TNA ADM 199 792

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Destroyers, arriving, minesweepers and all manner of 298 205
were at one but there were often periods and when Dunkerque
continuously, loading and leaving the beaches craft were
Bombing of place or another and embarkation had no shi wait. ps
the ships and beaches had so far been to -
sound day of had been overcast and visibility was not spasmodic good;
freedom from air attack.
fighters overhead seemed to account for our
0400 31st May. Report received at 0400 of aircraft dropping mines 1 mile
north of La Panne: planes frequently passed close over-
head during dark hours.
Dawn
Light N. W. wind sprang up right on the beaches: many boats
seen capsized, broached to or high and diry, including at
least one of the local boats which carried a lot of men
and could get close inshore. Not a cheering sight.
Sky cleared and visibility improved; absence of haze all
day.
0730
Made contact with KEITH. EXPRESS now fully loaded and
left for Dover as soon as I had transferred to KEITH, in
which ship I now hoisted my flag - prior to this I had
used a Red Ensign (no flag being available before) to
indicate which ship I was in.
While I was in KEITH she did not embark any troops - same
as for HEBE.
1035
To VA, Dover:- "Majority of boats broached to and have no
crews. Conditions on beach very bad due to freshening
onshore wind. Only small numbers being embarked even in
daylight. Under present conditions any large scale
embarkation from beach is quite impracticable; motor boats
cannot get close in. Only hope of embarking any number
is at Dunkerque. Will attempt to beach ship to form a
lee to try to improve conditions."
Reply:- Urging importance of using beaches as long as
(15) 1105 To possible. VA, Dover:- "Dunkerque our only real hope. Can guns
shelling pier from westward be bombed and silenced?"
Successful use of Dunkerque depended on being able to put
ships alongside Eastern breakwater: my constant fear that
this might be so accurately shelled as to render it unten-
able. Signalled to shore urging movement towards Dunker-
que: troops seen moving slowly westward.
Beach events clearly visible from seaward. Bodies
of
men
marched along - some in good order, others in groups and
knots. Ond battalion in perfect order seen marching down
through a winding road from dunes to shore - told later it
was the Welsh Guards, but not certain if this was correct.
Embarkation going on all the time, with ships leaving as
Commencing of day before and continuing on form day, a the
soon as filled; largest numbers came from Dunkerque. this
Army barricade and breakwater. At Braye the lorries R.E. planked that
had been driving lorries down to beach to had
and made a handrail on these so
a gangway boats could go alongside. As line breakwater ran straight out
motor to sea and wind was directly on shore, gave
very forenoon sent Stevenson over to some paddle a break- mine-
little shelter - still it helped.
During off Braye to get one beached to act as at
sweepers Done; next day she was high and dry ship was daylight. long
Don't enough to cover distance tide ran out, so
water. know to what extent she was used: no could only be
HEBE of returned with Bush, bringing plan for embarkation
value for part of the tide.
1000
that night. numbers Was of boats as follows:- were now being sent over in to tow be of
Large etc. Due to start arriving at 1500; were scheme
tugs, for use of rear guard for whom embarkation were being
(16)
kept planned. To take the troops, 11 sloops in company,
was and were to rendezvous and proceed Given berths
collected being timed for 0130 on 1st June. each of the
arrival in which to anchor in 3 batches, 1 batch off
embarkation beaches.
An