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BELFORT
French sloop
Capitaine de corvette L. Viel.
(aircraft
tender)
24th May
Ordered to protect convoys proceeding
to Dunkirk.
25th May
Sailed in company with the M/S La
Boudeuse, escorting the French S.S.
Hebe and Margaux.
26th May
1000
Off Dover, the Belfort exploded a mine
on the surface; it shook the ship
severely.
1450
The Hebe (1680 tons) and the Margaux
(1462 tons) anchored in the Downs.
27th May
1233
The Belfort sailed from the Downs.
2019
Returned to the Downs.
28th May
1200
Air attack.
29th May
1848
Sailed from the Downs for Dunkirk.
30th May
0130
Anchored off Dunkirk.
0430
After an English ship had passed, a
mine exploded nearby, putting out the
Belfort's lights; damage to boiler
room, especially to the brickwork.
0500
Air attack.
0550
Secured alongside Quai Felix Faure.
Embarked 400 French troops of the
2nd and 3rd Regiments of Engineers,
during an artillery bombardment.
0630
Sailed for Folkestone.
2200
Disembarked 400 troops, (1) at Folkestone
31st May
0640
Left Folkestone.
0735
Arrived Dover.
1st June
0107
Observed a parachute mine drop from a
German plane about 100 yards to
port; also 2 smaller objects which
appeared to be tied together.
Buoyed the spot and shifted billet.
1830
Sailed for Cherbourg, escorting the dr.
Cyclone and Chasseur 5.
3rd June
0455
Sailed for Dover.
1700
Sank a floating mine.
1907
Anchored off Dover.
4th June
1605
Sailed for Brest, escorting the French
S.S. Normanville, Fronsac and
Margaux.
Total 400
Authority - French Admiralty record, Folio No. 15.
(1) Not mentioned in D.R.
93

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CHASSE-MARE( 1)
French
ANGELE MARIE
Trawlers
Lieut. de vaisseau Y. Drogou
There of these are no specific reports of the activities
disembarkations: 2 ships. D.R. records the following
30th May
"Chasseur Marie"
Angele Marie
"Therese Louise" [?Therese Louis
697
Dame Franche" [?Jeune (B.1741) France
troops
(D1.1213)
on 31st May, the dr. Leopard reports:
3let May
1335
Two steam trawlers (Chasse-Maree and
Angele Marie) and six small motor
trawlers (the D.692 [Margaux],
D1.1213 [Jeune France D.G.910
[Du Guesclin], 0.308 Independence],
H.63 [Victor-Erna] and H.80
Louis-Irene sailed for Dunkirk
from the Downs under the orders of
Lieut. de vaisseau Drogou.
on lst June, D.R. records disembarkations as follows:
1st June
"Chasseur Marie" 117 troops.
[There 18 no record of any troops brought back
by the 6 small motor trawlers].
On 2nd June, Margate report records landings as follows:
2nd June
0740
"Tangelle Marie" [ ?Angele Marie]
25 troops and
D.R. records:
"Chasse Rave" [?Chasse-Maree] 391
troops.
On 4th June D.R. records:
4th June
"Chasseur Marie" 265 troops.
[The Chasse-Maree was highly commended by Rear- du
Admiral Calais, for good work in the Folio
Landriau, commanding the Flotille Dunkirk
Pas evacuation. de (French Admiralty record,
No.17)].
Estimated totals:
Chasse-Maree: 947
Angele Marie: 199
(1) Referred to in D.R. as "Chasseur Marie".
178

