TNA MT 40 66

C.S
MINISTRY OF WAR TRANSPORT
NOID
15
REFERENCE SHEET.
TA6
16
(Rm YOY!)
how S.H. Brown
S.T.
In
1st July, 1941.
24
Gentlemen, p&S. THE DUCKS.SS "THE MARQUIS"
ss THE MARQUIS
An enquiry has been received on behalf of a
Miss Emmerson, resident in Spain, regarding relatives who endeavoured to get to England from Antwerp when
Belgium was invaded. It is believed that the Emmersons embarked in "THE MARQUIS" at Ostend on the 27th May, 1940.
as possible I should be glad if you would be good enough to inform me whether you have any record that a family of this name embarked in "THE MARQUIS" and, if so, at what
Port they di sembarked in this country.
and game, 1940.
I am, Gentlemen,
TA
Your obedient servant, brans
S
(Sgd.) B.E. Bellamy for Director of Sea Transport.
Herearth
Messrs. J. Hay & Sons Ltd.,
45 Renfield Street,
GLASGON, C.2.
Mb

152
19
copy.
of 19th June, 1941, from
21
Letter Commanding Loring of International
Marine Radio Co. Ltd.
DIO COMPANY LIMITED, refer the attached correspondence.
Mr. Carter has asked me to
HOUSE,
TELEPHONE: HOLBORN 8765.
YCH,
TELEGRAMS: INLAND INTELCOMAR,ESTRAND,LONDON
C.2.
Could you let hation on er you the the the and f
19th June 1941.
in time of the scout
Belgium?
will
(Sgd.) D. J. Richman.
Passual
23rd June, 1941.
can.
Mr. D.H. Edwards.
Yours sincerely,
Ins. Bellamy n making the following inquiry,
1
CARTER.
to try and trace the relatives of
Commetier research Loring, these 0, B.E., E.
mersons were a British family
England when Belgium was invaded.
International Warine movents Radio Co.Ltd., last ster at Ostend, that these people their bon
S.S. "Duchess" on 27th May, 1940.
you
W.C.2.
rson. The first inquiry seems to be to
7th May 1940, reached an English day and June, from AT/INT
sl it would be very kind of you.
how to set about this inquiry hiss Dais
25/6
Yours sincerely,
7.00

21
INTERNATIONAL MARINE RADIO COMPANY LIMITED,
DIRECTORS:
F. GILL.O M.INST C.E. M.I.E.E.
CONNAUGHT HOUSE,
TELEPHONE: HOLBORN 8765.
COMMANDER F.G. LORING, O.B E.M.I.E.E.
TELEGRAMS: INTELCOMAR,ESTRAND,LONDON.
H. THORPE-WOODS, M.N.E.C.INST.
63, ALDWYCH,
UNLAND
A.DAVIDSON,
T.G. SPENCER.
LONDON,W.C.2.
19th June 1941.
W. Carter Esq., C.B.E.,
Ministry of Sea Transport,
Berkeley House,
Passual
Berkeley Square,
S.W.1.
Dear Carter,
I should be very grateful for your help in making the following inquiry, assuming there is no objection to it.
We have been asked by our Spanish company to try and trace the relatives of their English secretary, Miss Emmerson. The Emmersons were a British family resident in Antwerp, who endeavoured to get to England when Belgium was invaded.
It has been ascertained from the Harbour Master at Ostend, that these people left Ostend in either the S.S. "Marquis" or the S.S. "Duchess" on 27th May, 1940.
Nothing more has been heard of them by Miss Emmerson. The first inquiry seems to be to ascertain if these ships (or either of them) on 27th May 1940, reached an English port, and if so which port.
If you could help to obtain this information, it would be very kind of you.
Please forgive my troubling you, but I do not know how to set about this inquiry otherwise.
With kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
7.00mg

