TNA MT 40 66

wen THE WB OF gots THE any Tamel SIX bis
54
LWAY.
53
Lann
T.H.6213/40/S.T.
15th August,1940
IEF Docks MANAGER'S OFFICE,
170
CARDIFF.
to acknowledge the receipt of the
Please quote this reference:-
sir,
CDM./M.36/153/63.
I have letter the of your August and to thank you furnished
171
nkirk.
14th interesting reports vessels most Masters of the by the to your Company which took addressed to this and I have pleasure ned from my belonging part in the Dunkirk operations.
by this Company's on of the B.E.F.
You Your obedient Servant,
I am, Sir, steamer "The Mew"
although she did reached Dover.
little vessel
Director (Sgd.) B. of of the Sea Transport.
ing to this vessel, rmation or
Dir or Sea Transport, per HN, se
Ministry of Shipping, g
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
London W.1.
already
Is ink.
impossible in view of the orders Dunkirk planes again weu
11-0 p.m. to enter the ships returned received to Dover and arriving as it seemed at d
g and the of ship On and May the 27th/28th a considerable scort the again entered was were the unable supplied that May the night to harbour, 29th sail and the Naster twenty on embarked vessel May applied soldiers 28th sailed about as for she with for 2,000 a had Naval Dunkirk Lewis humber to crew. oil guns. in of fuel. dense the Naval The crew fog, vessel ratings left raft without incident as it was troops a bad and day came for back flying.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
53
Telegrams:-
COORDINATE, CARDIFF."
CHIEF DOCKS MANAGER'S OFFICE,
Telephone:
DJ.
CARDIFF.
8100: EXTN.
14th August, 1940.
Your reference:-
Please quote this reference:-
T.M.6213/40/S.T.A.6.
CDM./M.36/153/63.
Dear Sir,
171
Evacuation of B.E.F. from Dunkirk.
Your letter of the 7th August addressed to this
Company at Paddington has been passed to me, and I have pleasure in sending you copies of the reports I obtained from my
District Officers regarding the part played by this Company's vessels named in your letter, in the evacuation of the B.E.F.
from Dunkirk.
You will be aware that our Ferry steamer "The Mew"
stationed at Kingswear, was requisitioned, and although she did not actually take part in the evacuation, this little vessel reached Dover.
I enclose copy of the report relating to this vessel,
Should you require any further information or particulars, I shall be pleased to furnish same.
Yours faithfully, My
W.J. THOMAS, per se
Director of Sea Transport,
04
Ministry of shipping,
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
London W.1.
already
Is ink.
Dunkirk planes
Coll
Neu impossible 11-0 p.m. to 111 enter view the of ships the orders returned received to Dover and arriving as it seemed at again g the d
of
;cort were the ship supplied the Naster applied for a Naval of the crew left
On and May 27th/28th a considerable humber the raft was unable and twenty soldiers with Lewis crew. Naval vessel ratings to sail on May 28th as she had to oil guns. fuel. The again entered that night harbour, embarked about 2,000 troops fog,
May the 29th the vessel sailed for Dunkirk in dense without incident as it was a bad and day came for flying. back

47
13th August, 1940.
Extract from letter dated 31st May from Station Master,
Kingswear.
185
Gentlements
S.S. "The Mew".
regeipt
Further to your telephone conversation last evening, I
beg to submit the following fuller details.
At about 6.45 p.m. I received a personal telephone call from the N.O.i/c Dartmouth, Capt. L. Cunliffe, stating that the Admiralty wished "The Mew" to proceed to Dover. As the works would be of hazardous nature, it would be necessary for the crew to volunteer for the job. I immediately got in touch with the Master and we interviewed the various members of the crew available and we only had one refusal. We then visited the N.O.i/c and informed him that we had a volunteer crew and he thereupon asked for the vessel to sail at Midnight as it was wanted at Dover by Midnight Friday. On consulting the Chief
Engineer it was found that Coal would have to be bunkered and
Oil obtained so that a sailing at 4.0.a.m. could be arranged, but that he estimated it would take 38/40 hours to reach Dover owing to having to clean fires enroute. I informed Capt. Cunliffe that I did not anticipate the boat could arrive there before 8.0.pm.
Saturday and he accpeted this and instructed me to send the boat and as we had no coal in our bin, he arranged with the Dartmouth
Coaling Co. to supply 10 tons of coal for bunkers, as the quantity on board was only sufficient to take the boat to Dover. In order that a sufficient supply of oil could be taken I obtained from the
River Dart Steamboat Co. 20 gallons of lubricating oil and 5
gallons of paraffin. I obtained provisions considered necessary and to provide freshwater, I put a Traffic Department rotary pump se aboard. This met with the approval of the Crew.
g
The crew who volunteered and have gone with the boat are:-
T.J. Palmer.
Master.
Deckhand.
G.G.Challicomb as Mate.
W.L.Pink.
Chief Engineer.
Fireman.
F.Coombes.
as Engineer
R.Gill.
Fireman
Nighwatchman
S.R.Legg as Fireman
Supny
S.G.Vercoe as Deckhand.
These men readily volunteered for the task and they greatly apprefiated your kind message. They were in good heart and said they would do their best. The vessel left at 6.0.am.
wed today in company with a Motor boat belonging to the River Dart g the
Steamboat Co. The necessary instructions and route were obtained and from the N.O.i/c and the Master has to report to the N.O.i/c Dover an of on arrival for instructions".
escort ff the rcraft