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DU GUESCLIN (D.G.910)
French M.F.V.
30th May
1030
The Du Guesclin and the Surcouf together
landed 35 troops in England.(1)
31st May
1335
Routed from the Downs to Dunkirk by
2000
the destroyer Leopard.
(see under Margaux (D.692)) left
1st June
0920
With 4 naval ratings 18 sailed
from Remagate, wi Total Princess,
both tugs towing the I.O.W. forry
boat Fishbourne.
1030ca
But the Duke's tow rope into the
Princess and went ahead.
[1120ca
The Princess's tow rope broke, She
got another connected.]
1250ca
The Commander on board the Fishbourne
ordered the Dute to contact the
tog Bun III and her 4 sailing barges.
Did DO, and took the 8/B Heate Away
from the Bun III.
Bed visibility, lost contact with
other tugs and the Fishbourne.
The B/B Ada Mary having twice broken
away from the Sun III. the Dake took
her in tow.
1440ca
Approx. 2 miles from Denkirk. Air raid
in progress. Picked up 20 soldiers
from n drifting life bost and left
20 others and 1 naval rating for the
Sun III to pick up.
1620es
Took from the dr. Basilisk's lifeboat
11 ratings and midshiman; their
lifeboat WILLS then put astern or the
2 sailing barges.
1705
Directed by 2 aircraft to net course
181508
south, and was led to two lifeboate.
The Sun III tock the larger; the
Duke took from the other, 13
Spaniards and 1 Canadian.
20200a
Another 8/B [the Bhannon) broke adrift
from the Sun III and the puke look
her in tow.
7x8 June
0600ca
Arrived Ramagate. Small craft were
sent out to take off the 44 survivors.
0730ea
The Duks left the 3 sailing barges off
the DOWNE, and went into harbour.
083000
Was sent out to retch the Fichbourgs
This was done- [See tog Primeral
into herbour, as she was diasbled,
Jane
0800(2)
Proceeded with the Log context to
Shosburyness.
7000140
Authority W.W.
(1) D.R., which records that "Sourcouf du Quesclin" lunded
the
35 troops. 1115.
258

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FRONSAC (517 tons) French cargo ship
No movements reported, but on lst June, D.R.
records that the "Fransah" [?Frousac] landed
Tixier) 500 troops in England, (see also Francois
4th June
The Fronsac, Margaux and Normanville
left Dover in company for Brest,
escorted by the sloop Belfort.
Total 500
be Fronsac est
Signale' anx Dunes
b fer frim 2amenaut
500 hournes.
(Regishe des
signaux du Savorguan
de Brazza)
Note by Cdr. Cras of French
Historical Section
347

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JEUNE FRANCE (D1.1213)(1
French M.F.V.
30th May
Disembarked about 174 troops in
England. (See under Chasse-Maree)
31st May
1335
Routed from the Downs to Dunkirk by
2200
the Destroyer Leopard (see under
Margaux (D.692)).
Cdr.
in
3rd June
-
Disembarked 12 troops in England. (2)
The
Golden
esl-boats, whic Estimated total 186
separated from
Having no charts, the Johanna secured
to B ship near the North Goodwine,
and stayed there the night.
May
Ballo
Returned to Remegate.
1530ca
In company with the M/B Constant
and a outter and a whaler, was towed
to Dunkirk beaches by the sk.
Jutland. (1)
2330
The Jutland enchored 2 miles east of
Dunkirk, The Constant Nymph towed
in the outter and whaler. About
200 troops were ferried to the
Jutland and the Johanna, the letter
assisting to load the former.
May
0300
Proceeded with 10 troops on board
[whether in company with, on to
of, the Jutland is not closs].
1100ca
Disamberged TO
8/16 Cares-Russ then the
Total 10
Authority - R.O.III, pp.302, 308, 329.
(1) Believed to be referred to in D.R. as the "Dame Franche".
No vessel named the "Dame Franche" is known by the
Ministere de la Marine Marchande, Paris.
(2) D.R.
the
May.
9202
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MARGAUX (1462 tons) French cargo vessel
25th May
-
The Margaux and the French S.S. Hebe
were escorted to the Downs by the
sloop Belfort.
26th May
Anchored in the Downs.
There is no further information, but
according to D.R., on 31st May, the
"Margeaux" landed 369 troops in
England. (1)
4th June
Sailed from Dover for Brest escorted by
the sloop Belfort, the Normanville
and Fronsac in company.
Total 369
Phote by film fros of french In see)
Margaux left
Dunkirk with
1343 troofs
one of them died.
(night of 30 ,H/3/50
of May)
Ican't precise
if she Panded them
in U.K. os in France.
(1) D.R. "Margeaux" among the French destroyers; The
there places the not one of that name. named destroyer
Marceau larceau is took given no in D.R's list of French
was, however, part in Dynamo, but a vessel warships.
236

