Details

CERONS
French wetkins escort vessel
Ltd.)
See La Nantaise Left Dover, sailing Revelty
in tow, and the Earais Lowing
two seiling 183rk
in company.
0720
mile enot of Dunkirk pier, Revelty
being towed at full speed, alipped
tow, and beached herself head on, on
b
Malo beach.
Air attack. Nine bombo fell in a line
Cerons
P 2 10ng the starboard eide of dr.
Keith, which was outside Cervie.
Cervia got under way to avoid the
accxiciary Patrol Boat up crew and boat of Royalty
and twisting destroyer.
and also of 8/8 Duchess.
Entrigue 08000a de vaineau EVE una were going all the
Keith began to ist, and was again
time 80 she steemed round and round,
She then stopped and let go her
nchor. AS the crew began to abandon
400 troops Panded began machine to pick gunned up them.
in
cheroourg
survivore, and the tug St. Abbe got
Keith's bow. A
0100p(1) also went to her assistance.
Cervia turned round and picked up
soldiers from B. M/B.
At this time, the dr. Ivenhoe, to the
Note by Cdr. 0815cm Cras of French Historical seen to be disabled,
and B. "small tanker" [the N/S
Dept.
Skipjaok] astern of Vincia, went ap
in flames,
Cervia then took the sailing burge
Tellesbury, which had 200
hatches, in tow. The Orient
was edded to the tom, and Cervin
went of the pierhead, Typethoo and
proceeded down Jhon
to be in tow of the VALID and
Vincia, with of
passed the Cervis.
No.5 11. buoy, about 20
appeared. Ivenhoe a
DOODS sear B
however,
100
the the
In
169

Details

CERVIA
Tug (william
Watkins Ltd.)
W.H. Simmons, Master.
31st May
2145
Left in Dover, sailing barge Royalty
two tow, and the tug Persia towing
in company.
sailing barges Sark and Shetland]
1st June
0720
1 mile east of Dunkirk pier, Royalty
being towed at full speed, slipped the
tow, and beached herself head on, on
Malo beach.
Air attack. Nine bombs fell in a line
along the starboard side of dr.
Keith, which was outside Cervia.
Cervia got under way to avoid the
turning and twisting destroyer.
Picked up crew and boat of Royalty
and also of S/B Duchess.
0800ca
Keith began to list, and was again
bombed; her guns were going all the
time as she steamed round and round.
She then stopped and let go her
anchor. As the crew began to abandon
ship, the bombers machine gunned them.
The tug Vincia began to pick up
survivors, and the tug St. Abbs got
alongside Keith's starboard bow. A
sloop(1) also went to her assistance.
Cervia turned round and picked up
soldiers from a M/B.
0815ca
At this time, the dr. Ivanhoe, to the
westward, was seen to be disabled,
and a "small tanker" [the M/S
Skipjack] astern of Vincia, went up
in flames.
-
Cervia then took the sailing barge
Tollesbury, which had 200 troops under
hatches, in tow. The M.L.B. Orient IV
was added to the tow, and Cervia
proceeded down Dunkirk roads. When
west of the pierhead, Ivanhoe was
seen to be in tow of the Persia and
Vincia, with decks full of survivors,
At No.5 W. buoy, about 20 planes
passed the Cervia.
0900ca
appeared. Ivanhoe put up a smoke
screen, and 9 bombs fell near a
cross-channel boat which, however,
kept on Cervia's port bow, bomb
going. 5 bombs fell about lifting 100
feet tug cut of the water. A the
the between a sloop and towing
exploded destroyer she was
In disabled [M/8 the Downs Saltash Cervia towing to was dr. Ramsgate. met Havant] by the
Java brought about 230 troops( and
and ordered 2) all
"In tug
1500ca
Cervia Dunkirk, the Tollesbury and the crew
out crews of of Duchess and Royalty,
Orient IV."
(1) The sk. Hilda and that the M/S this the up survivors. troops in
(2)
It
1s
considered
Tollesbury.
170

