TNA MT 40 66

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WHITEHALL 2624.
Pass, Linnos,
(Dinistry of d'inberice,
Fisheries,
5,03.1
27th December, 1940.
Dear Edwards,
7th January, 1941.
We have received from our Inspector at Lowestoft a
short note in the following terms:-
Dear Lowe,
"On I Saturday have your letter of the 27th December regarding the
Naval issue of letters from the Ministry of Shipping to vessels
which served at Dunkirk.
Shipping in appreciation of their
services
When at the operation was completed the Ministry had under
consideration the issue of some form of recognition to vessels
which had taken part in that operation. As you lnow, so far
as the larger ships were concerned (including tugs) we have
definite information as to which ships had been employed in
the evacuation and what services they had rendered. As
regards small craft, however, which would include fishing
vessels, the position was absolutely chaotic. We knew that
in but records were not available to show which of these 600 had
something over 600 craft had been involved in the operation
if over got beyond the assembly ports such as Sheerness,
le Ramsgate and Dover, still less whether the personnel
to rendered meritorious service. As you know, in many cases
craft were manned by naval ratings after being delivered to
the assembly ports by either their own or runner crews. For
this reason the issue of the Minister's letter was limited to
the cases I mention above. An regards smaller craft, the
suggestion was mooted that some form of recognition either
by way of a pla ue or a pennant and opinions favoured the
former, but in view of the numbers involved and the
shortage of metals and timber nothing further was done in
the matter.
Ornlaw
In the meantime our records of small craft are being
gradually clarified and if after the war some form of
recognition is decided upon we may possibly be able to
produce something approaching an accurate picture.
H. Bowards, Seq.,
Coa Department,
Yours sincerely, D.H.E.
Ministry of Chipping,
A.M. Lowe, Esquise,
Ber Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,
(Dept.O.J.), 55, Whitehall, S.W.1.
FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING
DOVER.
25th October, 1940.