TNA ADM 199 792

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CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 17." 136
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
31/5
Friday, 31st May.
51. The Admiralty informed the Vice Admiral that the
policy of H. M. Government was that both British and French
troops be given an equal opportunity of being evacuated in
British ships and boats.
52. Personnel ships had been sailed the previous evening
and throughout the night of the 30th/31st to provide for a
continuous flow into Dunkirk harbour. But at 0320 the S.N.O.
reported that once again the majority of these Personnel ships
had failed to enter the harbour during the dark hours. MALCOLM,
however, left Dunkirk with 1,200 troops at 0300, during heavy
shelling, on relief by IVANHOE. S.N.O. Dunkirk, however,
continued to call for more ships. No more destroyers were
available and there were no means of accelerating the arrival
of the vessels despatched there. By 0700 the Vice Admiral
had no news of the fate of the personnel ships that had sailed
the previous evening and during the night, None of these
ships had reached the U.K. to unload, and it appeared probable
that these ships may have concentrated in the narrow waters
close to Dunkirk, inviting a repetition of the heavy air
attacks with consequent damage and loss to transports which
had occurred on the two previous occasions when personnel
vessels, together with other ships, had been concentrated in
large numbers in the approaches to Dunkirk.
At this time there were no less than 9 personnel
vessels and 3 hospital carriers known to be on the round trip
U.K. - Dunkirk and back, and one other personnel vessel had
been ordered to sail during the night, but horwhereabouts was
unknown and it was feared that she had refused to sail.
In
addition, 3 other personnel vessels were under orders to sail
between 0900 and 1030. Pending the return of the ships en
passage, and while the coal-burners were being rebunkered, the
further sailing of personnel vessels was in suspense.
Note: Owing to the casualties to Personnel vessels at
this stage, coal burning cross channel steamers had to be
used for some of the trips and short endurance necessita-
ted coaling between trips which could not be done in the
vicinity of Dover, thus preventing a quick turn round.
53. During the night a considerable amount of enemy
minelaying activity by air was reported. Shelling was heavy
during the evening and night, and operations were greatly
hampered. Nevertheless, with the cessation of shelling at
about 0300, very good progress was made and by full dawn the
beaches were very nearly clear of troops. At 0530 attacks on
Dunkirk harbour and the beach from Dunkirk to Bray developed
more strength and the bombardment of Dunkirk continued.
Nevertheless, the S.N.O. reported that the embarkation there
was proceeding satisfactorily but stressed the need for more
ships and constant fighter protection. At this time French
troops began to appear at Dunkirk pier and on the beaches, and
were embarked with the British troops.
54. At 0600 VIMY sighted submarine off the N.W.
Goodwins/