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45
right, and begged them to keep their seats.
By 2.30 we were loaded and almost ready for sea, when the raiders came back to pay us another visit - only three this time. Our troops
(about 2,500) were all lying down in saloons and staterooms, as they were dead tired. There was a large number on deck, as everywhere below decks was full up. We had also forty wounded on stretchers on the games deck.
After the raiders released all their bombs in this raid they machine-gunned xte the wounded on deck, one of whom was shot through the leg.
1890
One of the soldiers on the after well deck was using his Bren gun with good effect. He had two pals one feeding his gun and the other sitting
JOB
high up on the port crane with a pair of field glasses, spotting the Jerry planes. As soon as he saw one he shouted to the pal with the Bren gun, id
ID
"Here's a blue pencil coming, Jock! Let him have it!", and Jock did in good style. Jock had a shot at every plane that came over, and I understand he severely damaged two. Our chief officer and our gunner had hits on on several Jerry planes with their Lewis guns.
he it
About 3 o'clock we left the breakwater, but owing to the wind we is could not get the ship turned to the harbour entrance. We got the assistance ond
1
of a patrol ship to push our stern round, but she cut the degaussing wire r, aft, which went on fire. Our chief officer and second engineer soon got
1
ck it out. As soon as the electric current was switched off they sprayed the fire with the extinguishers which we had handy.
n
We got outside the harbour about a quarter of a mile, and waited for a
, destroyer to escort us across channel, when we were bombed again. Our escort was also bombed and disabled, with quite a number killed and wounded, so we had to proceed alone.
I can hardly describe all the bombing, as we were attacked eight times e
e in as many hours. About half way across the channel I saw two British bombers and a Spitfire making for England. Between two and three miles behind them came a German bomber. He was passing over a British trawler and
, we expected him to swing over to us at any moment. He was about a mile on our port side. The trawler fired one shot which blew the plane out of the sky. The pilot baled out in his parachute. Our friend, the Bren gunner, had his gun trained on him, wishing he was within range. He remarked to me that the "blue pencil" Jerry would never reach the water alive, but the hn to trawler picked him up.
We arrived at Dover about 11 o'clock, just in time for another raid,
3
but we got into harbour safely. I ordered my men to put on their life vests at the first raid, and handed out all the life-belts I had to the soldiers.
About half way across the channel, when things were quieter, I made tea and sandwiches for the wounded on deck and also for a number of the soldiers, and it was very welcome, as some of the poor fellows were starving.
Well, Mr Purvis, before I close I must tell you that all the officers and men behaved splendidly under most trying circumstances. I was at sea all the or last war, but never experienced anything like this. When the bombs exploded the blast and concussion damaged a large number of wash-basins and mirrors;
cups were thrown everywhere.
t
We landed the last of our wounded about 5 a.m. I then set up a table in the dining-room and gave the officers a right good meal. We didn't go to
S
bed. I got my men to clean up the ship in case we would be required again, not knowing the extent of the damage to our ship. I went round my men and
.
asked them if they would go back with me; the answer was, "Sure, sure!".
Well, Mr Purvis, I hope you are well. I will be glad to hear from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) Mathew Pandelus,
Chief Steward.

STAM
JANSINGO
138
EXTRACT FROM THE 'P.L.A. MONTHLY'
47
September, 1940.
asd
ECHOES OF DUNKIRK.
3
The following further information has become available
STATE
regarding the part played in the evacuation of British and French soldiers from Dunkirk by the vessels of the Tilbury Contracting
9AY
THE
& Dredging Company, Limited, most of which are normally employed in the Port of London but were at the time engaged upon contract work for the Admiralty at Portsmouth. The appeal for volunteers for despatch on secret and dangerous service was answered by all the crews (some 76 officers and men) almost to the last man.
On Friday morning, May 31st, five steam hoppers proceeded to
Dunkirk.
Upon their arrival off the Beaches, each of the five vessels had different individual experiences. The general picture is that they all got as near in-shore as possible, dropped anchor, launched life-boats to assist in embarking members of the B.E.F. and French troops indifferently, and after enduring heavy aerial attack as well as an artillery bombardment for hours, left Dunkirk again with the rescued troops on board during the dark hours of Friday night, landing her troops at Ramsgate or Margate during the course of
Saturday, June 1st.
The only casualty of any kind among the crews was John Tarry, a deckhand, who in assisting to pull a soldier on board out of the water unfortunately ruptured himself, and was transferred to hospital upon returning to England.
The experiences of the individual Masters varied only in detail. One vessel on arrival "found a heavy swell running and was subjected to very severe aerial bombardment, one salvo of bombs falling only a few yards away. She had the opportunity of seeing several German aircraft brought down; some shrapnel falling on the ship without hurting anyone. Owing to the unavoidable confusion the exact number of troops picked up and brought back by her could not be ascertained. During the operations one ship's boat with troops on board was blown clean out of the water and capsized by a bomb which fell close alongside withoutinjury to any one. She sailed about 9.0.p.m. and just after leaving she sighted a small dinghy manned by five French soldiers rowing with odd pieces of wood, who were rescued. During her passage back, enemy ships and aircraft were encountered. An air fight took place overhead, and she was forced to make several detours finally disembarking the troops at Ramsgate.
By way of recognition of their gallant services, the owners have been able to obtain the special consent of the Board of Trade to the issue to all the officers and men concerned of the Merchant
Navy Badge. It is understood that several individual names have been mentioned in despatches.
S

