The Pilgrimage to Dunkirk, 4th June, 1950. By Commander J. M. Upton, R.D., R.N.R.

THE Margate life-boat Lord South- borough glided down the slipway at eleven in the morning on Saturday, the 3rd of June, to repeat, after ten years, the passage to Dunkirk.

There was a great similarity in the weather, light airs, a calm sea, visibility about three miles. The Margate and Ramsgate men who formed the crew all remarked on the almost identical condition of the sea. The only differ- ence was the welcome waiting on the shores of France.

We were a party of eleven on board—• Mr. Linton Thorp, K.C.* a member of the Committee of Management, myself in command with Mr. J. W. B. Hepper, the Institution's inspector of machinery, in charge of the engines, the Margate coxswain, second coxswain, bowman and mechanic, three other members of the Margate crew and one member of the Ramsgate crew.

The Men of Ten Years Ago Of our party, four had gone to Dun- kirk ten years before, in the Margate and Ramsgate life-boats, and had helped to bring off the beaches over 3,000 men.

They were D. Price, now coxswain at Margate, H. Morris, now bowman at Margate, W. Hopper, a member of the Margate crew, and J. Hawks, a member of the Ramsgate crew. Of the other Margate men who went in the Lord Southborough ten years ago, five were dead, and Coxswain Edward Drake Parker, who won the Distinguished Service Medal, was not well enough to make the journey. Of the Ramsgate men who had gone to Dunkirk in the Prudential, ten years ago, one was dead, one seriously ill, and for Coxswain Howard Primrose Knight, who won the Distinguished Service Medal, ill health, the after-effects of an air-raid (in which six of the crew were wounded), un- happily made the journey impossible too.

Mr. Hepper and I had gone to Dover ten years ago and had volunteered for Dunkirk, but we were told that there was more urgent work for us at Dover. Six other mechanics of the • Mr. Linton Thorp died suddenly five weeks later.

Institution joined us and we acted as a repair and maintenance party for all boats as they returned from Dunkirk.

Such was the party that set out from Margate to take part in the pilgrimage of the little ships ten years later.

The Dunkirk life-boat and H.M.S.

Bleasdale had arranged to meet us off Gravelines at 4.30, and the life-boat was to escort us into harbour. Good time was made on the passage, during which we called at the North Goodwin Light- ship and took off their mail, and as we slowed down at Gravelines, about four o'clock, the form of the Bleasdale loomed up astern. We went alongside for a few minutes, and then the Dunkirk life-boat was sighted coming down the Channel. The two boats came together, Mr. Linton Thorp joined the French boat and one of the French coxswains came aboard us to act as pilot.

H.M.S. Bleasdale having gone ahead, we followed astern of the Dunkirk boat, and found incidentally that we were the faster. On entering the harbour we were met by a Press boat from Rams- gate, belonging to the Ramsgate cox- swain, and photographs and a film were taken. The devastation of the harbour is still very apparent, and the block ships sunk in the channel have so far defied all efforts to remove them.

Welcome at the Customs When we came alongside the quay at 5.40 Commandant Raoul and other members of the Dunkirk crew were there to meet us, and we received a great welcome from everybody. We were provided with a clearance, a Laissez passer passport, but the officers of the Douane merely shook our hands, smiled and waved us away. We had arrived.

I attended a meeting on H.M.S.

Bleasdale for final arrangements for the Sunday ceremonies directly on my arrival. Here I met the representa- tives of the Navy, Army, Air Force, Merchant Navy, Sea Cadets, Tugs, the British Legion and the Little Ships.

Commandant Raoul and Lieutenant Artry of the French Navy, acted as liaison officers for the French.

The programme arranged was asfollows: The British religious service was to be at 8.30 in the morning at the Place de Minck. At the conclusion of the service, the British contingent would march to the Place de la Gare and join the French procession at 9.30. The French insisted that the British should take the place of honour and lead the march to the beaches, halting at the Hotel de Ville for an address by the Mayor of Dunkirk, and for the French Navy and Army to lay wreaths on the War Memorial. The main French cere- money was to be held at the beach head.

At 9.30 that night Mr. Linton Thorp, Mr. Hepper and I were guests of the Mayor and Councillors of Dunkirk at a dinner. About 250 sat down to this dinner and various speeches were made.

At 8.15 on Sunday morning, June 4th, we assembled at the Place de Minck for the Divine Service. The parade was in the form of a square, with the standard bearers in line behind the altar and clergy on the west side.

The Institution's House Flag was borne by W. Hopper, of Margate. On the north side were assembled the crews of the Little Ships, Merchant Navy, Tugs, and Sea Cadets; on the south side the Navy, Air Force, Army and British Legion; on the east side the official representatives, and life-boat crew.

The service opened with the advent of the clergy, preceded by Lieut.- I Commander Ashforth, D.S.C., R.N., I commanding officer of H.M.S. Bleas- j Me, Captain W. H. Coombs, C.B.E., | president of the Dunkirk Pilgrimage Committee, and a cross fashioned from the oars of a ship's life-boat, one oar vertical with two looms horizontal.

The service was conducted by the Very Bev. A. T. A. Naylor, D.S.O., O.B.E., ' )ean of Battle, who was Deputy Chap- ,J8in General to the B.E.F. in 1939 and ;|940, and the Rev. Canon F. N.

lobathan, O.B.E., R.D., Vicar of i Brighton.

. The King's Message A message from His Majesty the ag was read: "In all the long story of our sea- race there has never been an venture of chivalry more stirring it hat which the little ships answered willingly and so gallantly on that er morning ten years ago.

"So long as the English tongue is spoken it should be commemorated with thankfulness and pride, and those wlw brought it to sq triumphant a conclu- sion should be held in honour by all whose freedom they helped to pre- serve." After this message came the Bidding.

Then the service was held. The music was played by the Kingston Sea Cadet Band; the lessons were read by Lieut.- Commander J. Ashforth, D.S.C., R.N., and Commander C. H. Lightoller, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R., of the Merchant Navy; and the address was given by the Very Rev. A. T. A. Naylor. The still- ness of the air, the blazing sun, were so reminiscent of ten years ago that it added to the impressiveness of the solemn service. To those of us who had helped in our small way in 1940 this pilgrimage was well worth while.

Wreaths on the Sea After the service, the British con- tingent joined the French at the Place de la Gare and marched to the beaches, stopping at the war memorial and the Hotel de Ville for an address by the Mayor of Dunkirk. At the beach the life-boat crew followed, the standard bearers of the Merchant Navy, and took part in the ceremony of throwing wreaths into the sea. While this was taking place, the Little Ships came out of harbour and along the beach while the R.A.F. flew over in formation, very low in (slute.

This concluded the official cere- monies, but in the afternoon Mr.

Thorp, Mr. Hepper and I were guests at a lunch given by the French Re- turned Soldiers Association, which about 750 persons attended.

The passage back to Margate on Monday, 5th, was made in the same weather. Shortly before reaching Gravelines we passed close to one of the wreaths, the flowers still blooming. We reached Margate at six in the evening.

So ended a visit that not only kept alive the memory of a great operation, but cemented a firm friendship between the life-boat crews of Dunkirk and Margate. During our stay Com- mandant Raoul and his crews were kindness itself. Their hospitality and friendship we shall long remember..