive a brief report of the activities of the fire boat,
"Massey Shaw", although the boat was not requisitioned by you.
On Thursday, 30th May, 1940, the Under Secretary of State,
Home Office, informed the Officer Commanding, London Fire Brigade, that the assistance of a fire boat might be required at Dunkirk.
The Chairman of the Civil Defence Committee of the London
County Council gave his approval and it was decided that the "Massey
Shaw" should undertake the work. She is a 75 ft. steel fire boat, constructed for fire-fighting in the River Thames with a beam of
13 ft. 6 ins. and a 3 ft. 9 ins. draft, equipped with Diesel engines for propulsion and driving the fire pumps.
The "Massey Shaw" arrived at Ramsgate with a London Fire
Service volunteer crew on 31st May, but found that fire-fighting operations at Dunkirk were impracticable. The fire boat was, therefore, ordered to Dunkirk by a senior Naval officer at 1400 hour to assist in the evacuation of troops. Between arrival at Dunkirk at 1900 hours and the departure for Ramsgate at 0400 hours on
1st June, 60 troops were taken aboard from the beaches about 3 miles east of the mole, and were safely disembarked at Ramsgate at 0645
hours. The crew consisted of 13 London Fire Service personnel and
Naval Sub-Lieutenant.
At 1820 hours on 1st June, the "Massey Shaw" again proceed d from Ramsgate Harbour, this time with a landing party of 60 Naval
The Director of Sea Transport,
Ministry of War Transport,
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
W.1.
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 bi motive, when it seemed just for the purpose the wind failed us, SA
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

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

October,
STATES
(Revised
105
an Evacuation Part ofth B.E.Y. from Dunkink.
played by M.V.I MINOTAUR
ony mortlake Sea Scouts and arth person in a a as Scoutmaster myself of th 1st
B.
charge of their motor vessel MINOTAUR
during the evacuation of the B.E.7.
from the Dunkirk instruction were that
0
veskel would be taken own foot steam pinnace converted for front by The prinscare is an bx-naval 45
05
LIO
Craining purpose and engined with of
115
moored feliof paraffin engine She is on the Thames at mortlake
120
the miles above is for some
125
realer advanlage that would
130
strange therefore made
13
the resented 29th 110 may clock a on haval th night Commander of up
9
5
C de are me instructions himself as my home and
- "minotaur downstriam proceed and report with
Sheerness as early as possible
11/39
Bf
K.
"Naiad Errant" being second, and
"Westerly" was with us when we began but what became of her
I don't know, for I never saw her again.
About three miles outside Dunkirk I saw a plane into flames and come tumbling out of the sky, with it burst object which I took to be the pilot. As he landed j a the dark water I made my way over to him and fished him out with

126
boat up and returnine to in the daylight. Much the same thing happened- bombs dropped around me and the machine guns rattled overhead, but I
was not so much worried about that as about keeping the engines running and I was thankful to have no more trouble with them.
I did not see my original "crew" again, SO I
dont know how they got on. No doubt they returned safe and sound, as I and the "Naiad Errant" did.... the job had been done.
NOTE
"Naiad Errant" a twin screw motor yacht of 9.12 gross tonnage (7.56 register tonnage) was built by William
Osborn Limited of Littlehampton for Major and Mrs R.K.T.
Nightingale and launched there in June 1939. She was registered at Littlehampton No. 167764 in 1939.
In May 1940 she was lying at Clarks Wharf Sunbury on
Thames when she was requisitioned by Admiralty during her owners temporary absence in Bath, and steamed down river the same night by Mr.H.C.H.Clark of Messrs Horace Clark
& Son, Sunbury - on -Thames assisted by a crew composed of members of the Sunbury Auxiliary Fire Service to Ramsgate where she was handed over to Admiralty.
On return from Dunkirk she was retained by Admiralty refitted at Clark's Wharf Sunbury on Thames and has since formed part of the "Mosquito Navy" engaged on coastal patrol service. Her Owner Major R.K.T.Nightingale M.C.
is one of the crew of M.L. "Lady Ruth" of the Middlesex
Flotilla of the Upper Thames Patrol (Home Guard) Able Seaman Samuel Palmer D.S.M is now serving on H.M.S.Jackal.