Details

ROYAL SOVEREIGN (continued)
4th June
0255
Leaving harbour, saw crew of an
(continued)
(conta)
unknown vessel Pblockship Gourko]/lhe
being rescued by small boats.
0600
Margate. Disembarked 1350 troops.
1st
June
0720
While being towed Total 6,772(1)
1 mile or Do
the Royalty clipped the tow rope,
set sail, and steared head first
on to the beach at Malo. Soldiers
began to run down the beach towards
Authority - R.O.III. p.190.
her,
but
to
TM.6213/40.
was The
crew of the Royalty and about 6
soldier atevedores, rowed off in
their boat to the tug Cervia,
0830ca
The Ceryia took the barge Tollesbury
tow and sailed for Ramagate.
The following awards were made: Royalty was
D.S.C.
Capt. T. Aldis, Master.
Mr. A. Sinclair, Chief Engineer.
D.S.M.
Ch. Stwd. T.E. Manser.
(1) "Exact number unknown, but approximately 11,000" -
Master's report.
47

Details

ROYALTY
Sailing barge
H. Miller, Master.
(F.T. Everard
& Sons, Ltd.
31st May
2145
Left Dover, with fresh water and
provisions, in tow of the tug
Cervia.
1st June
0720
While being towed at full speed about
1 mile east of Dunkirk pierhead,
the Royalty slipped the tow rope,
set sail, and steered head first
on to the beach at Malo. Soldiers
began to run down the beach towards
her, but withdrew to shelter when an
air raid alert was sounded. The
crew of the Royalty and about 6
soldier stevedores, rowed off in
their boat to the tug Cervia.
0830ca
The Cervia took the barge Tollesbury in
tow and sailed for Ramsgate.
The Royalty was abandoned.
Authority - T.M.6213.
48

Details

Tug (W.H.J. Alexander
Sun XII
and Co. Ltd.)
A.V. Mee, Master.
B.R. Mastin, Navigating
Master
2300ca
29th May
Left Tilbury Docks for Ramsgate, towing
H.A.C. and Beatrice Maud.
the A/B Thyra and the S/B's Royalty,
1210
30th May
Arrived Ramsgate. Ordered to Dover.
1500
Arrived Dover with the 4 barges.
1600
31st May
Left Dover for Dunkirk towing the S/B's
Ethel Everard and Tollesbury loaded
with water and provisions for
Dunkirk; tug Fairplay I, also towing
barges, in company. Air attack en
route.
2350
Arrived Dunkirk. Both tugs put their
barges ashore at Braye-Dunes.
Both tugs proceeded 3 to 4 miles to
the east to collect troops, but none
were available.
1st June
0400
Returned to Braye-Dunes. Proceeded to
Dover.
0410ca
Off Dunkirk. Air attack.
1030
Arrived Dover.
2030
Sun XII assisted dr. Worcester which
had been in collision with P/V Maid
of Orleans.
2155
Left Dover for W buoy.
Off the North Goodwin, Sun XII was
one of 7 tugs steaming in single
line ahead (see Sun XI)
2nd June
0300
Arrived W buoy. Ordered to return.
0920
Arrived Dover.
Nil
Authority. A.T.C.
W.W.
191

