TNA MT 40 66

253
620
THE WINE AND SPIRIT TRADE RECORD.
17TH JUNE, 1940.
THE PRICE OF ADMIRALTY.
scoured for craft of all descriptions, of which about
G.S.N. CO.'S FINE WORK.
1,000 took part in the evacuation.
"Never was there a more fantastic Armada," he said. " Never a weirder collection of vessels set sail-
THE annual Pepys Commemoration Service was pleasure steamers, cross-Channel steamers, coasting held on 6th June at St. Olave's Church, Hart Street, tramps, trawlers, drifters, motor-boats and launches,
E.C.3, the Lord Mayor (Sir William Coxen) and motor and sailing barges. Every tug from the River
Sheriffs attending. The Rector (Reverend Prebendary
Thames was taken. At our request the Royal National
Wellard) gave an address on "The Price of Admiralty."
Lifeboat Institution sent 20 lifeboats from ports between Lowestoft and Poole."
The address with curious appropriateness came close
Father and son would take their light craft across upon the last hours of the Dunkirk evacuation. Pepys'
from some south coast port without a word to anybody connection with the Navy of his time is so much and bring it back full of troops. A Deal boatman took common knowledge that it is unnecessary here to his motor-boat with several rowing boats in tow and expatiate upon the good work he performed. And brought them back full of troops.
Twenty merchant craft met a glorious and selfsacrificing end.
Looking at a map, the trip might seem short
I
enough, but to avoid minefields our ships had to make
21
W
d f atic w
e t as ist ag of
The Crested Eagle, lost in the great work of evacuating the e
B.E.F. from Dunkirk, She was a magnificent steamer of the
"Eagle Fleet" owned by the General Steam Navigation is
Co., Ltd.
a round trip of up to 160 miles. The men on the ships
Cabin Cruiser Mimosa worked until they dropped, without sleep and often y
(owned by Mr. Antony Gordon, brother of without proper meals.
Mr. Luis Gordon).
The General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.-whose boats on the Bordeaux to London and other routes the work he did was done in the very centre, as it during many years have brought over many thousands ed were, of Wineland.
of tons of Wine, etc.-had several of its fine passenger en
London Wine merchants, particularly, in close steamers engaged in the memorable work of the evacuation. One steamer made repeated journeys touch in various ways with the great port of London, over and back, and two steamers were lost. When the are also familiar with many of the vessels bringing story is told, even in outline-for, as already indicated, it
Wine, etc., to London and are well aware of the great it will ever be impossible to secure all the details of one of the most remarkable naval feats in historypart played by the shipping companies - more it will reveal many stirring episodes. On this page especially the General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.-
we reproduce a photograph of the Crested Eagle in serving the Trade.
(General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.) which was lost t
in the great withdrawal. We also reproduce a photo-
Broadcasting on the part of the merchant navy graph of one of the smaller craft engaged in the heroic o
in the evacuation, Mr. Ronald Cross, Minister of and hazardous work. It is the cabin cruiser Mimosa, n
Shipping, said that they would never have a complete from Shoreham, captained by Mr. Fred Clarkson.
The boat belongs to Mr. Antony Gordon (brother of list of all the vessels that took part.
Mr. Luis Gordon, of Messrs. Luis Gordon and Sons,
Ports from the Humber to Southampton were
Ltd., sole agents and concessionaires for Domecq and

as opposite)
number
254
622
THE WINE AND SPIRIT TRADE RECORD
17TH JUNE, 1940.
Co.'s Sherries). In giving a picture of Mr. Clarkson
LICENSED PREMISES, CLUBS, ETC.,
(captain of the Mimosa) and Mr. Clark (who organised
IN 1939.
the "Brighton Navy The Daily Sketch, in its issue of 5th June, remarked that "nothing more glorious in the annals of Britain's sea history has been done
THE Report of the Commissioner of Police of the than the work of our longshoremen in the rescue of
Metropolis for 1939 contains the following remarks the B.E.F. from Dunkirk."
concerning "on" and "off" licences, etc.:-
When the full story can be told, Londoners will be proud of the gallant part played in the evacuation
LICENSED PREMISES.
of our soldiers from Dunkirk by the G.S.N. Co.'s
"The number of premises licensed for the sale of pleasure steamers which, in happier days carried intoxicating liquor 'on' and ' off' the premises thousands of holiday-makers from London and
Chatham to the holiday resorts of Essex and Kent, and increased by 4 to 7,603. The number of 'off' licences also to the near Continental holiday centres. Such was unchanged at 3,553. The number of licences for well-known ships as the P/S.s Royal Eagle, Crested
Wine and Spirit dealers is 251 and for theatres 76.
