TNA ADM 199 792

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The difficult west-going tide, with a fresh easterly
tide turned at about 2300. Used the MA/SB to push one
to get ships alongside the East Pier wind, until made the it
destroyer in and tried to get other small craft to do
likewise. By this time the French had come to life and
many of their small craft filled the narrow harbour.
The MA/SB's clutch out of action - could not go astern.
2200
4 destroyers had been got away by 2200, and the last of
the B.E.F. was clear soon after.
Then a long pause. The French should have followed our
men on the East Pier, but they ddd not appear. Could see
crowds of soldiers on West Quay, but as there seemed a
scarcity of French ships I sent 2 personnel ships there.
One was ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was handled magnificently -
went alongside bows out. Other was ROUEN (French cross-
Channel steamer): in getting away she got broadside on to
the wind and grounded just to the westward of the quay.
Sent a tug to assist her, but she drew too much water to
get near: also a lifeboat to get men away. Think men were
got away; ship floated off with next tide in daylight and
then returned in safety.
3rd June. A most disheartening night. Flow of French troops to the
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East Pier stopped for some hours. One report = they were
held up to make a counter-attack. When they did come it
was almost impossible to get them to the ships at the end
of the pier: they all wanted to get into the first they
came to, and pier was so narrow that they then blocked the
way to any ships beyond. One ship lay for 3½ hours at
the end berth waiting for men. Finally, began to trickle
down, but was then obvious that many of ships waiting out-
side could not be used and I had to send back empty 2
personnel ships, 3 destroyers and several Fleet sweepers.
Dawn
French coming down faster, and as time of leaving got
closer tried to make them double down the pier. Even then
they were quite hopeless. Saw men who were on the way to
the end ship turn and run back up the pier, because they
saw another ship coming alongside farther in.
0300
Again I ordered ships to leave at 0300, and waited to see
the last go and to hail the 2 blockships as they passed up
harbour shortly after, accompanied by MTBs which were to
take off the crews.
One blockship was sunk as arranged across the channel, but
the other shifted as she was blown up and lay up and down
the channel, leaving a clear passage. Either this night
or the next one blockship was blown up on a magnetic mine
After seeing the blockships pass up harbour, the MA/SB took
just outside the harbour.
us back to Dover in time to get 2 hours' rest before
breakfast. Last night's results were very disappointing and only
24,000 men were embarked. Many more could have been taken
but for the long pause in the flow of troops to East Pier.
After the Naval ratings had left at 2300 there was some
difficulty in getting ships berthed, as the French did
nothing to replace our men although the Port was the H.Q.
of a Naval Command and there were always plenty of French
marines in evidence.
Was informed at Dover that there was to be another embarka-
tion that night, but that this really would be the end.
Each night had been thought to be the last, and then each
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day the ships had been asked for one more effort. By the this
time many of the Commanding Officers and men were at
limit of their endurance, and the VA did not feel he could
order ships to go over. Signal asking what ships 6 were
ready and able to go. Finally, 10 transports, 2 yachts, destroyers
8 1 gunboat, 10 drifters, 5 schuyts and 1 tug were collected. boats
minesweepers, 4 paddle sweepers, 2 corvettes,
Besides these, a large number of small craft and as
before.
For