Details

Name of Vessel
Date
Cause
Position
and G.R.T.
Date
Cause and Position
Remarks
Admiralty
issed
do.
JA
D\L
Commissioned
do.
Unknown
Vessels. (Ctd.)
Lost at Dunkirk
.T.S.O
Did not return
ETHEL EVERARD
Barge.
envish THE no Dehnsits
038
Abandoned and
G.R.T. 158
TTO
blown up.
BOD
AIDIE
Sunk during operations
Abandoned at
Barge.
1801
JB dosed no benobited at Dunkirk.
Dunkirk,
G.R.T. 119
Juddi
YRRRY
oil
D\RL
S.bit
OCEAN LASSIE.
anolleneco
Drifter.
G.R.T. 127 хина
)
erveR 90 120 Bedmoa
JUOGA
.8.8
S.V. ROYALTY
1/6
Beached and abandoned over
.0.4
G.R.T. 85
at Malo-les-Cains
Presumed
D.W. -
during evacuation at
total loss.
.0
хише
erissellite 990 beallod Dunkirk.
Abandoned.
D/VI
MISSOS
FAIRBREEZE
1/6
Struck submerged wreck
Abandoned:
at Dunkirk while
.W.C
Drifter
rescuing survivors
G.R.T. 92
.benobnedA
from Beach.
a\8t
D.W. blood VTA
BARBARA JEAN
Bombed at Dunkirk
Abandoned:
Sailing barge.
1/6 Je SebmonD
a\et
G.R.T. 119
D.W.
200
.W.O.
DORIS
18618 1/6 JB DenobradA
At Dunkirk
Blown up.
хиов
vert
Abandoned.
Sailing barge.
,8\18
G.R.T. -
.eys
.T.H.O
D.W.
150
OYE
.W.G
XMUS
.bedmod
Approx.
do.
2/11
Abandoned.
SPEC
10.4
Dumb barge.
31/5
EAS.OL.T.R.O
G.R.T.
assist ,WAI
D.W.
70
vd bemmer do.
2\88
do.n.V.M
ALEC.
Approx. 31/5 'II OAA at
.T.O
Dumb barge
4881 .T.A.O
G.R.T. -
ASTS *.W.A
D.W.
60
Devivous es
nottos About vmene vd Xnu8
do.
Reported lost
M.V.CLAUDE as
tto
on beach.
Water boat I
31/5
2\1
"УЧНЯЗВОЯ YOAR".
жина
SARK БелоблясА
do.
egred doles.xua
do.
Dumb barge.
to smotistego antrud
a\I
do.
dd.
SHETLAND.
do.
Dumb bargeb
do.
dd.
do.
F.23
vd admos
JA
do.
Dumb bargeNNUE
8\01
.2.8.0

Details

FRIDAY, 31ST MAY
CHAP. VIII
in the Bray and Malo sectors were being thinned out by movements westward
towards Dunkirk iteslf. This change of plan involved concentrating the special
tows and the minesweepers to which they were to transfer the troops, into the
stretch opposite the beach between Zuydcoote Sanatorium and one mile east
of La Panne¹, and also advancing the commencement of the operation by one
hour².
A risk was involved in this change of plan as the boat tows were not in com-
munication with the Vice-Admiral, and it would therefore be necessary for
minesweepers to see that the escorting M.A./S.B.'s shepherded the tows to the
new positions It had been explained to the Naval officers in each tow that
the minesweepers would be anchored so as to serve as guiding marks³.
" It was always impossible for me to do more than deal with the situation of
the moment", says Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker. "I did not know what ships
were coming or when-except for the pre-arranged plan of the sloops. Nor
was it possible for Dover to give me much information. Ships got back there,
unloaded, and were off again, the stream was constant but irregular and it was
not possible to see any way ahead. My policy was always to keep only sufficient
ships off the beaches and send all the others into Dunkirk, but the situation
changed continually."4
Small craft arrive in hundreds
It was in such circumstances that, at about 1900, Rear-Admiral Wake-
Walker had proceeded to Dunkirk in the Keith to see how the boat situation
was getting on. There he saw for the first time that strange procession of
craft of all kinds the story of which was to become famous-tugs, towing
dinghies, life-boats and all manner of pulling boats5-small motor yachts,
motor launches, drifters, Dutch skoots, Thames barges, fishing boats, pleasure
steamers⁶. This was indeed the first time that the small craft had come over
in hundreds⁷. Since noon Lt. Cdr. C. J. Wynne-Edwards, R.N. (of R.-A.
Dunkirk's staff), embarked in M.T.B.68, had been directing the tows to the
various beaches.
I See Appendix Q.18, observing that D.R. p.20, para. 61 says the beach between Bray
and 1 mile east of La Panne."
2 Appendix Q.19.
3 D.R. p.20, para. 61.
4 M.017978/41, p.17.
5 The following 14 tugs (their tows are shown in brackets) reached Dunkirk that evening:
The Racia (12 life-boats), Sun VIII (12 life-boats), Sun XV (6 life-boats), Vincia (3 life-
boats), Sun IV (9 boats), Tanga (6 boats), Ocean Cock (6 M/B's), Sun VII (seaplane tenders
243, 254, 276, 291 and A.M.C.3), Foremost 87 (two sailing barges), Fairplay I (sailing barge
Barbara Jean), Empire Henchman (sailing barge Aidie), Crested Cock (a lighter), Sun XI (a
lighter), and the Sun XII (sailing barges Tollesbury and Ethel Everard).
In the early hours of 1st June 4 other tugs arrived. The St. Fagan (auxiliary barges
Pudge and Lady Rosebery, and the sailing barge Doris), St. Abbs (auxiliary barge Thyra
and sailing barges H.A.C. and Duchess), Cervia (sailing barge Royalty), and the Persia
(sailing barge Glenway and Lark).
6 M.017978/41, p.19.
7 New arrivals off Dunkirk and the beaches on 31st May included the following The
yachts Amulree, Aronia, Glagla, Caleta, Christobel II and Llanthony, the nine yachts of the
Portsmouth Inner Patrol, viz the Ahola, Ankh, Bounty, Caryandra, Eilla II, Lahloo,
Noneta, Seriola and Thele and from the R.N. Air Station, Ford, the yacht Andora.
The drifters Ben and Lucy (towing 4 boats), Dorienta (towing boats), Monarda, Renas-
cent and the 13 drifters of the Yarmouth Base, viz Alcmaria, Feasible, Genius, Gula,
Jeannie MacIntosh, John and Norah, Lord Barham, Lord Hood, Overfalls, Reed, Rewga,
Swift Wing and Taransay. The drifters Fair Breeze and Ocean Breeze were again over,
the former towing a motor life-boat and 3 life-boats.
The steam hopper barges Foremost 102 (towing the Excellent's 35 ft. fast motor boat and
71

