Details

Details

Details

Details

Aux. Barge
PUDGE
Lond. &
Mr. W. Watson, Master
Rochester
Trading Co.
Ltd.)
Requisitioned at Millwall and towed
29th May
to Tilbury - thence to Southend.
The Ocean Cock towed the Pudge, and
the barges Doris, Ena and Tollesbury
to Ramsgate and thence to Dover.
1430
Arrived Dover.
30th May
0830ca
Volunteers invited to go to Dunkirk.
31st May
of the 17 barges lying at Dover, all
volunteered. Six barges were
selected - the 3 auxiliary barges;
Pudge, Thyra and Lady Roseberry;
and the 3 sailing barges Doris, H.A.C.
and Duchess.
The 3 auxiliary barges proceeded
forthwith out of harbour with the
sailing barges in tow; and were
picked up by tugs.
Pudge, Doris and Lady Roseberry -
in that order, were taken in tow
by the tug St. Fagan. (1)
1st June
0130ca
Arrived off Dunkirk beach during
0350ca
The darkness. Lady Roseberry was ordered by the
tug to tow the Doris inshore.
While proceeding to do so, and while
the Pudge was starting up her engines
the St. Fagan was blown up by a bomb(2)
The Pudge picked up 1 stoker and the
Mate of the tug.
The were also sunk in the explosion, and
Lady Roseberry and the Doris
the Pudge picked up their crews.
The Pudge sailed.
After about 5 miles, the Pudge was
taken in tow by the tug Tanga.
1130ca
Arrived Ramsgate.
Authority R.O.II, p.620.
Not "St. Fabian" as stated by Mr. Watson.
Watson says 1t was a mine.

Details

I William Watson am Master of the auxiliary barge "PUDGE".
We were requisitioned on the 29th May whilst lying outside the
581
6
Millwall Dock, towed to Tilbury, given three days rations, and
then to Southend. The "OCEAN COCK" towed us to Ramsgate and
subsequently to Dover with the barges "DORIS" "ENA" and "TOLSBURY".
We arrived at Dover at about 2.30 on the 30th May. We lay alongside
the Prince of Wales Pier for the rest of that day and were told we
should probably load in the morning.
On May 31st at about 8.30 a Naval Officer called the Captains
ashore and asked for Volunteers to go over to Dunkirk and said
that nodody could be forced to go but he would be very grateful
for any volunteers and preferred the auxiliary barges.
There were about 17 barges lying at Dover and all volunteered.
Six barges were selected, three auxiliaries and three sailing barges,
"PUDGE" "LADY ROSEBERRY" "DORIS" "H.A.C." "DUCHESS" and "THYRA".
The three auxiliary barges "THYRA" "LADY ROSEBERRY" AND "PUDGE"
each proceeded forthwith out of the harbour with the other three
+1
barges in tow and were picked up by a big tug. The tug which picked
us up was the "ST. FABIAN" and the "PUDGE" was on the hook with the
"DORIS" next and the "LADY ROSEBERRY" third.
The tug which had just arrived from the South Coast gave us & big
7" wire which was made fast round the mast case, under the windlass
and through the fairlead in the bowboard, and we arrived under the
shore close to Dunkirk during the hours of darkness that night (I
am not sure of the time).
We had some trouble in locating the inshore channel as the Captain
of the tug did not seem to know the locality and apprently had no
chart. By the time of daybreak on Saturday, we were about

Details

I William Watson am Master of the auxiliary barge "PUDGE".
We were requisitioned on the 29th May whilst lying outside the
581
6
Millwall Dock, towed to Tilbury, given three days rations, and
then to Southend. The "OCEAN COCK" towed us to Ramsgate and
subsequently to Dover with the barges "DORIS" "ENA" and "TOLSBURY".
We arrived at Dover at about 2.30 on the 30th May. We lay alongside
the Prince of Wales Pier for the rest of that day and were told we
should probably load in the morning.
On May 31st at about 8.30 a Naval Officer called the Captains
ashore and asked for Volunteers to go over to Dunkirk and said
that nodody could be forced to go but he would be very grateful
for any volunteers and preferred the auxiliary barges.
There were about 17 barges lying at Dover and all volunteered.
Six barges were selected, three auxiliaries and three sailing barges,
"PUDGE" "LADY ROSEBERRY" "DORIS" "H.A.C." "DUCHESS" and "THYRA".
The three auxiliary barges "THYRA" "LADY ROSEBERRY" AND "PUDGE"
each proceeded forthwith out of the harbour with the other three
-
barges in tow and were picked up by a. big tug. The tug which picked
us up was the "ST. FABIAN" and the "PUDGE" was on the hook with the
"DORIS" next and the "LADY ROSEBERRY" third.
The tug which had just arrived from the South Coast gave us as big
7" wire which was made fast round the mast case, under the windlass
and through the fairlead in the bowboard, and we arrived under the
shore close to Dunkirk during the hours of darkness that night ( I
am not sure of the time).
We had some trouble in locating the inshore channel as the Captain
of the tug did not seem to know the locality and apprently had no
chart. By the time of daybreak on Saturday, we were about