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The Simple Universe
Thoughts
Existence and awareness
Sections
Thoughts existence and awareness
Sounds mood and drama
Music harmony and emotion
Art soul and imagination
Photography people and memories
Thoughts
Existence and awareness
Philosophy
Philosophy, from the Greek word philosophia, meaning the love of wisdom, is the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, language
Existence
How can something emerge from nothing?
And yet the alternative is that there is something that has always been there. And that is just as puzzling, for how can that be?
Both seem impossible, both seem to require magic
Rather than there be nothing, it is fortunate that our universe, as impossible as it is, for it to exist, does exist, and that you exist
I hope you always keep that wonder in your heart
Source
When watching a magician pull a rabbit from a hat, you know that it is a trick, you know that the rabbit was always there, somewhere
But what if a real magician were to do this trick? Then the rabbit would not be there before, it would come into existence because of the magician. In a sense, the rabbit would be a part of the magician because the rabbit came from the magician
Perhaps the source of the universe is like that magician, and perhaps even though we are separate to the source, we are part of the source
Life
Life is able to understand intangible things, such as right and wrong, morals, compassion, love, altruism, truth, integrity, self-evident rights, the protection of others. For a parent, it is perhaps the imperfect child that is the most precious
Life is an amplifier in the sense that for example, something as insignificant as a thought, can lead to an action, that causes a change, that affects the world
Free Will
Whether you believe in free will or not, it would seem that evolution will naturally lead to life that can distinguish between what is real and what is not real. Allowing answers to questions such as, what is that, what if that were so, and what does that mean, to have meaning
Whether you believe in free will or not, to be aware of the universe is in itself an amazing ability, for without life, the universe would not be aware of its own existence
Intelligence
Amongst other things, it would seem that intelligence is the ability to think of a question and to suggest an answer, with the ability to assess how likely that answer might be right or wrong
Perhaps somewhat ironically for those who devise IQ tests, questions asked may be a better measure of a person's intelligence than questions answered
Energy and fields
It might be, that by using the concept of energy and fields, some kind of underlying understanding is being hidden
Time
It would appear that time in itself is not a thing, but rather it is a consequence of things when they move. And at the lowest level, if the things in a universe move at a constant speed, then it would seem that in that universe, time would run at a constant speed too
In such a universe, when clocks run slow, as for example in a 'travelling twin round trip' experiment, then that would be no more a profound statement of time than say, a flower growing slower in winter than in summer
Proofs And Disproofs
In general, a scientific theory is not considered as ever being absolutely proven, because at some later date, there is the possibility that some contradictory evidence might be found
But perhaps there is more to this than just that, for scientific theories in general, also seem to have in some way or other, one or more assumptions to the theory, and it would seem that those assumptions may well follow through to any disproof as well
This would appear to mean that even a disproof of a theory, perhaps rather ironically, should also not be considered as ever being absolutely proven either
Riddles
Riddles can mislead the solver from finding the answer
But real problems can also be misleading, concealing a simple solution
Here is a YouTube video (2022) of Derek Muller discussing a riddle, that even when you know the answer, the answer still seems to be impossible
A riddle
0 minutes : the riddle, prisoners to solve a puzzle to obtain freedom
11 minutes : how the solution works
12 minutes : further insights into the solution
15 minutes : the probability of the prisoners obtaining freedom
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Sounds
Mood and drama
Would you like to hear
When selected, a randomly selected Star Trek sound will play, when you mouse click the background of a menu list
LIST of the Star Trek sounds, Link to CBS Studios terms of use
As a demonstration, click anywhere in this paragraph to hear one of the Star Trek sounds selected randomly
(Click anywhere in this paragraph if you want to stop the current example sound that is playing)
Volume level is currently set to 5
Volume 1 is the quietest, volume 10 is the loudest
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Music
Harmony and emotion
Expendable Friend - Best That You Can Be (lyrics to the song) (music licence) (the instrumental introduction has been shortened)
Ayla Nereo - Oh Love (lyrics to the song) (music licence)
El Perro Del Mar - It Is Something To Have Wept (lyrics to the song) (music licence) (background noise has been removed from the sound track)
Based on the poem The Great Minimum
by Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 - 1936)
G K Chesterton quote
"The simplification of anything is always sensational"
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Art
Soul and imagination
Rural Church (in Brittany, France) watercolour by Charles Patrickson
Letitia watercolour by Charles Patrickson
Letitia is an ex-naval harbour launch moored up in a canal at Uxbridge, Middlesex circa 1998
Her log book has the account for the days when Letitia took part in the flotilla evacuation of Dunkirk, June 1940
Tranquility watercolour by Charles Patrickson
Family watercolour by Mary Pelham
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Photography
People and memories
Evolution photograph by Nick Pike and companions
Floating photograph by Nick Pike
Looking down photograph by Nick Pike
Fun at the park photograph by Bob Pike
Thoughts photograph by Bob Pike
Dad's shoulders photograph by Bob Pike
Time to reassure photograph by Bob Pike
Taking in the view photograph by a companion
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The Simple Universe
List of the Star Trek™ sounds
Sections
Cast voices
Kirk - Captain's log supplemental
25 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound12.mp3 https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/tos/kirk/Kirk_CaptainsLogSupplemental.mp3
Kirk - maxium warp
25 kilobytes, 1 second duration...
