My dad was on the Alderpool from La Pallice to Plymouth on 19th June 1940. Any survivors alive or anyone with photos or memories please?
Was your father in the Polish forces evacuated from France by the Alderpool on that date? Here's a mention of it here: BBC - WW2 People's War - Escape from Brittany on The Alderpool, May 1940 The IWM has a series of pictures of the Alderpool's evacuation of the Polish Army but unfortunately no previews. They're from "WŁADYSŁAW PRYTYŚ COLLECTION" A search under Alderpool finds more. Search results for "alderpool" | Imperial War Museums The final fate of the Alderpool: Alderpool (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net Cheers Mark
At 1041 the MACKAY reported that the La Pallice (lock?) gate was shut and she was endeavouring to have it opened; the ALDERPOOL and LADY OF MANN were outside. At about that time there were 25,000 Polish troops in ports between Brest, Vannes and Rochelle; 5,000 between Bordeaux and Bayonne, and 30,000 fighting elsewhere........ At 0600 the MACKAY reported that she had sailed the cargo ship ALDERPOOL with 4,000 Polish troops on board and the EMPIRE INDUSTRY with forty. On 22 June the HM yacht MAID MARION arrived at Plymouth at 0333 with twenty eight refugees. She was with the ALDERPOOL who was carrying approximately 3,000 Polish troops and 528 civilian refugees (also mostly Poles), with no food and water on board. The MACKAY and MAID MARION had made previous appeals on behalf of the ALDERPOOL. Despite the dire situation the Admiralty had ordered MAID MARION to escort the ALDERPOOL to Liverpool, a day and a half away: but the Captain of the MAID MARION (a retired Captain RN) expressed his intention to go to Falmouth. With this the Admiralty relented and allowed ALDERPOOL to go to Plymouth. I have copies of three photographs of the ALDERPOOL with the evacuees aboard, which Mrs Halina Macdonald found for me at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum. London
I may be totally wrong , but it's always appeared to me that the remaining Polish navy , army and airforce made much greater efforts to carry on the fight from abroad than the French units .
Was your father in the Polish forces evacuated from France by the Alderpool on that date? Here's a mention of it here: BBC - WW2 People's War - Escape from Brittany on The Alderpool, May 1940 The IWM has a series of pictures of the Alderpool's evacuation of the Polish Army but unfortunately no previews. They're from "WŁADYSŁAW PRYTYŚ COLLECTION" A search under Alderpool finds more. Search results for "alderpool" | Imperial War Museums The final fate of the Alderpool: Alderpool (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net Cheers Mark Thank you Mark - much appreciated
At 1041 the MACKAY reported that the La Pallice (lock?) gate was shut and she was endeavouring to have it opened; the ALDERPOOL and LADY OF MANN were outside. At about that time there were 25,000 Polish troops in ports between Brest, Vannes and Rochelle; 5,000 between Bordeaux and Bayonne, and 30,000 fighting elsewhere........ At 0600 the MACKAY reported that she had sailed the cargo ship ALDERPOOL with 4,000 Polish troops on board and the EMPIRE INDUSTRY with forty. On 22 June the HM yacht MAID MARION arrived at Plymouth at 0333 with twenty eight refugees. She was with the ALDERPOOL who was carrying approximately 3,000 Polish troops and 528 civilian refugees (also mostly Poles), with no food and water on board. The MACKAY and MAID MARION had made previous appeals on behalf of the ALDERPOOL. Despite the dire situation the Admiralty had ordered MAID MARION to escort the ALDERPOOL to Liverpool, a day and a half away: but the Captain of the MAID MARION (a retired Captain RN) expressed his intention to go to Falmouth. With this the Admiralty relented and allowed ALDERPOOL to go to Plymouth. I have copies of three photographs of the ALDERPOOL with the evacuees aboard, which Mrs Halina Macdonald found for me at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum. London Many thanks indeed!
Hi. Im just researching the crew of the Maid Marion who transferred the soldiers and nurses to the Alderpool at La Rochelle- If its any use?
I don't seem to have posted the photos, herewith. Would be interested in any information about Maid Marion Roy
Decorations: The KING has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing (or for the acceptance by the next-of-kin) of the Cross of Valour (Krzyz Walecznych) which has been conferred by the President of the Polish Republic upon the under-mentioned Officers and Men of the Merchant Navy in recognition of their gallant conduct during the withdrawal of Polish troops from France in June, 1940: — The Late Captain Edgar Wallace Moulton, Master, S.S. Arandora Star. The Late Joseph Brindley, Bosun's Mate, S.S. Arandora Star. Captain John William Cromarty, Master, S.S. Glendinning. Captain Duncan Darroch, Master, M.V. Royal Scotsman. Captain Lachlan Dewar, Master, S.S. Baron Kinnaird. Captain Tom Valentine Frank, Master, S.S. Alderpool. Captain Alfred Hinchcliff, Master, S.S. Kelso. Captain John Murray Legg, Master, M.V. Ettrick. Captain Richard William Stanley Marshall, Master, S.S. Glenlea. Captain Duncan McCall, Master, S.S. Blair Nevis. Captain David Frederick Owens, Master, M.V. Ulster Monarch. Captain Henry Edward Geves Scott-Smith, Master, S.S. Clan Ferguson. Captain William Warriner Watson**, Master, S.S. Delius. Mr George Smith Anderton, Chief Officer, S.S. Kelso. Mr Arthur William Craib, Chief Officer, S.S. Baron Kinnaird. Mr Alexander Miller, Chief Officer, S.S. Glenlea.* Mr William Ritchie Pitkeathly, Second Officer, M.V. Royal Scotsman. Mr Wroth Thomas Coull Lethbridge, Troop Officer, M.V. Ettrick. Mr Hall Wilson, Chief Steward, S.S. Blair Nevis. Mr Albert John Toy, Chief Steward, S.S. Delius. Mr John Whyte, Steward, S.S. Glendinning. Mr Joseph Lois, Able Seaman, S.S. Alderpool. Where there is no other record than this of ships carrying Polish troops these ships are marked (Poles?).
304 (POLISH) SQUADRON - RAF: KAZIMIERZ PAKULA - THE WHOLE STORY Dad was on the Alderpool 1940 .Most ended up in Glasgow but due to basically wearing only uniforms that were availiable the Airforce and Army were hard to differentiate .
