TNA ADM 199 790

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at Bover envianged for mre men being emboxited from the beaches than was in practice possible when the moment arrived, and I had therefore to modify then on the spot to make greater use of Dunicire, and continually adjust the plan and the means to a changing stituation.
13.
During the day of 30th May embortation proceeded slowly there were not enough ships off the benches and at one mement HER was there alone. Hon were coming off in pontoons but there me often no one to take these creft ashore again. During the day lorries voro driven into the BSN to form pders.
14.
There were many wounded on board HKHR, and at 4 Della I decided to sond her home. Captain Bush went in her to strees the vital necessity for boats and crews if any mmbers were to come off from the beaches.
15.
Accordingly I transferred to WINDSOR off Bray at 1600, and at 1630
landed at La Parme to visit the 0.-in-0. It was necessary to vale the last for yards. Captain Tennext was with the C.-in-C. and the situation was discussed.
I stressed my views as to the difficulties of embaritation by boat and the necessity for moving tomoda Dunicirit, but I could not but be more of a relustance on the part of the Army to do 80 and a feeling that the Havy ought to be able to embark large mmbers by boat from the beaches. Arrengments to take off the
C.-in-C. at 1600 on Friday were made, and he informed 30 of the effort of which he had heard from the 1st Sea Lord by telephone, and which was to be made on
Friday night. The details of this 1 received next day at 1000. when Captain
Bush returned in HERE.
16.
At my first attampt to return to KANSER in a pontoon peddled by soldiers the boat swamped in shallow water, but the second attempt with a smaller arew was successful and I got OR board at 2200.
31st May
17.
At 0230 on Friday, 31st May, IS WORDSTER we full to with troops I
transferred to EXPRESS and in her proceeded to Dunicizione at daylight to direct ahiys to where they were most needed.
18.
On this day the breese freshened and being onshore made boat work very difficult. Many boats were broached to and strended at high under so that embarkation from the beaches cuse about to a standatill. I continued to urge movement of troops to Dunkirk and considered the value of basching abive but was tide. very doubtrul that it would be of any use except for a small period of the
19. thereafter BO that my movements should not be haspered by consideration of
At 0645 I transferred to H.M.S. KEITH and kept her free from troops embarkation or wounded more
20. The At these was the provision of larger numbers of small bonts to and
1000 HERE arrived with the plans for the avacuation for Friday night.
crows essence to bring of off the rearguard at 0130 to minasweepers which ware be there about that time.
made 21. During for IDD to get Destroyers, Paddlers, and would have been sent these the day the time of ambarkation WAS advanced other to 2030 cruft and off this
Dunicisk at that time. they could have Boaded quicker. in it but was, the sent every mmber ship of beaches it necessary Buf for this many of these ships I into which itself where be taken from the beaches into Duricist than I liked. large places could from possibly which boats were working locked up more abive moved 22. About noon At 1430 X proceeded in KKISH to La balloon. Permo try KNITH locate
HERE off LA Pume ome under fire from a shore to battery to and the battery further but West. 10 was beding directed by an observation was fired on and I withdrow.
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over envisaged for more men being embarked from the beaches than was in tice possible when the moment arrived, and I had therefore to modify them the spot to make greater use of Dunkirk, and continually adjust the plan and means to a changing situation.
During the day of 30th May embarkation proceeded slowly - there were not gh ships off the beaches and at one moment HEBE was there alone. Men were ng off in pontoons but there was often no one to take these craft shore in, During the day lorries were driven into the sea to form piers.
There were many wounded on board HEBE, and at 4 Della I decided to a her home. Captain Bush went in her to stress the vital necessity for ts and crews if any mmbers were to come off from the beaches.
Accordingly I transferred to WINDSOR off Bray at 1600, and at 1630
ded at La Parme to visit the C.-in-0. It was necessary to wade the last few ds. Captain Tennant was with the C.-in-C. and the situation was discussed.
tressed my views as to the difficulties of embarkation by boat and the essity for moving towards Dunkiric, but I could not but be aware of a relustance the part of the Army to do so and a feeling that the Havy ought to be able to ark large numbers by boat from the beaches. Arrangements to take off the in-C. at 1600 on Friday were made, and he informed = of the affort of which had heard from the 1st Sea Lord by telephone, and which was to be made on day night. The details of this I received next day at 1000. when Captain sh returned in HEBE.
