THE LITTLE ARMADA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21167, 17 July 1940, Page 10

THE LITTLE ARMADA

AT DUNKIRK EVACUATION FLEET OF “SAUCY JANES” PERSISTENT GIRL VOLUNTEER (From a Correspondent) LONDON, June 7. Stories of the Liitle Armada which helped in taking 335,000 men off Dunkirk were told by a naval officer who took a leading part in organising the ‘'Saucy Jane” licet. While there is yet no complete record of how many boats or their crews were lost, it is known that more than 700 small craft of all kinds took part. When an Admiralty order was broadcast on May 10 compelling owners of motor craft to register their vessels, 1400 letters were received in three days. About 1200 had no idea that it was an order, and imagined that they were answering a voluntary appeal. Many of the letters were of an imploring nature — “Please take my boat and me with it.” All, most of the owners knew at first, was that they were to take part in “a dangerous and vital enterprise.” But they responded because they were called for, and that

gave the navy its first taste of the do-or-die spirit that was to carry the Little Armada through the task of saving the Allied armies of the North. “Blast My Sex!” Six girls, used to handling yachts, volunteered to take a boat across. They were rejected on account of their sex. One of them rang up the naval officer later and, attempting to disguise her voice as that of a man, asked for a job. Her ruse was detected. “Your sex debars you,” said the officer. “Blast my sex!” replied the girl. The naval officer said. “I have a shrewd idea she got across to Dun kirk after all.” Indeed, he added, many “unauthorised” persons took part in the evacuation —officers on leave, merchant officers, even Gov - eminent officials. One man employed in the Treasury wrote and thanked him for “a very interesting weekend.” That exemplifies the spirit of the adventure. Anything that could propel itself or be pulled across the Channel was taken, and none were more useful than the Thames barges, which formed piers for the troops to board the bigger ships and provided ■nelters in the lee of which small boats anchored. One yacht owner rang up to say that his boat, which had been taken, had £3O worth of old brandy and some champagne on board. “I hope the fellows find it,” he added. Two young men brought out their canoe with a small outboard motor, and although the boat was only fit for use in a river, they crossed the Channel and saved one or two soldiers from death. Vessels used in the upper reaches of the Thames were ferried across.