Naval Message to Commanding Officer, EXPRESS, Fishing Smack No. CK231, to sail for Ramsgate 31st May 1940, taking a full supply of fuel and two days' provisions. From H.M. Naval Base, Anchor Hotel, Brightlingsea.
The EXPRESS did not get further than Ramsgate - the authorities had realised that smacks were deep draughted and not very suitable for getting men off the beaches.

The signature on the form is Lt-Cdr R.C. Lewis. He was attached to the HMS Vernon flotilla, and shore defusing party, who tested the first double L magnetic sweep at Brightlingsea in 1940,. He had co-defused both the first enemy magnetic mine to be found by the RN (near Southend), and the reversed-polarity magnetic mine at Clacton. He won the DSO. [from Julian Foynes]

The Commanding Officer of EXPRESS was Albert Potter, the donor's wife's father. He was on EXPRESS with a daughter when it was blown up in 1941, but survived. In 1942 Albert was on LITTLE EXPRESS with his son Gordon, and Bernard Mussett, when she was mined. They were all lost.
From Admiralty British Merchant Vessels Lost or Damaged by Enemy Action during Second World War: EXPRESS mined 12 August 1941, 1m. S.W. of E. Spaniard Buoy, off Whitstable. 16 tons gross.
LITTLE EXPRESS, was mined 4 May 1942 ¾ m. S.E. of West Pansand Buoy, Kentish Flats.
Commonwealth War Graves website www.cwgc.org lists Albert Potter, aged 54, killed 4 May 1942. Commemorated on Panel 127 of the Tower Hill Memorial.

Accession No. 2010.08.002.
Date: 30 May 1940