COPY.
steamer "RUSHEN CASTLE".
2nd. July, 1940.
R. W. Cannell, Esq.,
103
General Manager.
Sir,
In reference to your letter of the 28th. June requesting a report from me as Master of H.M. Transport "MONA'S QUEEN" when on her last voyage from Dover to Dunkirk.
I joined the "MONA'S QUEEN" on the 28th. of May. On the evening of that date, I received orders to leave Dover in the early morning of the 29th. to carry fresh water to Dunkirk and return with troops. Everything was uneventful until we reached to within about half a mile off Dunkirk, when the ship was mined and sank within two minutes, the survivors being rescued by the destroyer "VANQUISHER".
With reference to the request for names of Officers and personnel who should be recommended, I can only say that the conduct of all survivors was exemplary.
not An outstanding example of bravery was witnessed by some of the survivors. It appears that H. Craine, Chief Cook, showed the greatest courage and disregard for his own safety when noticing that
Mr. Morgan, the Chief Steward, was unable to get away from the ship through injuries, he went back and rescued him knowing that the ship was rapidly sinking; further particulars can be obtained from Mr.
Morgan,
Chief
Steward.
Owing to the port Another meritotious act was that of 955244, Gunner J. Osborne, of the 253/64th. Field Regiment R.A., who rescued Mr. R. Gallagher, the Purser, and swam with him to the warship which was taking survivors to England. Unfortunately Gunner Osborne's self sacrificing heroism was unavailing as Mr. Gallagher died on board the warship before arrival at an English port.
took home, of
Duke I trust that this report will meet your requirements.
Canadian troops and all day that was off. Then Yours obediently, of ammunition and embarked the Irish of E's for Boulogne, It (signed) A. KHAM
cranes to load the ammunition, but willing soldiers we had the landed in Master.
embarked BE many troops as we
British,
RE the Germans only left, in fact
Heinkels dived on to the berth which we had just vacated and practically blew it to pieces. However, we got back to Dover safely and disembarked our troops. On 24th. May we were ordered to go to anchorage in the Downs for a little rest as Dover harbour was getting rather congested. We were at anchor in the Downs on Saturday evening. Next day at noon we got orders and a route for Dunkirk, so we accordingly set off as per instructions. Our route took us about 4 miles off Calais to a certain buoy. On nearing the position I could not see the buoy, but saw a buoy a little further inshore and steamed towards it to make certain. On nearing the buoy I saw it was not the buoy on the instructions and ordered the helm hard aport. Immediately hell was let loose on our ship. We were shelled from the shore by single guns and
1.