sound70.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/voice_kirk_maximumwarp.mp3
Kirk - space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the Starship Enterpise, its five year mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to bodly go where no man has gone before
200 kilobytes, 50 seconds duration...
sound64.mp3 https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/tos/music/Opening_Remastered_Preview.mp3
McCoy - you're out of your Vulcan mind Spock
25 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound68.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/voice_mccoy_outofvulcanmind.mp3
McCoy - he's dead Jim
25 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound69.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/voice_mccoy_deadjim.mp3
Scotty - aye sir
25 kilobytes, 1 second duration...
sound10.mp3 "Scotty aye sir"
Scotty - the warp drive is a hopeless pile of junk
25 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound67.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/voice_scotty_pileofjunk.mp3
Spock - fascinating
25 kilobytes, 1 second duration...
sound14.mp3 https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/tos/spock/Spock_Fascinating.mp3
Sulu - forward phasers locked and ready to fire sir
25 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound65.mp3 https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/tos/sulu/Sulu_phasersready.mp3
Worf - Captain, incoming message
25 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound5.mp3 https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/tng/tng-worf-incomingmessage.mp3
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Computer voice
Computer - accessing library computer data
75 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound71.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/accessinglibrarycomputerdata_clean.mp3
Computer - affirmative
75 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound72.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/affirmative2_ep.mp3
Computer - authorisation required
50 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound73.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/authorisationrequired_ep.mp3
Computer - auto initiation of the EMH programme occurred when a ship wide red alert was initiated
150 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound0.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/autoinitationemh.mp3
Computer - automatic defence procedures initiated
75 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound16.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/autodefense_ep.mp3
Computer - calibration is locked and normal, diagnostics underway
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound19.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/calibrationlockeddiagnosticunderway.mp3
Computer - command codes verified
75 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound9.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/commandcodesverified_ep.mp3
Computer - command functions are offline
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound20.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/commandfunctionsoffline_ep.mp3
Computer - data insufficient
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound56.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_datainsufficient_ep.mp3
Computer - destruct sequence completed and engaged
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound58.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_destructsequence_ep.mp3
Computer - evacuate bridge, DEF One life support failure in 30 seconds
200 kilobytes, 6 seconds duration...
sound25.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/evacuatebridge_ep.mp3
Computer - I am a Beta 5 computer capable of analytical decisions
200 kilobytes, 6 seconds duration...
sound41.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/sequences/tos_beta5computer.mp3
Computer - inaccurate, inaccurate, data in error
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound59.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_inaccurateerror_ep.mp3
Computer - incorrect
50 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound60.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_incorrect_ep.mp3
Computer - initiating decoupling sequence, auto separation in 10 seconds
150 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound26.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/initiatingdecouplingsequence_ep.mp3
Computer - intruder alert on deck 8
50 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound28.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/intruderalertdeck8_ep.mp3
Computer - James T Kirk, serial number...
1.5 megabytes, 33 seconds duration...
sound54.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_computerkirk_ep.mp3
Computer - library computer, data being received
200 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound57.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_datareceived_ep.mp3
Computer - life support on the bridge has been restored, level 10 authorisation required
200 kilobytes, 6 seconds duration...
sound3.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/lifesupportrestoredleveltenauthorizationrequired_ep.mp3
Computer - long range scan of planet complete
100 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound8.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/longrangescanplanetcomplete_clean.mp3
Computer - negative
75 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound61.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_negative_ep.mp3
Computer - one minute to auto destruct
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound34.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/oneminutetoautodestruct_ep.mp3
Computer - please do not address this unit in that manner
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound74.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/donotaddressthisunitinthatmanner_clean.mp3
Computer - priority clearance recognition alpha one
100 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound2.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/priorityclearancealphaone_ep.mp3
Computer - priority one message from Star Fleet coming in on secure channel
75 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound11.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/priorityonemessagefromstarfleet_ep.mp3
Computer - Spock, serial number...
