TNA ADM 199 792

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40
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page "30 151
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
149
3/6
Monday, 3rd June (continued).
that 4 ships were now alongside, that there were no French
troops. Reported again at 0115, "Plenty of ships cannot get
troops."
At 0312, Dunkirk reported that all ships were
leaving and that the block ships had entered.
When the ships returned to United Kingdom, it was
learnt that he flow of French troops had dwindled away shortly
after midnight. One ship waited 2-2 hours to embark her load
instead of the normal half hour. A possible explanation was
thought to be that a French counter attack, which had been
arranged for the afternoon of the 2nd, had had to be postponed
to the evening, no doubt deranging despatch of troops to the
rear for evacuation. The result was that between midnight
and 0300/3 a lifting capacity of about 10,000 was left empty
91. The night's embarkation at Dunkirk had been carried
out without disturbance by enemy action. During the forenoon
a conference was held at Dover to improve the arrangements for
the night 3/6 - 4/6 as a result of experience gained. The
general plan remained unaltered except that provision was made
for the use by British ships of the west pier in the New Outer
Port, since it appeared that the French had insufficient shi
at their disposal to make full use of this valuable berth.
Similarly a number of power boats which had been working off
the Malo Beach were, on this occasion, to be sent in to Quay
Felix Faure. No assurance could be obtained that this coming
night would terminate the operation and considerable anxiety
was felt regarding the effect of the gradual exhaustion of
officers and men of the ships taking part in the Dynamo. This
exhaustion was particularly marked in the Destroyer force
the remnants of which had been executing a series of round
trips without intermission for several days under navigation
considitions of extreme difficulty and in the face of
unparallelled air attack.
The Vice Admiral accordingly represented to the
Admiralty that the continuance of the demands made by
evacuation would subject a number of officers and men to test
which might be beyond the limit of human endurance, and
requesting that fresh forces should be used if evacuation had
to be continued after the coming night, with the acceptance
of any consequent delay.
92. The evacuation plan was communicated to Units
taking part at 1440 and was briefly as follows:-
Commence 2230/3, withdraw 0230/4. From East Pier evacuation
by Personnel Vessels, Destroyers and Paddle Minesweepers.
From West Pier, new outer port, by other Minesweepers,
Corvettes, Skoots and French vessels. Drifters and smaller
craft into the inner harbour, LOCUST remaining outside
entrance receiving loads ferried out by small boats. Tugsing
available outside entrance to assist ships in berthing is
in leaving.
lunteer
1
nt
the
channel with troops on board. It was acce
scided
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have