SE A HAWK
RECEIVED JAN P.M.
41
T.O.9144/STN.6B
December,
1940
18
Sir,
0116
150
Dunkirk Evacuation Motor Boat "See Hawk".
I refer to your letter my asking for details as to the use to which the above boat was put and have pleasure in giving you the following particulars.
I got in touch 1th the Admi Ity Friday morning Clst May,
1940, and offered my boat. She being seaworthy 30 ft. cabin cruiser the speed of 9 knots lying in the River Thames at
Cadogan Pier. I was informed that they had plenty of boats but manned boats CHAS what they wanted so immediately volunteered to go myself to the Mr. had 10.30 to leave our to and atI4got underway down river from Chdogen Pier at 1.30 p.m. the same day handling her myself. Pickedcup Mny R.I. Grierson (of the Royal Ocean Recing Club) at Westminister Mr. J.A. Hyde
Howard et Tower Piertand, on stores at
Greenwich left at 10.30 p.m. for Southend. Southend in
Micompany at 4.30 a.m. Saturday 1st June, 1940, and arrived Ramsgate with disabled craft (motor boat in his service
Though if larger end any possibly Mater boats mere sent over to
Dunkirk because of our suitability we were kept by the Navel
Authorities to act as nicket boat to the ships in the
Downspeto take wounded sshore, etc.8 On oneooccasion sent the the which hedrb endeached at Deal:
turned out to be S.S. Prague whichhhad been bombed and from wewhichtwe took some 30 of various nationalitie
The manoeuverability and of the bont very handy for the purpose particularly as Mr. Howard had to leave me at Southend.
Mr Hyde when we arrived at Ramsgate also left and Mr. Grierson butwast note always. available being engaged on navigation jobs with
K
boats going other and who We the ropes, constantly this engaged one another and always expected/
On we were told to we primed ourselves for the 100 but, on reporting to were more on picket boat duties. We and to too and 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/

Burnham
EXHIBITION
44
Sall
155
The MOTOR
SHERIES
Patrolling
MONGST
YACHTING T and litter some the
THE THE
the Inland the Inland the Inland the Inland required for spare-time) and and (both on Hill, full- the panying
L.17/10/40
On being a operated in determine
Club operation undertaken the the Little of the official River London title Local of a which patrol formation Ship and manded mpany.
the
C.
Forces. cerned, are Under So under far these Local as are al Military Commands as L.D.V. The terms Land mili- con are be local Moto for At its Boat knowledge and of the its which the Patrola
G. ___???___ THE THE THE
Trent. in all We offered the services Trem the meeting
Little Ship can be obtained E.
headapproach In offer to
Ambulance tricts. trial towns, also extensive flow inland waterways
Boats roads for whils the Rivers waterways and the to to is experienced, Society would no and of or Canals difficulty trols. further with to club give us, informa- being when them attempted may a air they will we people in
Hence, be that the Germland quarters that as Theseve, in and make the British ambulance on the a boats as possible, be expanded the the the news Ressary Health, could Cross pro- be water. most THE in
___???___
some Number ard Number ard Number ard railways It is of reasonably ambulance speed, Prefervery to Severn arrangement, principle to adopt such it the is desirable Thames is being that the on neces- be
A
plete They which 501-551, series ticulars of of the have boats, and The exist when THE are most of of craft value. ctual war 1 in the motor size to struction Types of Italian torpedo of the s of Italian of Italian work. of Italian have
___???___ now other the Minerable. waterside cruising design, and Their all commenced craft, nine all or M.T.B.s Sections be of attached.Vo. Ministry miles. with It speed seems radius is are
Isotta- placement a beam are 10 about is 14 now 20 ft tons. dis.
450 Some gallons.ol-tank of of
THE the that Italy are 56 boats ft, also and have 14,4 the a more about fitted with after Possibly, on over 70 motor can each. be with carry two a the two 21-in, 1,000 and the Bagliether outbreaks of concentrated ament speed 1,000 is h.p.
six varies, but 47 knots. stated ing world record claimed to have and one carry
THE THE last of class boats is tubes, They h.p.
depth charges, they two mostly Their for 89.7 I hr. kiloms, and for per such hour, craft, achieved of seem cm.
45.5 In knots for 84.7 a kiloms. per maintains were not to addition to period these M.T.B.s, of 12 hrs. hr., Italy or
STATE the their then building the Italian would soon available for be in which from pon- case
Italy, not pedo knots have per hr.
hecraft