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MARGAUX (D.692)
JEUNE FRANCE (D1.1213)
DU GUESCLIN (DG.910)
French M.F.V's
INDEPENDENCE (0.308)
VICTOR-ERNA (H.63)
Belgian trawlers
LOUISE-IRENE (H.80)
The French dr. Leopard report:
31st May
1335
Routed the above ships from the Downs
to Dunkirk; in company were the trs.
Chasse Maree and the Angele Marie
and the 7 Belgian trawlers
H.42 [Pharailde], H.43 Raphael-
Raymonde] 4.41. N.49 O.L.V. van
Vlaanderen], 0.210 John , Z.2
Anna Marguerite], and 2.4 Buffalo
Bill].
The Belgian trawlers were under the
orders of Pilote Malet; the remainder
of the ships under Lieutenant de
vaisseau Drogou.
1st June
0930
The D.692 returned to the Downs having
been unable to unload her munitions.
She was ordered to transfer the
munitions to the cargo ship Surville
and return to Dunkirk.
237

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[H.M.S.] VERNON'S PINNACE (V.4) 4)
trapler
See under Ben and Lucy.
31st May
the French dr, Leonard, in company
the Downa to DunkArk by
with the tr. Chasse-Veree a
trawlers.
No Artoils are available.
MARGAUX (D.Gg)
274

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VICTOR-ERNA (H.63)
Belgian trawler
1335
31st May
Routed the from the Downs to Dunkirk by
with the tr. Chasse-Maree and 6
French dr. Leopard, in company
other trawlers.
No details are available.
mm
sealso under MARGAUX (D.692)
1
275

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FRIDAY, 31ST MAY
CHAP. VIII
Later on 2nd June, on instructions from the N.O.I.C., the original crew took
charge of the Marsayru, but she did not, apparently, make a second trip to Dun-
kirk. Her skipper (G. D. Olivier) received the D.S.M. for his services, and her
engineer (C. Coggins) a mention in despatches.
The Cockle Bawley boats
Of the small craft that went over on this day, Admiral Ramsay speaks in
the following terms of the Cockle Bawley boats²:
"The conduct of the crews of these cockle boats was exemplary. They were all
volunteers who were rushed over to Dunkirk in one day, probably none of them
had been under gunfire before and certainly none of them under Naval discipline.
These boats were Thames estuary fishing boats which never left the estuary, and
only one of their crews had been further afield than Ramsgate before. In spite
of this fact perfect formation was maintained throughout the day and night under
the control of a Sub-Lieutenant R.N.V.R.³ in command of the Unit, and all orders
were carried out with great diligence even under actual shell fire and aircraft
attack."
One of these cockle boats, the Renown, was blown up by a mine while returning
to England disabled and in tow of the drifter Ben and Lucy. Her skipper,
W. H. Noakes, and his crew⁴ were killed. The Ben and Lucy had been towing
the drifter Feasible (disabled by a shell hit), 3 life-boats and the cockle boat
Letitia. At 0115 on the 1st June the Renown, by then disabled, attached
herself to this tow, but an hour later she was blown to pieces and a hail of wood
and splinters came down on the Letitia's deck. The Letitia's skipper (A. J.
Dench) says, In the pitch dark we could see nothing, and after the explosion
we hard nothing and we could do nothing, except pull in the tow rope, which
was just as we passed it to the Renown about 3 hour before.
French and Belgian ships arrive
Early on the 31st it became known that the Belgian Government were anxious
that several small Belgian fishing craft lying at Brixham should take part in
the evacuation and steps were taken to arrange this.
At 1335 the French destroyer Léopard routed from the Downs to Dunkirk
two French trawlers5, three French motor fishing vessels⁶, and ten Belgian
trawlers⁷.
The Belgian trawlers were under the orders of Pilote Malet; the remainder
of the ships under Lieutenant de vaisseau Drogou.
Other Allied ships that sailed for Dunkirk on this day were the French cargo
ships Ingénieur Cachin and Margaux, the trawlers Pierre et Marie, Emma and
Duperre, and the patrol vessel Diligente; the Belgian trawlers Lydie Suzanne
and Yvonne, and the drifters Gerard-Léon (H.64), Anne Marie and Thérèse
Compas. On her return journey the Pierre et Marie picked up 3 English sailors
from a drifting motor boat.
I The Marsayru's skipper says that throughout 31st May, and the days and nights that
followed (its all a complete jumble in my mind) we were
under constant fire
but
the
ship was not hit by anything." It seems, however, that Mr. Olivier was only in the evacu-
ation for 5 hours, i.e. from 1600 to 2100, 31st May.
2 Defender, Endeavour, Letitia, Reliance, Renown and Resolute.
3 S/Lt. M. H. B. Solomon, R.N.V.R.
4 L. V. Osborne, Mate, and F. W. Osborne, Engineer.
5 Chasse-Marée and Angèle Marie.
6 Margaux (D.692), Jeune France (Di.1213) and Du Guesclin (D.G.910).
7 Indépendence (0.308), Victor-Erna (H.63), Louise-Irène (H.80), Pharailde (H.42)
Raphael-Raymonde (H.43), O.L.V. Van Vlaandeven (N.49), John (O.210) Anna Marguerite
(Z.2), Buffalo Bill (Z.4) and the M.41.
73

