TNA ADM 199 790

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13. Several of the motor boats had now broken down and
between midnight and 3 a.m. complete repairs were done to
these boats, which was most creditable to the R.N.R. and
R.N.V.R. officers and ratings sent from EXCELLENT and KING
ALFRED to man them.
14. I found it necessary to shift my anchorage to the west
during the night, as shells meant for the beaches were
ricocheting over H.M.S. HILDA.
15. In accordance with my undertaking to the troops, I sent
off all boats again at 3.15 a.m. to search the beaches, starting
from the western end of Bray-Dunnes. During the next three
hours approximately only 250 men were taken off the beaches,
and these in small parties; they were apparently stragglers.
A large rearguard party marching along the beach decided to
continue to Dunkirk.
June.
16. At 7.30 a.m. approximately I closed H.M.S. KEITH and
reported the position to Admiral Wake-Walker. He told me to
continue my search of the beaches and if possible transfer my
troops to another ship, subsequently returning to England.
17. Unfortunately, with the exception of KEITH, SKIPJACK,
one destroyer a considerable distance away and an Admiralty tug,
there were no vessels to whom I could transfer these troops,
besides which, with the dive bombing and shelling, it would, as
it turned out, have been impossible.
18. dive bomber and was abandoned shortly afterwards.
At approximately 8 a.m. H.M.S. KEITH received at direct
hit closed from KEITH a and picked up some 50 survivors out of the water,
including this stage I jettisoned all my spare petrol. The off Admiralty the
I the Q.M.G. of the B.E.F. and other Staff Officers.
At went alongside KEITH before she sank and took the east
majority make a final inspection of the beaches and to see motor-
tug of the survivors. I then proceeded to that no to
boats had been left behind.
19. dive bomber Half an and sank immediately. I closed SKIPJACK picked
hour later SKIPJACK received a direct hit and from a
up some 60 or 70 survivors.
20. Dive bombing had been more while or less HILDA continuous proceeded since towards early
morning Dunkirk Germans or narrowly 21. three At on and seemed missed 10.30 occasions, passage the to attacks be home. but in in complete during went the British on the control fighters greater for of bomba, of England, two part sink. the were of and air. of H.M. seen being after the transports on day an two the
hour's I saw the steaming, latter while struckby dive bombers and
22./