TNA ADM 199 790

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0830. Returned to beaches, contacted 350 troops of R.A.S.C.
and R.A.O.C. detachments, including Licutenant Colonel and
officers. With assistance of I50 troops, large ship's lifeboat
was pulled down beach and successfully floated to assist
embarkation, but after removing gear, air tanks did not give
sufficient buoyancy to compensate for store in garboard strake.
Serious lack of boats, reducing embarkation rate to about 30
per hour with own boats only. 227 troops embarked, remainder
being sent off to Salamander and destroyers. Some difficulty
experienced through persistent attempts of large masses of
French troops to intercept boats and demand passage. Assisted
by British troops in heading off French swimmers by rifle fire
from 50 yards further along beach. Dunkirk burning with much
smoke. Maximum visibility, slight cloud. No R.A.F. support
sighted all day.
1600. Level bombing attack on Sutton, Salamander, Greyhound
and paddlers from 5000-I0000 feet. One salvo pattern bombs without
result. One salvo of H.E. straddling Sutton and paddlers, no hits.
One dive bombing attack on Sutton and Greyhound, near miss started
fire in Greyhound amidships. one line of 5 bombs close to G.H.Q.
on sea front, on at line starting from centre of the town down
beach and into sea, final two bombs falling each side of Sutton.
Comparitively small bombs used, with several incendiares, one
of which set light to at drifter 1 cable from Sutton which was
sunk by paddlers gunfire. No R.A.F. support visible. Few small
machine gun hits on Sutton. Greyhound badly damaged by bombs
and riddled with machine gun fire.
I706. Proceeded Dover, leaving La Panne during further air raid
of less intensity, in company with Salamander. No R.A.F. support
visible on passage.
2300. Arrived off Dover, calm, mist. Air raid in progress, anchored.
Observed plane at about 1500 feet drop three magnetic mines about
2 cables ahead, sounds of mines striking water clearly audible.
Parashutes seen by several separate observers. Signalled position
of mines to V.A. Dover.
Thursday 30th May. 0600. Proceeded into Dover, discharged troops.
1052. Proceeded Sheerness with one boiler. Drew fires in other
boiler to make repairs to brickwork, damaged by bomb explosion.
1632. Arrived Sheerness, embarked coal and ammunition.
Friday 31st May. 0205. Left Sheerness in company with Lydd and Ress.
0400. Compasses suddenly produced 20 and 30 degrees of deviation,
HOSS assumed lead of division, later compass deviation improved
and Sutton re-assumed lead.
0812. Arrived Dunkirk, proceeded east parallel to beaches passing
4 planes wrecked on the beach west of Dunkirk, two with French
markings. 0829. Passed Dunkirk harbour distant I cable. Harbour wall intact
and little damage apparent from seaward except huge fires.
0835. Hurricanes gunfire, and Spitfires overhead, proceeding homewards at
Continual some from beach close west of Dunkirk.
high speed. One cargo ship sunk alongside east pier of harbour, 2
French destroyers and several cargo ships sunk east of Dunkirk.
Long columns of troops marching into Dunkirk from east, scattered
groups on the beach. Continuous column about I mile long along
beach 3 miles east of Dunkirk.
0906. Anchored off La Panne. Wind N.W. force 3. freshening, troops sea
slight but considerable swell.. Commenced loading with