Details

SATURDAY, 1ST JUNE
CHAP. IX
SUNK BY E-BOAT TORPEDOES.
Trawlers Argyllshire, Stella Dorado.
SUNK BY MINES.
Trawler St. Achilleus, small craft Renown.
SUNK BY GUNFIRE.
Drifter Lord Cavan.
SUNK BY COLLISION OR OTHER MISADVENTURE.
Drifters Eileen Emma, Fair Breeze, Gervais Rentoul.
Yachts Amulree, Pellag II.
Barges Aidie, Barbara Jean, Duchess, Ethel Everard, Lark, Royalty.
Small craft, number unknown.
DAMAGED BY AIR ATTACK.
Destroyers Ivanhoe, Worcester.
Minesweepers Ross, Salamander, Westward-Ho.
Corvette Kingfisher.
Personnel vessel Prague.
DAMAGED BY MINE.
Hospital carrier St. David.
DAMAGED BY GUNFIRE.
One trawler, name uncertain.
DAMAGED BY COLLISION OR GROUNDING
Destroyer Vimy.
Personnel vessel Maid of Orleans.
The evacuation figures for the day
Little ships added their quotas to those of the big ships, though not without
casualties they suffered heavy losses from collision or other misadventure,
although in the circumstances it was not always possible to obtain details
(See App. B.I.)
On this day there were lifted from the beaches and from Dunkirk harbour :
by motor boats and the like 2334 persons, by hopper barges 1470, by tugs 736,
by yachts 1,831, by skoots 3,170, of which almost all were from the beaches,
by special service vessels 1,250, by drifters 2,968, and by trawlers 1,876 prac-
tically all of whom were lifted from Dunkirk harbour. French ships lifted
3,967, Belgian trawlers 402, and a Dutch yacht 114; all troops evacuated by
foreign ships were embarked in Dunkirk harbour, none coming from the beaches.
Though losses of ships had been highest this day the total of troops lifted was
the second highest of the operation, no less than 64,429 being landed in England.
Of these, 47,081 had been embarked in Dunkirk harbour and 17,348 from the
beaches.
95