165
Tuesday June I940 a police message arrived asking me to ring Commander Bowles Southend Naval Control.
16/5
Several questions were asked as to condition of Motor
Vessel "Shamrock". She was in perfect condition and Fuel Tanks full, having just been passed by the Ministry of Shipping for the carrying of passengers on short trips from Canvey beach.
Can you make the South Downs he asked, where is that
Sir I replied, just off Deal and Dover. I agreed to try, and upon instructions proceeded to take on board 30 Gallons Fuel in
5 Gallons containers, sufficient food and water for four days, and discard the Buoyant apparatus which are always carried.
Roy Brown aged I8 of Canvey Island answered my request by turning up at dawn with food and kit, we left with Donald my 29/-
youngest son to see us off.
On reaching Southend Naval Control we were informed the journey was to Dunkirk and a further IO Gallons of petrol was provided. Roy Brown at this stage was given an opportunity to stay behind but he declined and expressed his desire to accompany me. A requisition note was handed to me also a Special Route for Small Craft Thames to Dunkirk. reading:- you are to proceed at your utmost speed direct to the beaches eastward of Dunkirk, and course etc; before leaving I regret to note with displeasure four Skippers of upper Thames passenger Vessels said No when asked if they could make Dunkirk, although their bunkers were full and a heap of Fuel on deck they were immediately ordered to take their
Vessels with the letter "M" on their funnels to Sheerness presumably to be taken over by Naval Units.
Our four little crafts set off in Convoy, The Princess
Maud Manned by Naval Ratings, The Canvey Queen by I Naval Rating and I Civillian, The Queen of England by 3 Civilians, The
Shamrock by myself and Roy Brown, when off Shoeburyness the
Canvey Queen received Engine trouble and we took her in fow almost to Mangate when she was able to proceed under her own power and remain SO.
It was about 6 miles off Margate we sighted a British
Fighter Aircraft about 50 feet above the water making a desperate bid to reach our shores, smoke pouring from its Engine as it wobbled and whizzed by us, we could only look and wish him silently a happy landing. The Maud called me alongside she was taking water rather badly and borrowed and kept my Bilge Pump she also seemed to have difficulty in keeping his proper course in spite of having both the Canvey Queen's Compass and my own on board.
la runna
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few troops, and WE proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads off the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide.
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being

H.O.
179
SUNSHINE
S
ECEIVED
144/5.T.N. 6.B.
180
wance Road
SEP.M.
21
16th October, 1940.
Pamsgale
STABLISHED
820
191
Sir,
July 4th 40
I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 9th October, she was liaken
183
1940, enclosing reports on the
(30
(30th)
rey.
Dunkirk operations insofar as your ay 29th to help vessel "Sundowner" took part in these operations and to thank you near Dunkerque for the most interesting information you have been good enough to supply,
= wich 7 others
This report will be of great value to the Department in drawing up bringing hoops reports on these operations.
on board of
I an, Sir,
Your obedient Servant, m to various
N.
continuouly ine.
Director of Sea Transport.
largert, some y that of
Commander C.H. Lightoller, D.S.C.R.N.R.
and severely damy craft a
Cockfosters,
HERTS.
with greatly myself a
chem tions to and some got over by
/
and left no an out of the lay 310r) there was by one hey had a
swen on the a and we put er the claimed live of our crew in the "sunshme" and dropped too good he large the sumotine" in m the shore with 90
send and fachons of veering line and pulled chem nt and off to che life boot till we loaded, then cook ch rifle the soldiers
Thames.
touch
With une will go on record.
Yours faithfully, la Panna which is about nine miles further round the coast.
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few troops
WE
and proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads off the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide.
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being

