This plaque was awarded by the town of Eastbourne to vessels involved in "Operation Cycle" in June 1940. The operation was an attempt to rescue British troops from the Normandy ports of St Valery-en-Caux and Le Havre.
M.V. Albion (NN 68) was one of three Ernest Sayers-owned fishing trawlers operating out of Eastbourne in June 1940 when it was selected for this hazardous evacuation. The fishing vessels were towed across the English Channel by larger ships and the rescue fleet and their largely civilian crews arrived off the port of St Valery on the 10th June.
M.V. Albion (NN 68) was one of three Ernest Sayers-owned fishing trawlers operating out of Eastbourne in June 1940 when it was selected for this hazardous evacuation. The fishing vessels were towed across the English Channel by larger ships and the rescue fleet and their largely civilian crews arrived off the port of St Valery on the 10th June.
M.V. Albion Bronze Plaque.The evacuation was hampered by thick sea mist making navigation and co-ordination of the rescue fleet extremely difficult. However, more critically, by the time of the fleet's arrival, German forces had broken through to the coast and were able to subject the vessels to intense artillery, mortar and small-arms fire. Two attempts to enter the port were foiled in this way and with the arrival of German Stuka dive bombers, the fleet was only saved by the order to scatter and a heavy fog which descended as the air attacks began.
Further attempts at evacuation were made on the 11th and 12th June from the beaches of the small village of Veules- les- Roses (to the east of St Valery) and 2,137 British and 1,184 French troops were saved. Included in this number were eight wounded French troops who were picked up adrift in a rowing boat by Ernest Sayers' vessel and returned to Newhaven.
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Further attempts at evacuation were made on the 11th and 12th June from the beaches of the small village of Veules- les- Roses (to the east of St Valery) and 2,137 British and 1,184 French troops were saved. Included in this number were eight wounded French troops who were picked up adrift in a rowing boat by Ernest Sayers' vessel and returned to Newhaven.
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