Royal Daffodil Chapter
Royal Daffodil
The Royal Daffodil is named for a gallant vessel which played a key role in the 1940 rescue of servicemen from Dunkirk.
The ship commenced her service in 1939 as a passenger vessel. However, upon the outbreak of World War II, in September of that year, she was quickly requisitioned by the Sea Transport Department of the Board of Trade and was used for the evacuation of some 4,000 women and children from London and Thames Estuary to East Anglia. She was then used to carry troops of the British Expeditionary Force(BEF) from Southampton to Cherbourg.
On May 23, 1940, Royal Daffodil took part in Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. She rescued 9,500 men in seven trips. On June 2, 1940, a bomb passed straight through her and exploded under her. The explosion caused a hole in the starboard side, and the Master ordered everyone to port side, which raised the hole out of the water and enabled a temporary patch of mattresses and wood to be applied. Royal Daffodil made it safely to Ramsgate and disembarked the evacuees.
During her wartime service, Royal Daffodil was estimated to have carried almost 2,444,000 service personnel and covered some 170,000 Nautical Miles (310,000 kilometers or 200,000 miles). Source: Wikipedia
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Royal Daffodil Chapter
Meetings
The Royal Daffodil Chapter meets the second Saturday of the month at 1pm, at
The Ridge, Pinehurst
7205 W. Quincy Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80235
Members come from Arvada, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Denver, Lakewood and Littleton areas.
Testimonials
"Though we manage to conduct business at our monthly meetings, we laugh an awful lot! And we enjoy a lovely buffet of homemade sweets and savories, along with tea and sherry, at every meeting. We’re rather food driven. Twice a year we go on a lunch outing, in the summer and in January, as a belated Christmas celebration. Friends, spouses and significant others are always welcome at these events at various restaurants around town.
I’ve made true friends through Royal Daffodil.” - Lois, Lakewood
Fun Facts
Fun Facts
1. Before the name Royal Daffodil, the chapter was named Canberra, after the capitol of Australia. When membership waned, the remaining members renamed the chapter Royal Daffodil and began recruiting new members.
2. The Royal Daffodils fondly call themselves “the Daffies.”
3. About 10 years ago, our member Betty Thompson, being one of the senior stateswomen of the Colorado DBE, was asked to dress as Queen Victoria for the annual Victorian Tea. She was provided with a hoop skirt to wear and Betty commented on how she understood why women wore long pantaloons under their skirts, she was freezing under her skirt!