TNA MT 40 66

THE BEN LINE STEAMERS LTD,
28
THE PETROGRAD STEAMERS LTD.
WM. THOMSON & CO.
MANAGERS
—
28 Bernard Street,
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS:
"THOMSON, LEITH."
—
Leith,
20th June,
1940.
TELEPHONE: LEITH 35652-3-4
PARTNERS
E.
W. THOMSON.
E. G. THOMSON.
Sir J. D. W. THOMSON, Bart.
A. M. MITCHELL
The Private Secretary,
Minister of Shipping,
London.
Dear Sir,
"BENLAWERS"
We have to thank you for your letter of yesterday.
We will have great pleasure in sending on to the
Master of our above vessel the Minister's letter, which we have not the least doubt all on board will greatly appreciate.
Yours truly,
Va.
/LORINA
WORTHING
NORMANNI
John " Stewart London, & Street, Co. D.V. Shipping Ltu.,
/CANTERBU
308 Clyde
Capt R.
MAID OR
YEWDALE
John stewart & CO. Street, Shipping
Glasgow, C.1. Ltd.,
/BIARRITZ
YEWGLEN
308, Clyde C.1.
AUTOCARRI
Glasgow,
(4182)
Wt.10

-2-
of Ship.
Name & Address of Owners
Name of Master.
LAN MACALISTER
Clan Line Steamers, Ltd.
Capt. R.W. Mackie
Tylney Hall, longuines are still learning
Rotherwick, made as to whicher
Near Basingstoke, Hants.
office is still alive.
KOHISTAN *
F.C. Strick & Co. Ltd.
Capt. W.C. Robertson
117-121, Leadenhall St.
E.C.3.
BENLAWERS *
Petrograd Steamers Ltd.,
Capt. J.P. Drummond.
28, Bernard Street,
Leith
(Managers: Wm. Thompson
& Co.)
K
L
CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH
Ellerman & Bucknall
Capt. A.W. Wooster
S.S. Co., Ltd.
Tudor Court,
Cobham, Surrey.
K1
ROEBUCK
c/o Chief Docks Manager,
Capt..Larbalestier.
G.W. Railway Company,
Cardiff.
ST
KITTY
Basso & Company,
Mr. W. McCondach,
Weymouth.
13, Ox Street,
Weymouth.
ST
SPINEL +
William Robertson Ltd.,
Capt. R. Humphreys
ST
Glasgow, C.1.
ST
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
The General Steam
Capt. W.J. O'Dell
PAR
Navigation Co., Ltd.,
"
ROYAL DAFFODIL
G. Johnston
ISL
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
15, Trinity Square,
"
T. Aldis
DIN
E.C.3.
WOR
ISLI
MONA'S QUEEN
Isle of Man Steam Packet
~~
Capt. A. Holkham
"
R. Duggan $
FENELLA
Company Limited,
Capt. W. Cubbon
MANXMAN
x
Imperial Buildings,
If
P.B. Cowley
TYNWALD
*
Douglas,
-
qual
&
Isle of Man.
Chief Officer
J.Whiteway 0
BEN-MY-CHREE
X
Capt. G. Woods and
Chief Officer
T. Cain /
LADY OF MANN
Capt. T.C. Woods
LORINA
Southern Railway Co.,
Capt. A. Light.
NORMANNIA
Waterloo Station,
Capt. M.C. Whiting
CANTERBURY
S.W.1.
Captain C. Hancoc
MAID OR ORLEANS
2
(Capt. A.E. Larki
(Capt. G. Walker
BIARRITZ
Capt. M.H. Bake
AUTOCARRIER
Capt. C. Maste orized.

MORT
SEAL
LINE STEAMERS
79
80 st, 1940.
Director of Sea Transport, exten
Ministry of Shipping, od.
25th August, 1940.
London.
mort
Gentlemen,
129
and
I have to acknowledge the receipt of
RECEIVED
rebiod
130
your letter of the 20th instant and to
USA Area STATE
thank you for the interesting report of
7th instant.
the Master of the S.S. "BENLAWERS" on tain a report from the Master
VIDAD
the evacuation from France his experiences at Calais.
I am, Gentlemen,
'S truly, gards
Your obedient Servant,
902
JOP
(Sgd.) b.y. Whyman
S to proceed into harbour, for Director of Sea Transport.
Pp on, and that things did
Messrs. William Thomson & Co., breakwaters we picked up
28, Bernard Street,
Leith.
from the harbour, but rong tide and the space clearing the breakwater cort, and once more reaching the being apparently received the signal from within.
instructed us out to sea,
In the afternoon we managed in, mooring alongside that quay with our head out ready for any emergency, for it was the came Calais was not to be held long. Major Attway R.M., apparent for, who on board together with Officers of the unit our cargo D.S.T.O. was destined asked us to co-operate as much as possible to get the cargo der
SINGLE
The great majority of the buoys were unlit,
TWI
the a bi., were rowing off in their boat towards us. I picked them up, also boat and crew of barge "DUCHESS" that had anchored in the Roads, and then the next wave of bombers were overhead.
(Continued)

