TNA ADM 199 792

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beaches During the than night found there were more ships 301
304'
the could be loaded: there was lying off the
diverting ships from beaches as necessary. Beaches and were
pier, so I Kept on the move between harbout plenty of room outside at
very Pier heavilCy shelled, but still a lot of men got off.
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where was outlined against glow of fires still burning some-
to the westward of Dunkerque: steady stream of men
passing along it. Numerous small craft passing up to the
inner basins. French TBs loading at West Quay.
Shelling seemed to be concentrated on beach and to eastward
of pier; shells falling inside harbour, and about midni
a side. trawler was sunk. Also casualties in a destroyer along-
2nd June. Went up to shore end of pier to embark the base party:
0200
violent outburst of shelling. No signs of party, so
Wynne-Edwards went to look for them. A number of French
troops had cut into the flow of British troops by a con-
verging route: result was that about 5,000 British were
held up and did not get off that night. Instead, a lot of
French troops got away from the East Pier in addition to
0245
those from the West Quay. Base party came down at 0245
and embarked.
Dawn
As morning was clear I decided to get ships away at 0300
instead of at 0330 as originally planned. Men were still
coming down to pier, but it was no use risking ships being
sunk alongside and blocking the pier and harbour.
(Word picture of scene - darkness out to seaward, glare of
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fires inshore, etc. Not very much noise.)
Returned to Dover to discuss next night's operation.
Still 5,000 of B.E.F. to come and an unknown number of
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French (30-40,000 ?). Plan was to use Dunkerque only,
except for some French local craft which would embark from
Dawn
beach immediately east of Dunkerque. Embarkation was to
start at 2100 and go on till 0300, when blockships were to
enter the harbour. Programme was worked out for ships to
come in at half-hourly intervals to different berths, so
that 3 or 4 ships should be alongside East Pier continuous-
ly. Denny thought this was impossible and liable to
result in confusion, but a scheme was got out which provi-
ded carrying capacity of 37,000 men besides those that
would go off in small craft. I also got 2 fast boats told
off to act as runners for me (? from VERNON)
Besides the large ships, there were tugs, schuyts, drifters
and all manner of small craft going over as well - some to
lie off and be loaded by smaller boats, and others to go
Large number of wounded in Dunkerque: orders had been
right up harbour past the large ship berths.
embarking given wounded would have taken up too much
that fit men were to be got away in preference, valuable as
time. Decided to try to get some of the wounded the Germans away in
time in Hospital ships, in the hope that bombed
day would respect them: 2 were sent over, but one she was had to
sunk, the other was so badly damaged that had to be
return. and Wounded, except for walking cases,
left over again in MA/SB 10, with Somerville and and Goodenough 3
behind.
On Belgian soldiers who were about half-way across a pull-
Went the way over had a mild bombing attack picked in up
ing boat. outside the harbour met one of the two the fast other motor
Just Both had been machine-gunned and had to boat be
boats. and left (not seen again): this one
disabled as she had only one engine left in working his order. staff.
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returned at Dunkerque. Picked up Alexander General and
2030
Transferred Arrived them to a destroyer, and in her bullet
was later killed by a machine gun last from of his a
Mansergh when close to Dover. Tennant and the the British
plane party left in a MTB as soon as the last of
troops had gone.
The