RootsChat.Com

Thank you everyone for adding all this extra information.  I was lucky enough to be given copies of diaries kept by 2 of the crew of RFC113 by the families of Bill Cox (Master) and Clary Glendewar (Engineer) The other crew members were Ted Cox and Harry Le Boutillier and a RN Radio Officer (unknown) So I can confirm that RFC113 was the last boat to leave St Malo under the command of Commander (later Admiral) Howard Johnston on the 18th June 1940.  RFC113 made 2 trips to St Malo on the 17th and 18th June and shepherded the Jersey Yacht Club volunteers home taking one boat in tow along the way.  RFC113 only left on the 18th after Commander Howard Johnston and his men had successfully demolised the port and rendered it unusable to the approaching German Army. On this final trip they carried various evacuating servicemen and at least one female, a school teacher.

Very happy to keep sharing and adding to the information in the public domain with everyone, so pleased the story keeps growing - do you think RFC113 was the boat your father was on Chris ?

I have attached a  press report published in the Straits Times in 1940 about the event.

One other thought
I forgot to mention that, I have read about (what I believe to be my boat in all cases)  RFC113 as being referred to also as 113RFC and in one article, the islandwiki link below - repeated from last post, there is mention of the boat as Fleet Air Arm Launch 236 - this boat has the same skipper (named Cox) as mine had and was in the same place at the same time.  I don't think there were two boats of this type in the area, so I believe they are all one and the same boat. If anyone knows anything at all that could confirm, or deny this, please do let me know. Does anyone know what letters would go in front, or after the 236 number for a Fleet Air Arm Launch ?  ML236 was a Fairmile boat and RFA236 was a Stores Ship - so what would it be?  It may well be that the 236 number is her 'correct' wartime number as the RFC113 / 113 RFC name was her name in private ownership before the war - her owner was a Captain from the Royal flying Corps in WW1 who named his boat after his WW1 Squadron - 113.

http://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/St_Malo_evacuation

Keen to share information on the St Malo / Jersey evacuation story if anyone can help ?

Cheers

Jon

Hi Chris

I just came across the Rootschat site with your query about St Malo in 1940.
I have recently acquired an old British Powerboat Company Express Cruiser built in 1938 which was in use as an Air Sea Rescue boat in 1940 stationed at Jersey.  The boat was named RFC113 (after its original owner who was in WW1 in the RFC, Squadron 113). On May 31st, the boat was ordered to join the Fleet at Portsmouth for the Dunkirk evacuations and thence to join in the excavuation of North West France and the Channel Islands. RFC113 was, I believe, the absolute last to leave on Tuesday the 18th June, along with the Duchess of Normandie - they left as the Germans were arriving. I believe RFC113 was then used in the operation to demolish the St Malo harbour with Clarence 'Johnny' Howard Johnston on board.  RFC113 stayed to observe the effect of the demolition and then headed to mainland UK.
I don't know if this helps you at all but please let me know if you want to follow this up - I am also keen to learn about anything you might be able to add to the picture?

Cheers

Jon