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5.
cortly assist after to the first Destroyer to leave. Two motor boats with him
tack on the way. I then embarked General Alexander and transferred
these on the pler and in the control and berthing of shipping had been parties over
dly damaged to be of use. She was sent back to England.
sunk. The other arrived, but had one engine out of action and was too
were attacked by aircraft on passage, and one with Commander Clouston sent
by by 2200. There was a fresh Northerly breese and this, coupled with the
The evacuation was timed to start at 2100 and four Destroyers had got
Road tide, set ships off the pier and they had difficulty in berthing until the
haft moving in and out of the harbours added to the difficulties.
de turned and the breeze dropped. Large numbers of French fishing and other
230 the B.E.F. were all away and at 2300 Captain Tennant and the rest of the
M.A/S.B. 10 assisted two destroyers to berth by pushing them. By
lival party left in M.T.B. 102. The absence of the naval borthing parties,
abarked with the last of the B.E.F., was much felt, and the French did nothing
replace them.
There was then a very long pause before any French troops
Roaded. name down to the East pier. One ship was alongside * hours before she was
B°
There were large numbers of French troops at the West Quay and
wo Personnel Ships were sent in there. The second of these, the ROUSE, went
ground when clearing and I was reluctant to risk any more. Also this plar
as supposed to be used by French ships and some French Destroyers did go there.
OUEN refoated at High tide next day and returned safely.
9.
The flow of troops was so slow that it was obvious that the ships
vailable could not be filled in the time and I sent back three destroyers and
several Fleet Sweepers empty and also at least two Personnel Ships.
50.
This was a disappointing night. For scose reason the French did not
some down and did not appear in any numbers until about half an hoghe before dam.
The reason given was that a dounter-attack had to be made. At 0300 there were
three Personnel Ships alongaide and I had to order then to leave at 0310. The
Slockships arrived at 0310 and I laft for Dover shortly aftermatis.
Light 3/4 June.
51.
For this night the time available for embarkation, 2230 to 0230, was
reduced by an hour, and it was planned to use both Bast and West piers in addition
from small boats. For upper the West pier schools, minesweepars, and two correttes
to small craft at the quays of the harbour. Vessels also lay off for loading
were detailed. East pier was to have 10 Transports, 6 Destroyers, and 4 Paddlers.
WEITSHED was to land berthing parties at 2200.
52.
I want over in M.T.B. 102 and arrived at 2200 to find the harbour
swarming with French fishing boats on their way in and the piers full of troops.
very 53. was tide turned at 2330. WHITSHED and three Ships
There again a fresh Northerly wind and berthing conditions Personnel were
and later difficult until the for over an hour to get alongaide, and finally I took in
some of SABRE were trying off WEITSHED and landed them. No ship succeeding
berthing the berthing party until 2330 so that only three hours was available for
at the It East is pier remarkable that in spite of this only case paddler was unable
the East pier.
54. continual Owing to fresh ships, the harbour entrance got very which
the delay in borthing, the mmbers of small craft congested and and the
the ships there were handled no collisions in these constricted waters. Time and again feared
that arrival of is ude solely to the magnificent way in I
a ship would were go ashore in some impossible position.
/55 I