TROGRAD Telegraphic STEAMERS Address, LTD. LTD.
STEAMERS
"THOMSON, LEITH."
Memorandum
EPHONE 35652 LEITH
79
20th August, 1940.
From William Thomson Ho
To Director of Sea Transport,
PARTNERS
28 Bernard Street,
IOMSON.
Ministry of Shipping,
THOMSON
J.D. THOMSON, Bart.
Leithl.
London.
M.MITCHELL.
M. Ref: T.M.6213/40/S.T.A.6
Dear Sir,
130
"Benlawers"
We refer to your letter of 7th instant.
We have now been able to obtain a report from the Master of the above vessel in connection with the evacuation from France and this report is enclosed.
Yours truly,
ENCLOSURE
N°295
that we were in for a hot reception, and that us to proceed into harbour,
Many not look too well. As we headed between the things did this a available we message were was easier ordered "Keep for ship's said out", in again than of which "Benlawers" at done was once owing flashed by size. the to the O.C. to On us strong Escort, breakwaters clearing from tide the the and harbour, we breakwater picked the space but up
"Benlawers" was put in a position to enter, on reaching and once the more breakwaters having however, Escort hailed us and instructed us out to sea, apparently received the signal from within.
In the afternoon we managed in, mooring alongside quay that with our head out ready for any emergency, for it was apparent the
Calais was not to be held long. Major Attway R.M., D.S.T.O.
came for, on board together with Officers of the unit our cargo was destined who asked us to co-operate as much as possible to get the cargo der
SINGLE
The great majority of the buoys were unlit, the
TWI
a bi.,
Daige were rowing off in their boat towards us. I picked them up, also boat and crew of barge "DUCHESS" that had anchored in the Roads, and then the next wave of bombers were overhead.
(Continued)

78
STATEMENT FROM "BENLAWERS" ON EVACUATION FROM CALAIS.
131
On the 23rd. May 1940 "Benlawers" was instructed to proceed to sea from Southampton with her usual cargo of M.T!s, whi were mainly filled with ammunition and in addition about 30 tons of
Petrol was stowed on the after main deck.
9060
On arrival off Dover on the morning of the 24th. May, orders were received to proceed in company with the "Kohistan" and a Destroyer Escort to Bologne, all going well till we headed down the
French coast towards that port, when heavy gunfire broke out close ahead, and we were not surprised when the Escort ordered us to about ship and follow him.
Off Calais the Escort ordered us to proceed into harbour, warning us that we were in for a hot reception, and that things did not look too well. As we headed between the breakwaters we picked up a message "Keep out", which was flashed to us from the harbour, but this was easier said than done owing to the strong tide and the space available for ship's of "Benlawers" size. On clearing the breakwater we were ordered in again at once by the 0.C.Escort, and once more
"Benlawers" was put in a position to enter, on reaching the breakwaters, however, Escort hailed us and instructed us out to sea, having apparently received the signal from within.
In the afternoon we managed in, mooring alongside the quay with our head out ready for any emergency, for it was apparent that Calais was not to be held long. Major Attway R.M., D.S.T.O.
came on board together with Officers of the unit our cargo was destined for, who asked us to co-operate as much as possible to get the cargo der single the
The great majority of the buoys were unlit,
TWIS
a bi., carge and were rowing off in their boat towards us. I picked them up, also boat and crew of barge "DUCHESS" that had anchored in the Roads, and then the next wave of bombers were overhead.
(Continued)

Loris orig on To redal ciler 900 Two
(4)
134
to enter, I sent a message off stating the gravity of the situation, but after waiting off Dover for over five hours, we
108 THE 10 d behause to because no were ordered to Southampton, where we were all fast at about
5 a.m. on the 26th. May, all much relieved to see the wounded men safe in the hospital train, which was ready alongside waiting our
095 an anivis besings 1979
arrival. Under the circumstances it was fortunate that only one man died before our arrival.
no eil WOID
eviecer
919W of
Master S.S. "Benlawers"
of
Issic 03
for Director (&/) of Sex -
no Oa
Hasd que Dete of Steam a MR Orfice.
NEW
OF
ne der single line.
The great majority of the buoys were unlit, and as remarked above the
TWIS
a bi., were rowing off in their boat towards us. I picked them up, also boat and crew of barge "DUCHESS" that had anchored in the Roads, and then the next wave of bombers were overhead.
(Continued)