TNA ADM 199 792

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CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 39.
158
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
Inshore Flotillas and Naval Shore Parties (continued).
A.L.C. 5 Report. East end of Bray beach 29th May.
"A slight surf, thrown up by the onshore wind,
made beaching awkward, and the use of an anchor was essential
Owing to bad seamanship, A.L.C. 5 lost her anchor and warp
at the first attempt at beaching, with the result that the
craft rode on much farther than was intended or desirable.
She was immediately rushed on all sides by a wild, undiscip-
lined mob of French soldiers, so many of whom got aboard
that the boat was grounded; and it was only by the use of
considerable amount of force that a sufficient number could
be got overboard, so that the craft could be got off the
beach.
Two very good anchors, one complete with a good
long warp, were found in a derelict motor boat and these
were used to replace the lost anchors before making a further
trip.
The second attempt to embark French troops shewed
that their undisciplined behaviour was likely to imperil
the safety of the craft, and it was decided to proceed
farther up the coast to La Panne where British troops were
found.
These troops were ferried from the beach to one or
other of the craft anchored offshore, at the rate of
approximately 3 trips per hour."
A.L.C. 16. Report. 29th May.
"A.L.C. 16 was the first boat to be hoisted out,
and proceeded straight inshore to the beach near Old Dunkir
where she e vacuated British troops. After making some sever
trips successfully, she was boarded by a mob of French
soldiers, who overwhelmed the boat to such an extent that
she became partially swamped, the starboard battery was
flooded and both engines failed.
Eventually sufficient French were evicted to enabl
A.L.C. 16 to be floated off, and the port engine started.
A.L.C. 17. Report. 29th May.
"A.L.C. 17 was the fourth boat to be hoisted out,
and followed A.L.C. 5 up the coast towards Bray. On
approaching the beach she was promptly boarded by a crowd
of French soldiers, who so overloaded the boat that she
grounded. On the falling tide she was soon left high and
dry, and remained stranded for some three hours.
In the meantime the Coxswain of A.L.C.17 procured
the assistance of some British troops, who with fixed
bayonets, drove off the French when these again attempted
to rush the boat as the tide rose."
Wednesday, 29th May.
"Sono difficulty experienced through persistent
attempts of large masses of French troops to intercept boa
and demand passage. Assisted by British troops succeeded
holding off French by means of rifle fire 50 yards further
along the beach."