TNA ADM 199 792

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reluctance when bombing was probable, especially
several would only go into Dunkerque in daylight. as This
now considered too dangerous, and Naval Officers were put
on board to act as advisers to the masters and crews were
stiffened with seamen. They went in every night and did
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magnificent work. Other craft, also, including French
destroyers, were to go in and load alongside: British at
East Pier, French at West Quay.
Gap in pier had been bridged, but I feared that Germans
would now shell pier heavily and make it impossible for
ships to be kept alongside. Asked RAF to reconnoitre:
report gave accurate account of gap, but no word as to
whether pier was being shelled.
1700
Arranged to leave Dover at 1700. Picked up Wynne-Edwards
and Norfolk and embarked in MA/SB 10, in which a portable
loud-speaker was fitted (similar sets found very useful in
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HEBE and EXPRESS). A flag had been made for me out of a
piece of cleaning cloth - the red stripe made one half of
the cross, and the other half and the balls had been added
in red paint. Harbour was full of destroyers, sloops,
etc., many showing signs of minor damage. Some were out
of action all together, and all were enjoying a short,
well-earned rest. I had an hour's sleep on way over; up
till then had had about 7 hours in short snatches, but
felt quite fresh and fit.
When some miles away from Dunkerque sighted 2 MTBs approach
ing on port bow. They did not make contact and were
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probably French.
1900
Arrived at Dunkerque and made fast alongside shore end of
pier. Went to the "Bastion" (H.Q. of Army and the local
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French Naval and Military Command) - 10 minutes' walk.
Many buildings and sheds damaged. A French field gun was
firing back over the town. Road fairly clear, but litter-
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ed with vehicles the whole way. Men straggling along the
road, but very few troops seen as they were kept away on
beach behind shelter of wall except when ships came along-
Found side. Tennant and Alexander at the "Bastion. Heard that
French were holding a line in rear of ours and that rear
would continue to hold. Joined by my proper Flag-Lieut. with
guard were to withdraw through this line which the French
(Balfour): he had come over the day after I left, a
Returned to the pier. A Lysander Army Co-op plane, which
W/T set.
had been flying over pier all day, was fired at by several
Bofors guns - not hit. Explained it was probably the
reconnaissance plane I had asked for.
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While having some food in the MA/SB, the Navigating Officer He
of KEITH appeared, saying he was the only survivor.
had swum ashore and reached a battery on the dunes some
distance outside Dunkerque, and had then walkked in.
(Actually, only 3 Officers and 33 mon were lost, and 16
wounded.) Close by my boat was Tennant's drifter; he also had 2 old
steamboats. Next day the drifter was sunk by a shell.
Naval Party ashore = about 6 Officers and a number of men
messengers, signalmen, etc. Arranged to collect some of
them at 0200/2, but Tennant would not leave then.
"Tomorrow we'll either be back in London, in a German
prison or done for.
went outside harbour to meet the first ships arriving.
2100
Beginning to get dark. First ship was a sloop, followed off
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by beaches to the east of the pier and boats ferried men
minesweepers, destroyers and tugs. They anchored the
off. Noticed 3 or 4 Thames barges anchored off them beach; and
they seemed to be deserted, but men got off to full of
away. soldiers who were trying to sail her home: a Officer
One barge was met later in mid-Channel Naval
was put on board and she got back safely.
During