TNA ADM 199 790

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Headquarters to investigate the local situation.
The town was heardy half on fire, the streets being littered
with wreckage of all kinds, and every window was smashed.
Great palls of smoke from the oil depots and refineries
enveloped the docks and town itself. On our way up to
the Bastion we had to take shelter from two more raids
by enemy bombers, the bombs from the last of which fell
unpleasantly close. There were a number of British troops
in the town and we passed a good few dead and wounded in
the streets - evidently the victims of these air raids.
I held a meeting with Brigadier Parminter, Colonel
Whitfield, Area Commandant, and Commander Henderson, B.N.L.O.
After this meeting the pier and beach parties were at once
organised, told off and dispersed.
At 1900 I took over as S.N.O. Dunkirk.
2005. The following signal made to V.A. Dover :-
"Port continuously bombed all day and on fire.
Embarkation possible only from beaches East of
harbour. Send all ships there. Am ordering
WOLFHOUND to load there and sail."
V.A. Dover had intended to keep a destroyer in
Dunkirk as W/T link, but I decided on arrival that this was
not possible so ordered WOLFHOUND to sail.
Night of 27th May.
Signal 1958/27 to V.A. Dover :-
to beaches
"Please send every available craft, East Her
of Dunkirk immediately. Evacuation tomorrow
night is problematical.'
The navel party were spread out along the beach to
act as police.
Troops in the district were directed to the beach
and ordered to disperse along the sands 80 as to afford