TNA ADM 199 792

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 65.

124
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 5.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
126
125
Tuesday, 28th May (continued).
to S.N.O., Dunkirk by signal - timed 1555/28 - and provided
for the use of 3 Hospital Carriers, 7 personnel steamers and
2 destroyers at the East Pier, Dunkirk, while some 20
destroyers, 19 paddle and fleet sweepers, 17 drifters, 20 to
40 skoots, 5 coasters, 12 motor boats, 2 tugs, 28 pulling
cutters and life-boats were to be distributed between La
Panne and point 1½ miles East of Dunkirk, on the beaches; the
destroyers running continuous round trips.
It was estimated that the personnel vessels and hospital :o
carriers would be clear of the danger area by 0630. As
regards the beaching and other small craft which had not yet
reached the Dover Straits, arrangements were made with other
authorities to route all small craft, which had not already
been despatched, direct to the beaches East of Dunkirk,
provided they had charts, food, fuel, etc.
At this time some difficulty was experienced in having at
hand the large number of charts required for these additional
vessels.
17,
Owing to the suspension of daylight work by personne
vessels it was necessary to increase the number handled in
Dunkirk during the dark hours as the attempt to use the
surplus personnel vessels off the beaches by night seemed un-
likely to bear fruit. Accordingly, Dunkirk, was
asked whether personnel vessels could be berthed inside
Dunkirk harbour, the only information in Vice Admiral's
k.
possession having indicated that the East Pier of the harbour
entrance was the only suitable berth for such ships to which
British troops could have access. To increase the off-shore
forces, Commander-in-Chief, Nore, was asked to sail CALCUTTA
to be opposite La Panne at 2200 to embark troops using own
boats.
Orders were issued that all ships proceeding to Dunkirk
from Dover were to use the southern route Z provided that the
passage from No. 6 Calais Buoy to Dunkirk could be made in
darkness.
S
18.
At 1830 GRAFTON reported that several thousand
troops remained on beaches at Bray and that more were
arriving. At that time there were off Bray, one tow of
pulling boats, number uncertain, 2 power boats, at least
2 skoots, CALCUTTA, GALLANT, WAKEFUL, VERITY and GRAFTON,
using what survived of their own whalers and motor boats.
This force was reinforced by 2 minesweepers at 2115. Later
reports of concentrations of troops on the beaches were
received, particularly at La Panne and Bray. Craft approach-
ing the coast were directed accordingly. Naval Officer-in-
Charge, Ramsgate, was requested to maintain a continuous
evacuation service by skoots between Margate and Ramsgate and
the beach, and take over responsibility for servicing those
vessels. Meantime CALCUTTA, who was off La Panne, reported
that conditions for embarkation there were very bad owing to
heavy surf, but that they might improve with the rising tide.
Shortly after midnight CALCUTTA was informed that the
third corps of the B.E.F. and the Commander-in-Chief were all
now at La Panne. She was directed to make every endeavour to
concentrate all destroyers and light craft at that end of the
beach/