Details

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
APPENDIX A
TROOPS
SAILING BARGES (contd.)
TRANSPORTED
Claud (water boat)'
/
Doris¹ (F. Finbow, Master)
/
Duchess (H. J. Wildish, Master)
/
Ena
100
(A. G. Page, Master)
Ethel Everard
/
(T. Willis, Master)
F.W. 23 (dumb)
13
Glenway (W. H. Easter, Master)
213
H.A.C.
100
(R. H. Scott, Master)
Haste Away
-
Lark'
/
(R. H. Scott, Master)
Monarch
-
Queen
-
Queen Alexandria
-
Royalty
-
(H. Miller, Master)
Sark (dumb)
-
Shannon
-
Shetland (dumb)
-
Spurgeon
-
(- Haisman, Master)
Tollesbury
200
(R. Webb, Master)
Warrior1
-
Total
886
LIFE BOATS
Total 19, R.N.L.I. life boats2, of which I was lost.
Abdy Beauclerk
-
Cecil & Lilian Philpott
51
(A/B W. J. Morris, Coxn.
Charles Cooper Henderson
-
Charles Dibdin
-
Cyril & Lilian Bishop
-
(Actg. P.O. W.H. Adkin)
Edward Z, Dresden
50
E.M.E.D. (Lt. Cdr. R. W. Faulkner, R.N.R. (?Retd.) )
39
(Lieut. R. H. Mead, R.N.V.R., died)
(P.O. Tel. W.H. Cooley)
Greater London
48
(S/Lt. W. D.F. Claydon, R.N.R.)
Guide of Dunkirks
-
(S/Lt. R. H.C. Amos, R.N.V.R.)
-
Jane Holland
(S/Lt. R. H. Wallace, R.N.V.R.)
-
(Sto. J. Strangeways) (Sto. A. H. Shaw)
Lord Southborough
(S/Lt. E. R. Ponsonby, R.N.V.R.)
17
(E. Parker, Coxswain)
I Lost.
2 The Dunkirk, reserve life boat Agnes Cross carried out duties at Dover. She did not go to
3 At been the same time of Dunkirk evacuation, this boat had just been built and had not yet
named.
146

Details

Details

SHIPPING
tion.
MINISTRY Empire Hotel OF Group, HOTEL
of Vessel
Date
and G.R.T.
Cause and Position
Remarks.
Admiralty
Commissioned
Vessels. (Ctd.).
ETHEL EVERARD
Barge.
Abandoned and
G.R.T. 158
blown up.
AIDIE
Sunk during operations
Abandoned at
OZ
Barge.
at
Dunkirk.
Dunkirk.
G.R.T. 119
m
wa
OCEAN LASSIE.
Drifter.
G.R.T. 127
11
S.V. ROYALTY
1/6
Beached and abandoned
PS
G.R.T. 85
at Malo-les-Cains
Presumed
ti
D.W.
during evacuation at
total loss.
Dunkirk.
Abandoned.
FAIRBREEZE
1/6
Struck submerged wreck
"bandoned.
at Dunkirk while
Drifter
rescuing survivors
)
G.R.T. 92
from Beach.
D.W.
BARBARA JEAN
Bombed at Dunkirk
Abandoned.
t
Sailing barge.
1/6
a
G.R.T. 119
D.W. 200
DORIS
1/6
At Dunkirk
Blown up.
Sailing barge.
Abandoned.
3)
G.R.T.
D.W.
150
SPEC
Approx.
do.
Abandoned.
Duib barge.
31/5
G.R.T.
D.W.
70
ALEC.
Approx.
do.
do.
Dumb barge
31/5
G.R.T. -
D.W.
60
M.V.CLAUDE
About
do.
Reported lost
Water boat
31/5
on beach.
SARK
Dumb barge.
do.
do.
do.
SHETLAND.
Dumb barge
do.
do.
do.
F.23
do.
do.
do.
Dumb barge
do.
do.
do.
-=3

