TNA ADM 199 790

196
211
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.
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Processings by H.H.S. SADRE for the period 37th May to 5th June.
her assistance, and a report sent by W/I. It is not known whether
"Páris" was bombed, or minetyl; but a drifting nine was signted not DE away.
Shortly afterwards, the ship came under fire ( which was returned ) in the Vicinity of No. 5W buoy: smoke was nade and no damage was suffered.
At 2110 secured instite the wrecked trawler at East Pier and embarked troops. These were all part of the rearguard of the B.E.F.
and included men or the Green Howards. Only 15 case on board in stretchers, but a further 50 001 were carried by thair conrades and the seamen: nost of these collapsed on arrival, an. over 50 had to be hoisted out on stretchers at Dover. Their courage was mynificent and
I never heard a complaint and hardly ever a groan.
On leaving the harbour, Clashing signals ware observed from the wreck of the "Nosquito:"the bow was placed alongaide har, and three men taken off. They turned out to be Royal Artillery Officers who had evaded capture by paddling off in a small boat. The boat had evidently been made fast with a "Soldiers hitch and had drifted away leaving them stranded: they were fortunate in finiting a signal lantern and so being able to attract attention. Proceeded with *Shikari* at
2200 and arrived at Dover at 0120/3.
Left Dover at 8020/3 for the [un] trip. "Yenemous"
who was in company, had been delayed, but caught to with "SABRE"
near Ruytinguen bank buoy. Entered Dunkirk harbour at 2250 and lay off while the transports berthed: /"SABRE" then berthed between two transports where there would not have been room for & larger destroyer.
"Whitshed" had arrived ear lier but had not yet barthed: her starn was Placed alongside "SABRE's" DOW and troops ware passed over to her until there was room for her to barth at the pier. By this time
"SABRES" was full up, having embarked nearly 600 French troops and
T