At my first attempt to return to WORCESTER in a pontoon peddled by ldiers the boat swamped in shallow water, but the second attempt with a aller crew was successful and I got on board at 2200.
31st May
At 0130 on Friday, 31st May, as WORCESTER was full up with troops I
ansferred to EXPRESS and in her proceeded to Dunkirk at daylight to direct ships where they were most needed.
On this day the breese freshened and being onshore made boat work very ffficult. Many boats were breached to and stranded at high water so that barkation from the beaches case almost to a standstill. I continued to urge ovement of troops to Dunkirk and considered the value of beaching shipe but dde. as very doubtful that it would be of any use except for a small period of the
9.
At 0645 I transferred to H.M.S. XETTH and kept her free from troops mbarkation or wounded men.
hereafter that my movements should not be haspered by consideration of
O.
At 1000 HEBE arrived with the plans for the evacuation for Friday night.
The essence the provision of larger numbers of small boats and crews to bring of off these the was rearguard at 0430 to minsswespers which were to be there about that time.
made 21. it During the day to get Destroyers, Paddlers, and other creft these the time of embarkation was advanced to 2030 and off this
Dunicisk at that time. could have Boaded quicker. As it was, I sent every mmber ship of beaches necessary for no Buf for this many of these ships would have been sent into which could itself where be they taken from the beaches into Dunkirk but I the liked. large places from which possibly boats were working looked up more ships than moved 22. About noon At 1430 I proceeded in KNITH to La Parme to try to locate
HOLD off La Panne came under fire from a shore battery and the battury on I withdrow.
further but West. it was being directed by an observation balloon. KEITH was
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proceed at slow speed. "Express" arrived at midnight and troops a trawler to escort "Jaguar" who was later able to were performance. disembarked, the number of wounded making this a slow
Having completed with fuel "Express" left
Dover by route Y at 0920 30th May,arrived alongside Dunkirk pier at 1245 and with about 800 troops onboard sailed at 1315
arriving Dover 1650. Ship sailed again by route Y at 1800
and arrived off La Panne beach at 2130 and commenced embarking troops by ships and other small boats.
At 0250 31st May Rear Admiral Dover Straits and staffembarked and later "Express" acted as desired by the
Rear Admiral who transferred to "Keith" at 0700/31. More troops were embarked and having got about 600 onboard including Major-
General Thorne I proceeded to Dover arriving at 1115.
"Express" sailed again by route Y at 1215.
While passing 511 buay the ship came under fire from Gravelines batteries and was straddled. This fire was returned.
On arrival off Dunkirk roads all ships present engaged enemy aircraft intermitiently who were carrying out bombing attacks and the prospect of going alongside the
Eastern side of Dunicirk Pier was investigated. At about 1700 dive bombing attacks on Destroyers off Bray was particularly heavy.
Two attacks were carried out on "Express",one salvo was a near miss ahead, and the other straddled, five depth charge type bomba falling close all round the ship. Aircraft were heavily engaged and no damage was sustained except for small breakages. At 1830
"Express" again entered Dunkirk and embarked about 700 troops sailing at 1900.
Shortly after a large number of enecty bonbers and fighters attacked ships approaching Dunkirk including a large number of small craft. Several aircraft were seen to be destroyed as a result of our aircraft attacking.
After disemberking troops at about 2300/31
"Express" proceeded to oil and at about 0400 1st June secured to buoy and made good small defects including severed Coll.
At 2200 2nd June "Express" left Dover and arrived off Dunkirk where there was considerable congestion and I was unable to get wires secured - the bonhardment appeared alongside. Ship entered at 0200/3 but the pier una eapty of troops this time. The Rear Admiral accordingly to return to Dover in company with "Codrington"
and ships arrived there at 0500.
into North Goodwin which persisted until to buay. sink
"Express" proceeded at 2200 3rd June aya and ran as Dunkirk at presumed mine. explosion. "Express" British Beach
Arrived thick fog off 0230/4 where an unknown ship was seen secured to party. pier and embarked appeared to be not quite after passing on the a result of a 600 French Proops and the 80 heavy as the previous The bombardment night. ht. The ship mailed at 0300 and through rog in the Downa arrived Dover at 0610.
At 1200 "Express" and "Windsor" sailed for
Portamouth.
About 3500 troopa had been whichet transported.
red to be mailed at at 0610.