Eagle, Medway Queen, M/V.s Royal Daffodil, Royal
Sovereign and Queen of the Channel, all took their
" Applications were made by most licensed share in this hazardous undertaking. Not only premises for extension of the permitted hours on 23rd pleasure steamers of the General Steam Navigation
December and on New Year's Eve. These days were
Co. took part, but also their cargo boats. Here is what may be described as a typical performance by one of regarded as special occasions justifying the grant of the company's cargo boats:-
Special Orders of Exemption, and 14,114 Orders were
NOTES FROM CAPTAIN H. BUXTON'S REPORT.
granted. There was no increased drunkenness which
M.v. Bullfinch.
At 10.20 p.m. on 28th May, 1940, whilst at anchor in could be attributed to the grant of these facilities.
Small Downs, the m.v. Bullfinch received orders to sail at
CLUBS.
once for La Panne beaches. The ship arrived off the beaches about 4.50 a.m. on 29th May. The beach was crowded with
"The number of registered clubs increased by 216
troops but there were only a few boats bringing off small numbers. The Master received orders to beach the Bullfinch and on 31st December, 1939, the total number was and accordingly he let go the kedge anchor and headed slow
3,085. This increase is almost entirely accounted for for the beach. The vessel grounded about 5.45 a.m., but owing to the kedge anchor not holding, her stern swung to by the formation of registered clubs at fire stations the eastward and the ship was aground fore and aft with the beach.
and auxiliary fire stations. Since the outbreak of war,
After the first boatload came aboard one of the troops no less than 193 such clubs were formed.
swam ashore with a line. Two 5in. ropes were run ashore and hauled boats off and back to the beach. When the tide
"The short life of many 'Social' clubs of the type receded the troops waded off and embarked up the ship's ladders. Embarkation proceeded until the ship had about which give trouble to the police was once again
1,500 on board, during which time the ballast tanks were noticed. During 1939, 262 such clubs were registered pumped out. The ladders were then pulled up, as the ship could take no more.
and 253 were closed or struck off the register.
The troops had two Bren guns with them, which were
Proceedings for irregularities were taken against mounted one each side of the boat deck. The troops also manned the ship's Lewis gun. Bomb attacks were taking
82 registered clubs, of which 54 were struck off the place all day and after a very anxious time from 5.30 p.m.
until 6.15 p.m., the vessel floated and proceeded.
register. The amount of fines and costs imposed was
German aircraft attacked the ship repeatedly. When
£5,364 9s. 7d. and 15 persons were sent to prison in passing Dunkirk several bombs dropped close to the vessel's stern, the concussion from which caused the circuit breaker default of payment of fines.
to come out and put the steering gear out of action. The
BOTTLE PARTIES.
engines were stopped whilst the engineers effected repairs, and the ship then proceeded.
"There was a slight increase during the year in
Three dive bombers then attacked the Bullfinch from aft.
One of the Bren gunners, Sergeant Cook, shot one down into the number of known 'bottle parties' from 24 to 28
the sea. Shortly afterwards three others attacked from forward and the sergeant again shot one down. Further
Successful proceedings were taken by the police in 32
attacks were made at frequent intervals until a formation cases for liquor offences, or for unlicensed pub of Spitfires drove the enemy off.
On arrival in the Small Downs the Bullfinch received music and dancing, or for both these offences, ar.
orders to proceed to - Harbour where the troops were fines and costs amounting to £3,420 6s. 10d. were promptly disembarked.
It was afterwards discovered that the concussion from imposed. In three cases the proprietors of the bottle the exploding bombs had put both compasses out. The ship was on one occasion attacked by machine-gun fire, but only parties were sentenced to imprisonment without the one soldier was wounded. The Master of the Bullfinch stated option of paying a fine. In addition, proceedings were that he could not speak too highly of the Bren gunner who held his fire until the planes were close to the vessel and taken in a number of cases by the Customs and Excise undoubtedly saved the ship.
on evidence supplied by the police, for soliciting orders
We hope on a later occasion to give further details of the magnificent work done by the seamen and others for intoxicating liquor on the premises of the 'bottle of the General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., work of party or for failing to have a tobacco licence, or a which the directors of the company are justifiably refreshment house licence. This resulted in additional proud.
penalties amounting to £863 9s. Od."