Dunkirk

Dunkirk.

In the early stages of the war, the army was pushed back to Dunkirk. Boats of all shapes and sizes were requisitioned to go across the channel in order to take the soldiers off the beaches.

At this time, I was six years old and spending the summer at a house on the Thames. The family had a motor cruiser, named “Diana Mary” after my sister, moored at the bottom of the garden. One evening, my parents went to the local pub for dinner and left my brother and I in the care of my very capable sister who was seven years older than I was. Soon after my brother and I went to bed, we became exited when a large, by river standards, grey boat came alongside the “Diana Mary”. A naval officer looked her over then came up to the house. He was greeted by my sister, my brother and I with some trepidation. He asked to see my father and, when he was told my father was not at the house, the officer left a telephone number and told us to tell our father to telephone the number immediately he returned.

When my father called the number, he was instructed to deliver the “Diana Mary” at Teddington by 08:00 the following morning. The whole family went to deliver her and, when we arrived at the dock, she was immediately refuelled and my father was asked if he wanted to take her over to France. He replied that he did, but my mother intervened and insisted that he change his mind. Whereupon, three sailors jumped aboard, cast off and we watched as the “Diana Mary” disappeared down river. There was a great sense of urgency and only a few minutes passed from the time we came alongside to the time she sailed away. My mother lost her first husband during the First World War, less than a month before Armistice Day, and I believe she did not wish my father to be exposed to a risk that could make her a war widow for the second time.

The “Diana Mary” proudly played her part in the evacuation from Dunkirk but, when she was returned to us, she was badly damaged and had to be scrapped. The amount of compensation was minimal and nowhere near enough to buy a replacement. Unlike many other boat owners in similar situations, my father left all equipment in place in the belief that it would be useful during her voyages but, when it was returned, nothing remained on board. There were several souvenirs in the boat such as ammunition, parts of uniforms and similar military paraphernalia. Some of it was French so it must have rescued French troops as well as our own.

During the forties, a book “The Epic of Dunkirk” was published and the “Diana Mary” is mentioned in it.

John Millner.
10th May, 2005.

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