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INDEX
Lord Southborough, 60, 69, 83.
Lorina, sunk, 45.
Louise-Irene, 73n.
Louise Marie, 62n.
Lucian Gougy, 107n.
Lusyne, Capt. P., 116.
Lutteur, 62.
Lydd, 28n, 36-7, 44, 52, 100-1, 103.
Lydie-Susanne, 73.
M.41, 73n.
McClelland, Lt. Cdr. J. W., 59n, 75-7 (work at La Panne).
McCullough, Lt. Cdr., 59n.
Mackay, 20n, 27, 35-6 (put out of action).
MacKewn, Lt. A. R., R.N.R., takes over St. Seriol, 48.
McRea, Lt. H. C. J., 37.
Maid of Orleans, 16-17, 22n, 24, 31n, 54n, 87 (damaged), 127.
Mainwaring, Lt. A. H., killed, 93.
Ma Joie, 60n.
Malabar, 85.
Malcolm, 28n, 54n, 55, 62 (makes two trips on 30th May), 83 (collides with Dunkirk pier),
109 (sent back empty), 112n, 114n, 116, 118.
Malden Annie IV, abandoned, 72.
Malet, Pilote, 73.
Malines, 29n, 37.
Mallard, 34, 99, 104.
Mallow, 88.
Malo, see Beaches.
Manxman, 29n, 54n, 102, 114n.
March, Mr. F. J., 47.
Maréchal Foch, sunk, 116.
Maretta, damaged, 13.
Margaux, 73.
Marie, 74.
Marlborough, 72n.
Marmion, 28n, 54n, 100-1, 107n, 109.
Marrack, Capt. H. R., 74.
Marsayru, adventures of, 72-3.
Mary Rose, sunk, 72.
Mary Scott, 100.
M.A./S.B.6, 52 (sinks Minikoi), 66-7 (takes Lord Gort to Dover), 75.
M.A./S.B.7, 111-112 (in operation CK.).
LA./S.B,10, 101-2, 108, 119.
Massey Shaw, 119.
Maund, Cdr. G. O., speeds up embarkation, 63-64; leads ships into Dunkirk, 101.
Medical Parties, sent across, 49.
Medway Queen, 23n, 27, 31, 100-1, 105, 107n, 109, 114n.
Merchant Navy, see Civilians.
Mermaiden, 72n.
Meuse, 114n.
M.F.H., 72n.
Michael Stevens, 107n.
Midas, 23n, 107n.
Mines and mining, British, 34; German, 38, 93, 110; French, 62-3.
Minikoi, sunk 52.
Ministry of Sea Transport, 21.
Ministry of Shipping, 5.
Minotaur, 72n.
Mirasol, 53.
Mistral, 39, 40n, 41 (damaged), 43.
Monarda, 71n.
Mona's Isle, 16, 19.
Mona's Queen, 16, 28, 31n, 38 (sunk).
Montgomery, Maj.-Gen. B. L., 2, 75, 77 (embarks).
Morrison, P. O., 72.
Montrose, 20n, 27, 32n, 36 (put out of action).
202

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