10/
8/36 7,000 pads of 250
LONDON & NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY
B 1152
DEPARTMENT
To
141
STATION
193
OUR REFERENCE
TELEPHONE
YOUR REFERENCE
1700. In accordance with orders the ship got under way and proceeded to
STATE
Dunkirk by route "X" in company with numerous craft large and small, all naval and merchant. Certain minor departures from the official route
SHIP
were made necessary by the draught of the ship, but the weather was fine solv and much clearer and 'PRAGUE" arrived off Dunkirk at 2030, berthed well
BST
inside the outer harbour alongside the Eastern Jetty.
Troops were embarked immediately SO as to clear the ship before the tide went as the low water depth alongside was only 10 feet, but despite this, with a full load of troops when ready to sail the ship was well on the ground and it took the combined efforts of two tugs and both engines working at full power to get the ship afloat which was eventually done by 2245 when the ship left for England again. While in Dunkirk there were air raids in the vicinity but no attack on the ship. There was however a considerable amount of shell fire, several projectiles bursting in the water close to the ship.
The voyage back along the western part of the Dunkirk Roads was made at slow speed but was otherwise uneventful, the ship arriving back in the
Downs at 0600 on the 31st whence she was ordered to Folkestone where she duly arrived at 0648 and disembarked her troops.
During this voyage considerable difficulty was experienced with the coal which was of a type unsuited to the ship's furnaces and our Firemen double banked atches in order to keep steam and maintain speed.
May 31st. From 0800 when the troops were clear, was spent in coaling and watering and preparing for the next voyage after which the ship went to anchorage off Folkestone.
up
+
COUIU
and twisting and turning to clear the bombs. I paddled in towards the shore a bit, as I could see our crew of the barge and the soldier stevedores 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)

DEBA
3/86 7,000 pads of 250
LONDON & NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY
B 1152
DEPARTMENT
To
142
STATION
193
THOT Yo
3
OUR REFERENCE
TELEPHONE
YOUR REFERENCE
brem bne the
June 1st. 0315 Orders to proceed having been received, the ship was got sen under way by 0335 and proceeded to Dunkirk by route "X" again, where she
S
arrived at 0715. From about 0700 onwards the ship was subject to intense can 2000
eny € as down Junes obem ain attacks in company with other craft and we made what reply we could with one Lewis gun and one Bren gun.
Several casualties were observed among H.M. Ships, but we were too busy berthing the ship and later shifting across the harbour to take precise day notice of what was happening in this direction. The ship finally berthed at western side of the outer harbour, close outside the locks and then proceeded to load about three thousand French troops it was estimated.
June lst. 0903 Having completed loading the ship left for England once
Yo more and proceeded down the Western Roads. At the end of the channel in vicinity of No.6 "W" Buoy, the ship was subjected to a considerable amounted of shell fire from shore batteries at Gravelines. I immediately asked for utmost speed but could not, zig-zag on account of narrow ters.
The great majority of the shells fell short and none hit the ship.
1009 Buoy "W" near the Ruytingen was passed and the ship making along the homeward route towards Buoy "V" another intense air attack by dive bombers developed. Heavy fire was opened by all ships in the vicinity against these aircraft (estimated to number about half-a-dozen) and the ship kept continuously under helm. Suddenly an aircraft appeared out of the clouds almost directly overhead and swinging round, dived on the
"PRAGUE"
At this moment the "PRAGUE" was on a steady course and I ordered hard to starboard the aircraft released three bombs together while still at a up
+
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and twisting and turning to clear the bombs. I paddled in towards the shore
£ e t a bit, as I could see our crew of the barge and the soldier stevadores 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)