Runs Line
SUNSHINE
STATE
ECEIVED
File
JUL 5 REGISTRY 1940 RECEIVED
180
)
SEP P.M.
7 alliance Road
21
Sir RE, "Sunohis DE
15/16/21
Ramsgate
STABLISHED
1820.
July 4th 40
In reference to the above craft she was liakm
183
rey.
by the admnaliy on Thursday may 29th to help in the evacuation of the B.E.F near Dunkerque
This boat was used on the shore wich 7 others small boats on Thursday evening bringing hoops off the shore and putting chem on board of the Life boat and transferrig chem to various
N.
crafis lying off. the was working continuouly ine.
as she was the best boat and the largert, some y that of the other boals were slove in and severely damy craft aged on Friday that it was with greatly myself tions to difficulty to keep them afloat, and some got over by m the shore and warhed up and (3104) left no by one only with 3 out of the eight. Friday there was hey had er the a narly swell on the a and we put claimed too good live of our crew in the "sunshme" and dropped he large send and the Sunshine" in m the shore with 90
fachons of veering line and pulled chem nt and ch rifle off to che life boot till we loaded, them cook
Thames.
the soldiers touch will go
With une on record.
Yours Eshanias faithfully,
La Ranns which is about nine miles further round the coast
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few and WE proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more load the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were bein

181
STATE
S
ECEIVED
to various craft and continued to do so.
SEPP.M.
21
during the time the two smaller now boats
STABLISHED
1820
in also making water and we had to bale them out with buckets to kup them afloat
183
while this was being camia in we were as no rey.
doubt being bombed all round and find on.
I he live small boals not only were a source of irouble is us as making so mu ch water chat they were not of so much survice as che "Sunohno"
which had been so much damaged about the
N.
lip sides, cleats all iorn off, fair leads, ine.
pulled off check pulled off the slim and having so much damage chat the ingine could y that y craft not be startid as the reverse year was damag.
myself
-ed and the water around the ingme made tions to over by chings straight very bad for all of no we could not low his, and several times we had to put by one inj to hey had esclia ropes on her lop kup her sliaight er the claimed you must understand we were not only being too good he large bombed but bombanded by gun time air send and battles were being tought at che time, nt in the wining things were getting work while and ch rifle
Thames.
touch with the Naval crew concerned, so that their names will go on record.
Yours faithfully,
La Panns which is about nine miles further round the coast.
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few tr and WE proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads of the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being

SURREY
RECEIVED OF
ng the Sunshine" with shells and bom
20 SEP P.M.
21
opping around us the sunshine took a our
ESTABLISHED
1820.
rd partid from us leaving us with the umaining part of the low rope. How we managed
183
to get clear I wally do not know as our lifebrat rey.
was damaged by shrapnel elc and not only that we were slove in m the Port side of our boat in the bottom. We could not pick the "Sunohni up under such circumstance and is we had I really do not know what would have happened but you can lake it.
ON.
from me we did our best not only in saving gine.
the hoops Brilish and French, montly Brish ay that ny craft from the time we nach the french Coart until the time we left. Ihope chio report is salisfacting myself ctions to over by to you
1 by one
Yours facthfully they had ter the
5 claimed stright too good the large
Coscowan Ramsgate Sepebast esend and ent h and nch rifle
Thames.
touch with the Naval crew concerned, will go on record.
Yours faithfully,
La Ranna which is about nine miles further round the coast.
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few troo and WE proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads off the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide.
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being

SURREY
THOMAS BROS
Tobacco Dealers and Cigar Merchants
20 SEP P.M. RECEIVED ESTABLISHED 21 S
E.T.THOMAS
D. S. THOMAS
OLD CIGAR SHOP, KINGSTON-ON-THAMES
or
1820.
From:- MR. E. T. THOMAS,
13 Church Street,
183
The brew Director of Sea Transport,
Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey.
September 19th 1940.
Ministry of Shipping,
Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square,
LONDON, W.1.
Dear Sir,
Your No. T.0.9144/STN.6B. - DUNKIRK EVACUATION.
M/V "SURREY" - Four berth cabin cruiser
29' X 8' X 2'10": Morris "Navigator" engine.
In reply to your letter, I regret to say that
I can give no information as to the part played by my craft during the actual evacuation.
A Naval Officer requisitioned "Surrey", myself and a crew of one at Kingston, and handed me instructions to proceed to Sheerness, where the boat would be taken over by a Naval crew.
On arrival, whe was immediately boarded by one regular rating and three reservists, who said that they had earmarked her for themselves as they watched her enter the dock, and so jumped on board quickly in case she was claimed by an officer. They remarked that "Surrey" was far too good to have an officer on board, especially in view of the large amount of foodstuff which had been taken on at Gravesend and
Southend.
I know nothing definite of her subsequent movements, except a report that she evacuated French and
Belgian troops. This is probably correct, as a French rifle was found in a locker when the boat returned to the Thames.
I hope that you will be able to get in touch with the Naval crew concerned, so that their names will go on record.
Yours Eshamas faithfully, la Ranna which is about nine miles further round the coast.
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few troop and WE proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads off the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide.
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being

