I have been trying to find some specifics about a Dunkirk story that's quite probably an urban myth. Elsewhere in these forums I have detailed a little about my work to remember the Home front in Birmingham. I have heard whispers occasionally about a Brummie businessman who owned a boat that was moored on the coast around Weymouth ( V popular with Brummies so plausible) The boat was apparently called BrummieGem or similar ( I know it seems to get more far fetched everytime I hear it) Apparently the owner and his small crew including I believe his young son, went down and ferryed men from the beaches to the troop ships. I have as I say heard whispers about how you didn't expect to find a big jolly brummy inviting you onboard his Yacht. I would love to verify these rumours for my screenplay. I wont put them in unless verified, so if anyone is able to shed any light on this at all, please let me know spitbloke over and out
Here's a ship list . List of Dunkirk Little Ships from here. The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships Might be worth emailing them.
I also recall a book coming out years ago with a foreword by Raymond Baxter on the little ships of Dunkirk......in theory if someone could suggest a title it might help.....
Thanks for this. If there is anymore info Please help. I've had a look at The Dunkirk little ships site before. Problem is unless you know exactly what you are looking for it's rather more time consuming than it may prove to be worth. Yes I know that's what historical research means, but this one is such a wild goose chase that I was hoping someone may have just said " Oh yes I know what you're on about". No such luck thus far I shall keep plodding and thanks for your interest both of you. Spitbloke over and out
A Native of the City of Birmingham, the English one as opposed to the Alabama version (It is Alabama isnt it??). It refers also to a definitive accent in the dialect of the natives of the aformentioned city.
Thanks Gott. Yes, Alabama's largest city is Birmingham. It was once a large steel producing city, along with Bessemer and few other cities and towns around it. All the steel mills are gone now. Is is known, among other things, for it's statue of Vulcan, the largest cast iron statue in the world.
Might also actually be worth contacting the RN directly via their website; each of the "little" ships had to sign insurance waivers etc., and these records have to be somewhere...
Of three boats that left Torquay for Dunkirk in 1940, the Lady Cable was the only one that made the trip across the channel. Whilst there, she shuttled 550 troops from the beaches onto the larger ships and then returned to Dover over-full. Lady Cable | Dunkirk Little Ship
I don't think it is widely known but there is one of the small ships in Dunkirk harbour. It is the Princess Elizabeth. Below is her a couple of weeks ago. Princess Elizabeth | Association of Dunkirk Little Ships
Cheers Paul, I've seen her in the harbour a few times now and assumed she was part of the towns history from 1940. Is she just floating there doing very little or is she open to the public etc? I can just see chaps on her decks with Bren guns strapped to the railings nearly 70 years ago.
It's used as a function location now, and not open to the public. I am getting the chance to go on board next week for some filming I'm doing with the Beeb. Will try and take some photos.
I have been trying to find some specifics about a Dunkirk story that's quite probably an urban myth. Elsewhere in these forums I have detailed a little about my work to remember the Home front in Birmingham. I have heard whispers occasionally about a Brummie businessman who owned a boat that was moored on the coast around Weymouth ( V popular with Brummies so plausible) The boat was apparently called BrummieGem or similar ( I know it seems to get more far fetched everytime I hear it) Apparently the owner and his small crew including I believe his young son, went down and ferryed men from the beaches to the troop ships. I have as I say heard whispers about how you didn't expect to find a big jolly brummy inviting you onboard his Yacht. I would love to verify these rumours for my screenplay. I wont put them in unless verified, so if anyone is able to shed any light on this at all, please let me know spitbloke over and out Hi, I've just checked The ships that saved an Army and BEF Ships and there is nothing similiar to Brumie Gem. I suspect whilst it may have happened the details have eroded over time. As far as I'm aware no 'little ships' sailed from Weymouth as part of Operation Dynamo. I'm sure all of the private vessels were requisitioned from the Thames area and sailed to Ramsgate via the Isle of Sheppey. Cheers Andy
I also recall a book coming out years ago with a foreword by Raymond Baxter on the little ships of Dunkirk......in theory if someone could suggest a title it might help..... The Little of Ships of Dunkirk by Christian Brann. Its OK'ish (Lots of modern pictures of each boat) but not much info on what each boat was doing in Op Dynamo.
I don't think it is widely known but there is one of the small ships in Dunkirk harbour. It is the Princess Elizabeth. Below is her a couple of weeks ago. Princess Elizabeth | Association of Dunkirk Little Ships Cool, was that a paddler...?
Hi, I've just checked The ships that saved an Army and BEF Ships and there is nothing similiar to Brumie Gem. I suspect whilst it may have happened the details have eroded over time. As far as I'm aware no 'little ships' sailed from Weymouth as part of Operation Dynamo. I'm sure all of the private vessels were requisitioned from the Thames area and sailed to Ramsgate via the Isle of Sheppey. Cheers Andy There is indeed one of Dunkirk's "Little Ships" here in Weymouth and it has been fully restored and is fully operational as a day-trip boat. I would think it very doubtful that she sailed out of Weymouth to join the great flotilla, although I guess it's possible she could have been requisitioned for the war effort. A little research could well be in order here. I have no idea whether she was owned or piloted by a Brummie either during her "heyday" but the boat itself is called "My Girl". * EDIT: "My Girl" doesn't appear to be listed on the Little Ships register. She does, however, fly the "Little Ships" flags and bears the official emblem so I will endeavour to find out a little more "in person" over the weekend.
If she has the brass 'Dunkirk 1940' plaque on the side of her wheelhouse she was part of Op Dynamo in some form. Some of the boats have been renamed by their current/past masters. I've saved this to my favourites for when I've found my books. A
There is indeed one of Dunkirk's "Little Ships" here in Weymouth and it has been fully restored and is fully operational as a day-trip boat. I would think it very doubtful that she sailed out of Weymouth to join the great flotilla, although I guess it's possible she could have been requisitioned for the war effort. A little research could well be in order here. I have no idea whether she was owned or piloted by a Brummie either during her "heyday" but the boat itself is called "My Girl". * EDIT: "My Girl" doesn't appear to be listed on the Little Ships register. She does, however, fly the "Little Ships" flags and bears the official emblem so I will endeavour to find out a little more "in person" over the weekend. Any pictures or further info?
Any one with any info on this small boat that was left at Dunkirk C Eagle --YClub. and the Bella Stock. Keith
"Bella Stock" was a Flemish novel by Hendrik Conscience set in De Panne. There were excursion boots named "Bella Stock" between the wars. http://www.westhoekverbeeldt.be/afbeelding/28185044-bbc6-11e3-b4e9-17b9db554a37