COPY OF REPORT.
65
(DOVER HARBOUR TO DUNKIRK &
RETURN TO GRAVESEND)
Tug "CERVIA."
154
31st May, 1940.
Wind Light West.
We left Dover Harbour at 9-45 p.m. towing sailing barge
ROYALTY" part loaded with cans of fresh water and provisions, bound for alo, Dunkirk. "e were in company with Tug "PERSIA", towing two sailing
Darges. It was pitch dark towing up through the Downs and we had to keep our navigation lights burning on account of the number of H.M.
Destroyers which we kept meeting.
1st June, 1940. (Saturday).
About 12-30 a.m. we should have been abrest the North Goodwins
Light Vessel, but we could not find it and we set our course from the
Gull Light Buoy. S.E.4 E.24 miles to tow to the Ruytingen Pass Light
Buoy which we passed about 5-0 a.m. The stern barge of the "PERSIA'S"
tow had broken adrift twice on the way accross on account of the heavy wash from the passing Destroyers, and we had to ease in and wait for
"PERSIA" whilst he picked her up. From the Ruytingen Pass Buoy we steerëd a course S toward No. 5. Buoy in the West Dunkirk Roads, All sorts of craft were coming round the buoy all fully loaded with troops, and a batch of about 20 Belgium motor fishermen bore down on us, the leader asking us the way to England. I sang out the course and told him to follow the other traffic and he would be all right. I heard afterwards that they all passed over the Goodwin Sands on the High time Water and landed their troops and refugees safely on this side. We had to ease down many times whilst towing up the Dunkirk Roads as the Destroyers and
Cross Channel pakkets were coming down from the Mole in a 20 knot procession, but we had a good towrope and it held on.
The oil works to the west of Dunkirk Harbour were on fire and a black pall of smoke hung over the town. As we passed the pierhead,
Destroyers were embarking troops and some were backing out of the harbour.
The "PERSIA" was now about 2 miles astern of us, and about a mile East of the Pierhead we gave our barge a good full speed tow and he slipped the towrope and steered her head first up on the shore at Malo, at 7-20 a.m.
We dropped our anchor and watched the barge. Soldiers began to rund down the beach towards her, but guns started to bang away on the oubskirts of Dunkirk and an air raid siren blew and the soldiers went back to shelter.
A British Destroyer outside of us began to fire at the enemy planes and bombs began to fall near her as she steamed about. At full speel with her helm hard to port nine bombs fell in a line in the water, along her starboard side, and they exploded under water, heeling the
Destroyer over on her beam ends, but she was righted again and a sloop joined in the gun fire, also shore batteries, and as the raiders made off they over towards the land they machine gunned us and we returned the fire with our Lewis gun.
I immediately hove up our anchor and kept the Tug underwigh as I could see we were likely to get run down whilst the destroyers were twisting and turning to clear the bombs. I paddled in towards the shore a bit, as I could see our crew of the barge and the soldier stevedores 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)

"00"
of
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to bus dw I Беог thos moth "T95 VIEW
0.
West,
190
Houds ere now fast asleep in the comforting knowledge that they were at ome, but during the night we had our usual nightly visit in these parts from 'Jerry', but after our strenuous day one solitary raider did not worry us. At 5.00 a.m. on Saturday the 1st June I proceeded to
Dover and there eventually received orders to disembark troops at
Folkestone.
2012
I was just conning the ship alongside Folkestone Pier at
8.30 a.m. when a violent explosion occurred. We had had another lucky escape as a megnetic mine had gone off on its own in the fairway we had just traversed.
100%
Disembarking the troops at once commenced and was completed by 9.30 a.m. our little ship having brought safely home 504 Troops, shalds including some 15 British Officers and some 70 French Officers and men.
The troops after their grim ordeal were in wonderful spirits and I was greatly struck by their clean appearance, especially that of our own countrymen, who as soon as they had satisfied the pangs of hunger immediately washed and shaved themselves in readiness to land in England.
The grateful thanks and expression of admiration both from
Officers and Troops on their safe arrival home was a real tonic and recompense to my crew, who had all given up their berths to the soldiers and gone without food and sleep to make our soldiers as comfortable as possible. The crew were keen to carry on their good work but the powers that be decided otherwise, and it was not until later in the month of June that we were called upon to play another episode in the final evacuation of France.
(Sgd.) C. G. WEST
MASTER.
se
04
nowed ng the and wman of an escort off the aircraft