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 COMMITTEE.
Meeting held at 11.a.m. on Wednesday 4th December, 1940, at the Ministry of Shipping, Room 5087.
Present:
Mr. Allen
(Chairman)
"
Simmons
" Moore
"
Riddell
"
Wand
1. Minutes of Meeting held on 21st November were agreed.
2. Matters arising were discussed:-
(a) "Renown" Arising from this case it was agreed to approach
Mr. Harvey of Sittingbourne with a view to his acting as valuer for Thames Estuary Bawley Boats and similar craft.
(b) "Madame Sansgene"
Agreed to withhold further action pending confirmation of the present system of valuation of yachts, motor launches, &c.
(c) "New Prince of Wales" Arising from this case it was agreed to approach Mr. Fredk. Shepherd of 199, Piccadilly with a view to his acting as valuer for
Small Passenger Service Craft.
(a) "Lijns"
Agreed to accept the owner's statement that the ladies clothing claimed for was on board, and, in view of the fact that it had been kept on board for 8 months before the vessel was requisitioned, to offer £10 in settlement.
3. Report of Payments for period ending 3rd December amounting to £4,160.9.8₫
was presented and passed.
4. The following cases were discussed:-
a
Total Loss:-
(a) "CYB"
Agreed to offer £400 with discretion to, increase to £450.
(b) "Handy Billy" Agreed to pay £213.18.6d as claimed.
(c) "Mirasol"
Agreed that the survey report produced by the owner is not alone to be accepted as basis of value.
(a) "Enterprise"
}
Agreed to be dealt with as in 2 (c) above.
"Wave Queen"
(e) "Papillon"
Agreed that owner's claim on his
Affidavit should be subject to normal investigation.
hithoun
20/12/40

DUNKIRK COMMITTEE.
Meeting held at 11.a.m. on Wednesday 4th December, 1940, at the Ministry of Shipping, Room 5087.
Present:
Mr. Allen
(Chairman)
"
Simmons
"
Moore
"
Riddell
" Wand
1. Minutes of Meeting held on 21st November were agreed.
2. Matters arising were discussed:-
(a) "Renown" Arising from this case it was agreed to approach
Mr. Harvey of Sittingbourne with a view to his acting as valuer for Thames Estuary Bawley Boats and similar craft.
(b) "Madame Sansgene"
Agreed to withhold further action pending confirmation of the present system of valuation of yachts, motor launches, &c.
(c) "New Prince of Wales" Arising from this case it was agreed to approach Mr. Fredk. Shepherd of 199, Piccadilly with a view to his acting as valuer for
Small Passenger Service Craft.
(a) "Lijns"
Agreed to accept the owner's statement that the ladies clothing claimed for was on board, and, in view of the fact that it had been kept on board for 8 months before the vessel was requisitioned, to offer £10 in settlement.
3. Report of Payments for period ending 3rd December amounting to £4,160.9.8d was presented and passed.
4. The following cases were discussed:-
a
Total Loss:-
(a) "CYB"
Agreed to offer £400 with discretion to, increase to £450.
(b) "Handy Billy" Agreed to pay £213.18.6d as claimed.
(c) "Mirasol"
Agreed that the survey report produced by the owner is not alone to be accepted as basis of value.
(a) "Enterprise"
}
Agreed to be dealt with as in 2 (c) above.
"Wave Queen"
(e) "Papillon"
Agreed that owner's claim on his
Affidavit should be subject to normal investigation.
20/12/40