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These are 2 papers found in my late Mother's effects, I think they were written by my Father.

By a member of the Merchant Navy. June/40

We made a trip across to France, by jove it was an experience, one that we were damn lucky to get away from without being touched, not many of us had much sleep those few nights, ready for any emergency.
I believe shortly after we left the place was occupied by the Jerries. It was a pitiful sight to see, one that will long be remembered by us all.

Also by a member of the Merchant Navy. June/40

Off we went on a mystery trip, up the Bristol Channel, then across to France, rather a disappointment to us all as we thought we should be taking our boys there not bringing them back.
We went to Brest and what a sight, one that I shall always remember, we were first alongside, the same morning the Bosh was over in an Air Raid, luckily we missed that, but were waiting every minute for them to turn up again.
Air Force and Army started swarming on, I thought they were never going to stop, took on somewhere in the region of 11,000. They came in lorries, cars, motor cycles and on foot, smashing everything as they came — turning cars over — running into the water.
Well after about 6 hours of waiting and watching we set sail for one hell of a night at sea, they were standing shoulder to shoulder on the decks. We were told that the Jerries were only about 36 hours away, so you can imagine the rush for those that were left behind. I believe shortly after everything was blown sky by the French.
Well, managing to get into Plymouth next morning we discharged them and quite expected to go back again, but did not, instead we stayed in port as a refuge for the French Sailors, had about 3 to 4 thousand of them on board.
Two ships in our convoy were hit, one had the wireless cabin blown off but the wireless operator was uninjured, the other was the liner “Lancastria” which sank very quickly.

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