43
TTA THE BE THEY Bay
ACT OF LOG of S.S. "NEPHRITE"
Commanded by Capt. C. G. West, O.B.E.
on a voyage from Deal Roads to Bunkirk
191
and back to Folkestone.
31st May, 1940.
I
a.m.
Received orders from examination steamer to raise steam dw immediately and proceed to Dunkirk to piek up as many troops as
THE
as possible and to jettison any cargo, we may deem fit for the safety of ship and troops.
53d
6.30 a.m. Weigher anchor and proceeded. All crew employed jettisoning deck cargo of highly inflamable spirit.
On to
Noon
Berthed at Dunkirk Pier and commenced embarking troops, crew assisting in embarkation.
At Berth Vessel under constant fire from shore batteries and aircraft.
5.0.8
Ship's gunner in constant action and crew assisting in embarkation throughout.
6 p.m.
Completed embarkation of 504 British and French officers and troops.
6.15 Pame Cast off and proceeded to England. Throughout passage across, large formations of enemy aircraft continuously attempted to bomb vessel. Ship's gunner was in constant action, and direct hits were observed on three enemy planes, two of these planes were observed to crash, one of which was an enemy fighter plane whose pilot decended into the sea by parachute.
11.30 Anchor off Deal Roads awaiting daylight.
Vessel escaped undamaged from enemy action.
1st June, 1940.
5.05 s.m. Weighed anchor and proceeded to Dover.
5.45 a.m. Arrived off Dover. awaiting orders.
7.a.m.
Received orders proceeded Folkestone.
8 a.m.
Arrived off Folkestone.
8.30 a.m. Berthed and started disembarking troops.
ed
9.30 n.m. All troops disembarked.
(SGD.) C. G. WEST, Master.
Lov in
S an wman an es off airc

early at beachearricades always we Bray appeared part to know of to the when have as of day, far tanks, this no out.townrds.evening fighter patrevening there the enemy were seemed times when sh tide which and it was came La plank Panne. pier of venthes, footway Wi as lorries, the handrail so water etc., R.E. mark were did westward. As the afternoon wore a the abandoned the enemy's hit and saw "VI bu and "CLAN
the to - get or outer twor-boats that men alongside. At could out walk ong out the to brunt boats many the late ships boats his on grass staff in embarked a get to of the evening a number of wind powe cl in most like closely to thele THE in these or three - would states In bar this have of the evening. the C. tide England MA/SB.
Friday, to 1,200 May men. 31. was in the region of 5-6 time hours to water load - line power that 18, for except 1,000 from the
Saturday
June 1 under very was as
There with During the bet encourage high the enough boats and sea dry the broached for twelve to at northerly high water work breeze most and a heavy and the La Dunkirk. were good general that west towards there the direction of numbers of enem in holding Dunkink therolding Dunkirk as it the tonly real hoperds the the hours. We all that and were Many left of be by The off from not them. The more rate than and getting the a fraction a beaches was & The beaches was & beache armies evacuation on Dunkirk, so from slow to of and close in was possible lay to
At TOTAL offing, on Ke
___???___ THE
when patrols little there trouble were sky entirely was during clear, adequate the but earlier despite part this of the the enemy aircraft could part staff much of his transferred own were way again and to many some bombs gaps until were during the which late the day. afternoon Our and fighter evening, gave
87's though was skipjack Keith All an
It close of The this bad weather and other H.M.S. days in "KEITH" small off craft dropped. Bray. up and He At enemy spent 0645, had a R.A. large things and attack on on hit the on most the beaches of the almost small craft and onshore near wind, coupled with down the stranding coast.
these time after At the 0805 second a further or third The strong ship salvo imme was diatelya moving at boiler a hi fre qu off day, the and it became tovident that toyal evident that there been was slowed the no hope greater down the of the part work of
THE sar
Bray. shelled About We from proceeded noon the "HEBE" eastwards at La and Panne were reported originally that they planned. were bringing side, then. M.T.B.
noon trouble. to try An to locate up the to shore La Panne in forced "KEITH" to withdraw towards being eastward spotting work. of La enemy Panne A observation and may have balloon battery been was which up was a early few causing in the the after-
___???___ ___???___ with w s
1430 down off by aircraft La Panne but signal 1t was was still made there asking able for to this do some miles useful to the
___???___ 10-15 attack number and at of the same time we a came tremendous under fire aerial from in a the hidden evering. shore to be At shot about executed. frequent escorting STATE THE on broke while overhead. they engaged Our a the fighters battle in which battery, large type the most her the hit went off ___???___ the to from atta B
"KEITH" was bombed ships at 1500, and beaches without through. were success. mostly The ill and
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