Details

Name of Vessel
and G.R.T.
Date
Cause and Position
Remarks
Admiralty
ugh
Conmissioned
Vessels. (Ctd.
itit
as a
ETHEL EVERARD
Barge.
Abandoned and
G.R.T. 158.
blown up.
in
AIDIE.
Sunk during operations
Abandoned at
S as
Barge.
at Dunkirk.
Dunkirk.
tish
G.R.T. 119
OCEAN LASSIE.
e
Drifter.
)
G.R.T. 127
S.V. ROYALTY
1/6
Beached and abandoned
Presumed total loss.
G.R.T. 85
at Malo-les-Cains
Abandoned.
D.W. -
during evacuation at
Dunkirk.
FAIRBREEZE
1/6
Struck submerged wreck
Abandoned.
at Dunkirk while
Drifter.
rescuing survivors from
G.R.T. 92
Beach.
D.W.
BARBARA JEAN
1/6
Bombed at Dunkirk.
Abandoned.
Sailing barge.
G.R.T. 119
D.W. 200
DORIS
1/6
At Dunkirk
BRown up. Abandoned.
Sailing barge.
G.R.T. -
D.W. 150
Approx.
do.
Abandoned.
SPEC
Dumb barge
31/5
G.R.T.
D.W. 70
ALEC.
Approx.
do.
do.
Dumb barge
31/5
G.R.T. -
D.W. 60
M.V.CLAUDE
About
do.
Reported lost on
Water boat
31/5
beach.
SARK
Dumb barge
do.
do.
do.
SHETLAND
do
do
do
Dumb barge
F.23
Dumb barge
do.
do.
do.
-3-

Details

DUNKIRK CLAIMS COMMITTEE
Payments made since presentation of Report on 21st July 1941.
Repairs and
Total Loss
Vessel.
Type
Claimant
Paper No.
Hire and
Replacements
Remarks.
Expenses
£. s. d.
£. S. d.
£ S. d.
"LARK"
S/Barge
Dover Harbour Board
O. 9315/40.
8. 5.
"BARBARA JEAN"
T.O.9296/40.
18. 7.
"ROYALTY"
T.O.9298/40.
13. 4.
14.
"PANDORA"
Punt
A. Read
T.M. 5152/41.
30.
"KATHLEEN"
17' Boat
C. Morris
4918/41.
266.
-.
"FOLKESTONE
M/V
Spraggs Bros.
9201/40.
110.
BELLE"
(c/o Adams)
99. 17. -.
"BLUEBIRD"
M.L.
Mrs. G. Ragless
T.M. 4136/40
20. -.
"OLIVE MAY"
M/Barge
Samuel West Ltd.,
T.0.8532/40
30.
"LADY ROSEBERY"
AS/barge
=
T.0.9306/40
20. -.
"GLENWAY"
100. -.
65.
"RIVER TOY"
M/B.
C.H.Elkington
T.M. 2766/41
"ALPHEUS"
M/Barge
S. Instone & Co.,
T.0,9104/40
90. -: i,
"SHERFIELD"
J.J.Prior (Transport)
Limited
T.0.9423/40
66. -.
Dover Harbour Board
"
9. 1.
"SHAWFORD"
Prior (Trans) Ltd.
11
30. -. i,
"CAROLINE"
Row Boat
H.E. Parker
5206/41
28. -.
"SHRIMP"
Skiff
"
"
3. 17. -.
"FERROCRETE"
M/Barge
Assoc.Portland Cement
Manufacturers Ltd.,
T.0.7976/40
50.
ex "HIGHLAND
28'
Royal Mail Lines
T.M.6352/40
PRINCESS"
Lifeboat
Limited
236. 5. ".
"NEW PRINCE OF
Southend Motor Nav:
Balance of "Total Loss"
WALES"
P.M.B.
Company Limited
T.M. 3887/40
: ! 120.
: : 1236.
Compensation.
"SHAMROCK"
P.M.B.
A. Barrell c/o
T.M.3898/40
! : 415.
Balance of "Total Loss"
W.G. & S. Beecroft
Compensation
"BONITA"
M/V
S.W. Newton c/o
T.M.2779/41
30. --
50. -.
Wannop & Falconer
ex "GLOUCESTER
13
Union Castle Mail
T.M.9092/40
96. 7. -.
Lifeboat No.12
CASTLE"
Lifeboats
S.S. Co. Ltd.,
315. 8. 4.
7 Lifeboats
234. 14. -.
Fitting out 6 Lifeboats which
replaced missing ones.
"SKYLARK III"
M/V
Mrs. M. Corsan
T. 0.9203/40
487. i.
"QUEEN OF
M/V
Bowmaker Ltd.,
T.M.3716/40
700.
i
Advance on account
ENGLAND"
"EMPRESS"
M/V
=
"
"
300.
!
Advance on account
"KNOWLES"
Aux.
London & Rochester
T.O.7764/40.
8. 6.11.
S/Barge
Trading Co.Ltd.,
"THYRA"
Aux
London & Rochester
S/Barge
Trading Co. Ltd.,
"
14. 9. 3.
"PUDGE"
Aux.
London & Rochester
S/Barge
Trading Co. Ltd.,
21. 8. 6.
London & Rochester
Trading Co. Ltd.,
75. -- -:
Dover Harbour Board
10. 11.
"CABBY"
London & Rochester
Trading Co. Ltd.,
"SCONE"
14. 3,
London & Rochester
Trading Co. Ltd.,
"SEINE"
M/Barge
38.10. 8,
London & Rochester
T.O.8949/40.
66. 8. 1.
Trading Cox Ltd.,
C/f
£ 893.18. -
£1,145. 3. 4.
£3,432. 5. -

