TNA ADM 199 792

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length of piling runs out parallel to East Pier 295
292
wide. encloses the entrance to this channel - about 150 and
A new series of docks under construction has yards
into the harbour by this entrance is the West Quay.
entrance opening off the inner harbour, and jutting out an
93
West Quay was used entirely by the French; luckily for us
they did not consider East Pier suitable for embarkation. to
All British troops were embarked from East Pier, and on
se
last 2 days a large number of French troops also.
Bi g rise and fall of tide: at H.W. can step straight on
a destroyer's deck, but at L.W. it was a 15 ft. drop.
Many ladders were sent over and secured to sides of pier,
O
but sobdiers with rifles and packs took a long time to get
down ladders.
When I first went in (30th) there was a trawler (c) sunk
alongside pier and another ship (A) sunk outside the end.
The trawler and drifter shown sank later, as also the
(9
blockships.
4 berths alongside East Pier could be used. Inner one (F)
only by small ships at L.W., but at H.W. personnel ships
(7
could get into B, D and E.
On 24th May, KING ORRY had rammed the pier during a bombing
raid and made a large gap in it abreast E berth: until
this was bridged outer berths could not be used as roadway
along pier was cut. Harbour very shallow to the west of
West Quay, and place where ROUEN went ashore on night of
2nd June when leaving the quay is shown - also where
KELLETT grounded on night of 3rd June.
As soon as HEBE got alongside East Pier I went to local
Naval H. Q., while she was quickly filled up with 6-700
some of them wounded.
men, Naval H.Q. were established in a dug-out at shore end of
East Pier. This area was not large and was separated
from mainland by a bridge over a cabal. Surface was
uneven and covered with heaps of rubble; there was a
and a few ambulances, cars and wounded men.
Bofors small gun staff of the SNO, Captain Tennant, did wonderful the
The controlling the embarkation and dealing with shell
work ashore: they worked under constant Tennant fire
and were was away with the General, but was and that
situation short of sleep and food. Did not informed see that
as he of troops were ready to embark at sent pier in.
plenty would take all ships that could be East
At this cut off the end, so that the only Later, accessible this
they time gap in roadway halfway along Pier
completely points were inside this point. along its
embarkation bridged so that pier could be alongside. used whole
Had intended to keep HEBE as my headquarters, so she had
length gap was except where ships were sunk
not been used to embark any troops from beaches. Felt this I
could not refuse to do this at Dunkerque, and once
done the question of their disposal arose.
was returned to beaches and sent any surplus ships to load to
(8)
I Dunkerque, and from then on had continually to and try needs
hold beaches and Dunkerque. Also reported that, essential to more
at the balance between the respective claims until
boats of were available for ferrying, it was itself.
Explanation why Dunkerque was then being so little used
concentrate on evacuation from Dunkerque
and 25th so May, Dunkerque was heavily attacked from sunk, the and air
much effort expended on beaches:-
On harbour was full of ships. GRENADE was
when ORRY and several other ships alongside piers Party were ashore hit.
KING result of this, a junior member of Naval of the day,
whose off in a car to La Panne where he Dunkerque and
a judgment had been affected by events saw Lord Gort
dashed Admiralty that further embarkation from sending al
phoned was impossible. Dover was, therefore, took 2 days to
itself to beaches and none to Dunkerque: which had a
ships overcome results of this indiscretion, consi
erable temporary effect on the plans.