900 kilobytes, 22 seconds duration...
sound55.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_computerspock_ep.mp3
Computer - stability loss was due to an impact by a sub-space interface pocket
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound4.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/stabiltylossdueto_ep.mp3
Computer - starboard nacelle non functional, maximum available power 50 percent
200 kilobytes, 6 seconds duration...
sound22.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/starboardnacellenotfunctional_ep.mp3
Computer - structural integrity breach on deck 6, deck 7 and deck 12
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound23.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/structuralintegritybreach_ep.mp3
Computer - tactical alert, vessel approaching, bearing 184 mark 7
150 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound24.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/tacticalalertvesselapproaching_ep.mp3
Computer - that information is not on file
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound47.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/informationnotonfile_ep.mp3
Computer - the automatic pilot system is not functional
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound17.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/autopilotnotfunctional.mp3
Computer - this unit is the ultimate achievement in computer evolution
25 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound75.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/tos_ultimate_computer.mp3
Computer - transfer complete
75 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound51.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/transfercomplete_clean.mp3
Computer - unable to comply
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound62.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_unabletocomply.mp3
Computer - verified
75 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound63.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_verified.mp3
Computer - warning, life support failure on all decks, abandon ship
200 kilobytes, 6 seconds duration...
sound33.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/lifesupportfailurealldecksabandonship_ep.mp3
Computer - warning, primary shields are failing
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound52.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/warningprimaryshieldsfailing_ep.mp3
Computer - warning, self destruct sequence has been initiated, warp core overload in 11 minutes
200 kilobytes, 7 seconds duration...
sound38.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/selfdestruct11min_ep.mp3
Computer - warning, warp core collapse in 10 seconds
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound53.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/computer/voice/warningwarpcorecollapse_ep.mp3
Computer - working
100 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound1.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/toscomputer/voice/tos_working.mp3
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Sound effects
Sound - Borg fly by
200 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound18.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/aliensounds/borg_flyby.mp3
Sound - boson whistle
50 kilobytes, 1 second duration...
sound6.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/tos_bosun_whistle_1.mp3
Sound - bridge loss of power
600 kilobytes, 17 seconds duration...
sound42.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/sequences/tos_bridge_loss_power.mp3
Sound - bridge scanner
700 kilobytes, 17 seconds duration...
sound7.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/other/tos_bridgescanner.mp3
Sound - communicator
50 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound43.mp3 "communicator"
Sound - doors swish
125 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound50.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/doors/tos_swoosh_1_long.mp3
Sound - doors swoosh
75 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound21.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/doors/ds9_door.mp3
Sound - fly by
50 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound29.mp3 "fly by"
Sound - fly by
300 kilobytes, 6 seconds duration...
sound32.mp3 "fly by"
Sound - fly by
300 kilobytes, 7 seconds duration...
sound37.mp3 "fly by"
Sound - hand held scanner
150 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound40.mp3 "hand held scanner"
Sound - hull hit
200 kilobytes, 7 seconds duration...
sound46.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/explosions/tos_hullhit_4.mp3
Sound - music
150 kilobytes, 8 seconds duration...
sound39.mp3 "music"
Sound - photon torpedo from bridge
200 kilobytes, 6 seconds duration...
sound48.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/weapons/tos_photon_torpedo_from_bridge.mp3
Sound - photon torpedo
25 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound66.mp3 https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/tos/tos-photon-torpedo-1.mp3
Sound - planet chimes
2 megabytes, 1 minute duration...
sound49.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/background/tos_planet_chimes_1.mp3
Sound - sick bay monitor
100 kilobytes, 2 seconds duration...
sound45.mp3 "sick bay monitor"
Sound - transporter
200 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound15.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/transporters/tos_transporter8_clean.mp3
Sound - transporter pad
75 kilobytes, 11 seconds duration...
sound13.mp3 https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/tos/enterprise/TransporterPad_01_Preview.mp3
Sound - tricorder
125 kilobytes, 3 seconds duration...
sound27.mp3 https://www.trekcore.com/audio/tricorder/tng_tricorder2.mp3
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Unidentified sounds
Unidentified sounds
200 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound30.mp3 "?"