Details

Details

30
21st June, 1940.
DearMaia
You have perhaps seen in to-day's Press that I have written letters
to the Masters of ships engaged in the recent operations off Dunkirk
and Calais in order to express to them the Government's high
appreciation of the courage and endurance displayed.
I have written to Chief Officer E. Irvine of the "Firth Fisher"
and asked him to convey the Government's appreciation to the surviving
members of the ship's company, but I feel I cannot let the occasion pass
without writing to you to express my profound sympathy in the great loss
which you have suffered in the death of your husband, Captain J.O.Roberts
in this action.
I hope you will be able to draw comfort from the thought that he
was killed in action in the face of the enemy doing his duty to his
country and his comrades.
YOURS SINCERELY,
I
Mrs. Roberts.
of the S.V. "ROYALTY". "ETHEL
158
Yours faithfully,
85
F.T. EVERARD FSBackur & SONS LED
Director.
LORINA
NORMANNI
WOR
/CANTERBU
MAID OR
London,
YEWDALE
John Stewart & Co. Shipping Lou.,
/BIARRITZ
308 Clyde Street,
/AUTOCARRI
Glasgow, C.1.
YEWGLEN
John Stewart & Co. Shipping Ltd.,
Capt R.
308, Clyde Street,
Glasgow, C.1.
010536 80m In all 6/418. & Co. 745(8)

Details

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)

