TNA MT 40 66

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COPY OF STATEMENT REGARDING SURVIVORS FROM HOSPITAL SHIP
"PARIS"
163
by
s.t. "FOREMOST 87"
June
Wednesday, 5th May, 1940.
Dear Sir,
On Sunday afternoon, the 2nd June, I received orders from
Naval Authorities Dover to proceed to Dunkirk. My orders being to
take Lifeboats R.N.L.B. "CECIL & LILLIAN PHILPOTT and R.N.L.B.
"THOMAS KIRK WRIGHT" in tow to assist in evacuating troops from
Dunkirk Harbour and Beach.
I cleared Eastern Entrare of Dover Harbour about 3-50 p.m.
with Lifeboats in tow, and on instructions before leaving towed
towards given position where I had to cast lifeboats.o: I arrived
at this position and was giving lifeboat coxwains courses for Dunkirk
Harbour, when, on hearing aircraft overhead and several explosions,
I noticed to the southward of me a Hospital ship which proved to be
S.S. "PARIS" of Newhaven, in, as It thought, difficulties. I at once
altered my course, irrespective of routing instructions, towards said
vessel, and onnnearing same I noticed several of her lifeboats full
of survivors who had survived this bombing and machine-gunning which
I was afterwards informed had happened. I at once gave orders to
crew to get lines etc. ready to take these survivors on board, some
of whom were Sisters who were very seriously injured, also some of
crew whod been badly scalded.
I managed to get all of the 95 survivors out of our boats, some
of which were half full of water, on board of "FOREMOST 87", and did
everything to make wounded (one of whom passed away on board Tug
"FOREMOST 87") as comfortable as I could, and then headed at full
speed towards Dover.
I had hardly altered my course when I noticed another boat
full of people. I stopped engines and on nearing this boat I found
that it had 13 Spaniards aboard. I ordered these to be taken on
board and kept apart from survivors of "PARIS" as I was uncertain of
their Nationality, and I was unable to gather from them how and when
they came to be in the boat I found them in.
I headed for Dover, time being about 10-50 p.m., at full
speed. Arriving at Dober Pierheads Eastern Entrance about 3-30 a.m.
on Monday, 3rd June, and received orders to proceed direct to
Admiralty Pier and land survivors, this I did as soon as possible,
everything being ready on shore to assist in this job of work. I
kept Spaniards on board until they were escorted ashore by armed
guard, who no doubt found out more about them than I could.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) J. Fryer.
Master of s.t. "FOREMOST 87".