Unidentified sounds
400 kilobytes, 9 seconds duration...
sound31.mp3 "?"
Unidentified sounds
200 kilobytes, 4 seconds duration...
sound35.mp3 "?"
Unidentified sound
200 kilobytes, 5 seconds duration...
sound36.mp3 "?"
Unidentified sounds
50 kilobytes, 1 second duration...
sound44.mp3 "?"
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Terms of use
Link to CBS Studios terms of use
Star Trek sounds sourced from
https://www.trekcore.com/audio/
https://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/sound-effects/star-trek/
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The Simple Universe
Expendable Friend
Best That You Can Be
Learn to talk, learn to talk
Learn to stand up on your own
Let the teacher fill your mind
With all the things you need to know
Be the best that you can be
Ooh
Take a ride on a train
Maybe on a plane
Fly the nest
See what's out there in the world
Maybe you might find
Something that excites you
Something you'd be happy working on
Be the best that you can be
Ooh
Find someone nice and settle down
Buy a house and watch the bills mount up
As you struggle just to keep your head above the water
Watch as your kids grow up
To be adolescents you embarrass
Every time you say a word in their direction
Be the best that you can be
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Work till you drop
Most of what you put away
Will end up in the hands
Of some faceless government department
And now your kids
Gone to work in other countries
If something became of you
They wouldn't even know it
Be the best that you can be
Ooh
Be the best that you can be
Ooh
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The Simple Universe
Ayla Nereo
Oh Love
Oh Love, oh
Tearing me apart from the inside out
So I can see myself from the inside
Oh Love, oh
Tearing me apart from the inside out
So I can see myself from the inside
Oh Love, oh
Tearing you apart from the inside out
So you can see yourself from the inside
Oh Love, oh
Tearing us apart from the inside out
So we can see ourseselves from the inside
And might be causing pain
And might be coming home
And might be saying
This is all you asked for
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The Simple Universe
El Perro Del Mar
It Is Something To Have Wept
It is something to have wept as we have wept
Oh, something to have done as we have done
It is something to have watched when all have slept
And seen the stars which never seen the sun
It is something to have smelt the mystic rose
Although it breaks and leave the thorny rods
It is something to have hungered once as those
Must hunger who have ate the bread of gods
To have known the things that from the weak are furled
The fearful ancient passions, strange and high
It is something to be wiser than the world
And something to be older than the sky
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Lo, and blessed are our ears for they have heard
Yeah, blessed are our eyes for they have seen
Let the thunder break on human, beast and bird
And lightning, it is something to have been
It is something to have been
It is something to have been
It is something to have been
It is something to have been
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The Simple Universe
G. K. Chesterton
The Great Minimum
It is something to have wept as we have wept
It is something to have done as we have done
It is something to have watched when all men slept
And seen the stars which never see the sun
It is something to have smelt the mystic rose
Although it break and leave the thorny rods
It is something to have hungered once as those
Must hunger who have ate the bread of gods
To have seen you and your unforgotten face
Brave as a blast of trumpets for the fray
Pure as white lilies in a watery space
It were something, though you went from me today
To have known the things that from the weak are furled
Perilous ancient passions, strange and high
It is something to be wiser than the world
It is something to be older than the sky
In a time of sceptic moths and cynic rusts
And fattened lives that of their sweetness tire
In a world of flying loves and fading lusts
It is something to be sure of a desire
Lo, blessed are our ears for they have heard
Yea, blessed are our eyes for they have seen
Let the thunder break on man and beast and bird
And the lightning, it is something to have been
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The Simple Universe
'Letitia'
A veteran of the Dunkirk flotilla evacuation
'Letitia' is an ex-naval harbour launch conversion, 52 feet long, 12 feet beam and 4 feet 9 inches draught, schooner rigged, fitted with twin screws driven by two Thornycroft RA.4 petrol-paraffin engines (4 cylinder, 30 horsepower)
She attended the Pavilion d'Or Rally at Liege, Belgium in July 1939, her number being 73. After the rally, she returned to her moorings in Chichester Canal just before the war broke out, and was laid up there until requisitioned by the Ministry of Shipping on the 30th May 1940, for the Dunkirk evacuation