Details

COPY OF STATEMENT.
(2)
155
HMS keith
Steam and smoke were coming away from the Destroyer, and she
n to take a list. I began to run towards her, as also did the Tug
ABBS", but the planes were bombing her again, intent on finishing
off, so we had to sheer away from her. Her guns were going all
time as she steamed round and round, but she stopped as she must
re been hit again. She let go her anchor and swing round to head
the tide, as the crew began to take to the boats and rafts we made
r her again. As the bombers came over and machine-gunned the crew
3 they were all jumping overboard and the Tug "VINCIA", which was
oming in the Bast end of the Roads began to pick them up, and the
'ST. ABBS" had got alongside her starboard bow and the sloop was also
going to their assistance, so I turned rouried to a motor boat full of
soldiers and picked them up.
lvanhoe
At this time I could see that another Destroyer had been dis-
abled to the West of the Harbour, and a 'plane had just dropped a bomb
on a small oil tanker astern of the "VINCIA" which went up in flames.
A direct hit on the stern of the sinking Destroyer blew up her depth
charges and we made to the sailing barge #TOLLESBURY" which was sig-
nalling us. We went alongside of her and were requested to tow her
out of it as she had over two hundred soldiers under her main hatch.
We passed the motore lifeboat "ORIENT IV" on to her stern and began to
tow her down the Dunkirk Roads.
A Cross-Channel boat was backing out of the Harbour full of
troops, and no more troops were to be seen on the Pierhead, when,
West of the Pierhead we saw that the "PERSIA" had the other disabled
Destroyer in tow and he was blowing for us. But we could not catch
him as the Destroyer had one engine going as well.
The "VINCIA" by this time, was passing us with her decks
laden with survivors of the sunken Destroyer, and as we all came to
No. 5 W. Buoy to turn out to sea, here the gun fire from shore batteries
and Destroyers and trawlers was terrific as about 20 planes flew towards
us to try and stop us getting away. The "PERSIA's" Destroyer put up a
smoke screen, and we watched nine bombs fall from a plane and drop
right alongside a Cross-channel boat that was bound in, but she kept
going. Then a plane over us released five bombs and we watched them
fall and they dropped in to the sea about 100 feet on our port bow,
lifting the Tug bodily out of the water. Another bomb was aimed at
the "PERSIA" which missed and must have put water on her deck, and yet
another was aimed at the "VINCIA" which also missed. The Lewis gun
on our barge was going all the time with ours.
A squadron of our planes was coming over and the Enemy 'planes
began to turn away. A bomb exploded between a Sloop towing a disabled
Destroyer, and I think it must have parted the towrope as I could see
they were trying to get connected again soon afterwards. The "PERSIA"
and Destroyer began to draw away from us, also the "VINCIA", and we
continued on our tow.
A mine was exploded near us by a navy motor boat and when we
arrived in the Downs we were met by the examination Tug "JAVA" about
3-0 p.m. and were ordered to Ramsgate. "e hove barge up alongside and
anchored at Quern Buoy 4-45 p.m. where a motor boat launch came off
and took ashore about 100 troops and returned for the others, with orders
for us to tow barge to Gravesend.
In all, we brought about 230 troops out of Dunkirk, the Barge
"TOLLESBURY" and crew, and crew of "DUCHESS" and crew and Soldier steve-
dores of "ROYALTY" and Motor boat "ORIENT IV". We andored at Southend
10-0 p.m. and proceeded to Gravesend at 7-0 a.m. on Sunday 2nd June,
arriving at Lobster Buoy with "TOLLESBURY" 9-30 a.m. Went to Pier and
handed "ORIENT IV" over to Custom House,
(Signed) W.H. Simmons.
Master of Tug "CERVIA".

Details

THE EFTS 20115 of BOURT DIVID ELO areas FLUGHT
15c
STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN H.MILLER, MASTER OF THE SAILING BARGE
beh
"ROYALTY"
251
We left Dover about 10 o'clock on Friday night
the 31st May 1940 in tow of a Watkins Tug. We were loaded
with ammunition, stores, and water in cans, and we had six
soldiers placed on board to supervise the discharge of the
0.
cargo.
We arrived off Dunkirk about eight the following
morning. When about two miles east of Dunkirk the tug
instructed us to shorten the tow rope and said he was going
cast off and that we were to sail on to the beach.
We were setting our top-sail to carry out this
operation when a large number of German planes appeared
overhead and immediately started bombing and machinegunning
us.
When we arrived on the beach we let go the anchor
still being badly bombed and machine gunned, and our decks
216
as
were sprayed continually with machine gun bullets. There
for
was no-one on the beach to unload the ammunition, so we
lowered our boat with the six soldiers and our crew, and roed
pe
in
out to the tug to await further instructions.
ed
The tug got underway and afterwards we were hailed
by a launch whose engine was broken down. She had twenty
as
five soldiers and sailors on board who we took on the tug.
in
We proceeded further along the beach towing the launch
in
and came across the barge "Toll the master was on
28
deck, and we offered to take him off with his crew, but
was informed by him that he had 180 soldiers in the hold,
le
so we took him in tow and brought him back to Ramsgate and
he
re
then Gravesend.
se
rs
le
a
al