Extract from Letitia's log, May - June 1940, Dunkirk Evacuation
Friday 31st May 1940
In Chichester canal, painting yacht grey, preparing for sea and getting crew together
Saturday 1st June 1940
Filling up tanks with petrol and paraffin
18:00 Orders came through to proceed to Ramsgate
22:00 Waiting tide until 10 pm when locked out of canal and proceeded to moorings outside waiting daylight. Went ashore for final orders
Sunday 2nd June 1940
06:00 Left moorings and proceeded down harbour in company of yachts 'Falcon', 'Warrior' and 'Idaho'
07:15 Clear of Chichester harbour, proceeding up channel
10:00 'Owers' Lightvessel abeam
13:35 Beachy Head abeam. Wind strong from the east with some swell
17:00 'Royal Sovereign' abeam. Swell getting worse. Noticed some trouble on board 'Idaho' and nearly rammed by same
17:15 'Warrior' standing by 'Idaho'
17:30 'Falcon' came alongside and gave us instructions to proceed on passage
18:00 'Idaho' in tow of 'Warrior'
18:30 Lost sight of them
19:15 Lost sight of 'Falcon'. Proceeded on passage alone. Ship dipping nose under swells with smart breeze
21:00 Dungeness abeam
22:15 Darkness came on. We went in close to the coast and anchored in 10 fathoms of water off Hythe
Monday 3rd June 1940
04:00 Hove up anchor and proceeded on passage. Wind and swell abated in the night
06:35 Dover abeam. Reported to the Admiralty the arrival of the 'Letitia'. Sub-lieutenant and three sailors came on board and took over. Proceeded alongside oil wharf to get more fuel on board, and alongside another wharf to get a machine gun and ammunition on board
14:30 Taking out ship's masts and putting on quay and fixing machine gun on deck - all ready to sail
16:00 Orders came to proceed outside harbour to the tug 'Sun XV', to be towed across in company with other yachts
18:35 Three other yachts make fast astern of us, under way. Engines running at half-speed to ease the strain of the tow ropes. Slight swell. The tow ropes of two of the yachts broke, and they were told to proceed on under own power
23:30 Arrived off Dunkirk and cast off from tug. Proceeded into Dunkirk, past the Mole, and up the canal for about two miles. Moored alongside the quay and proceeded to take troops on board. Could find no Englishmen, so took on board 40 Frenchmen
Tuesday 4th June 1940
Left the quay and proceeded outside the Mole to HMS (ship's name is missing from the log), who took troops on board. Swell from other craft made ship dash into the side of warship, tearing rails down and breaking ropes
Had orders to load on board about 400 pounds of TNT in two barrels. Five naval ratings came on board, and proceeded to wreck of HMS 'Mosquito' (a Royal Navy Dragonfly class river gunboat, sunk off Dunkirk by German dive bombers). Went alongside and put on ratings and TNT. Waiting there for ratings to fix charge to blow up wreck. When all was ready, naval ratings jumped on board and we got away from wreck in quick time
Engineer reported that port engine not running very well. Put ratings on board HMS (ship's name not clear in log, 'Racia of Faversham'?). Swell from other ships did more damage to topsides while lying alongside warship. Received instructions to proceed to Ramsgate
During the operations inside Dunkirk and on the work outside, we had no enemy aircraft overhead, but plenty of gunfire with bursts overhead and falling shrapnel. The town of Dunkirk was all on fire with explosions at intervals, which gave enough light to distinguish markings in and around Dunkirk, and to see the masts and funnels of ships that were sunk outside the harbour
Proceeded on passage back to Ramsgate, when a big paddle steamer overtook us and we obtained a tow. Also towing astern of the paddle steamer, was one of the naval fast torpedo boats, which had broken down
The paddle steamer increased her speed to about 15 knots, the wash from the paddles caused us to sheer into the naval launch, and in doing so, two sailors were thrown overboard from the launch. Our tow rope was cut and after a while, we managed to pick up one of the men who had fallen overboard. A little later, a Dutch fishing vessel reported that they had picked up the second man, so we proceeded on our passage back
The port engine continued to give trouble and we were overhauled by a large tug, which came up close to us, and the naval officer in charge of same, gave orders to us to abandon ship, as owing to daylight coming on, we would be exposed to danger from enemy aircraft
We transferred the guns and ourselves to the tug and discovered a wounded French soldier in the aft cabin, who had been left behind, and we took him on board the tug with us. While we were transferring to the tug, three enemy aircraft flew overhead
The tug proceeded on passage back to Ramsgate, leaving 'Letitia' abandoned
07:30 Arrived at Ramsgate and awaited further orders. Eventually we received our orders to return, and caught the 10:36 train from Ramsgate, arriving at Chichester at 18:40
Signed: E. A. Leppard, Master
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