TNA ADM 199 792

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high tide personnel ships could get into B, D and E.
30/5
The "KING ORRY" during a bombing attack on 24th May rammod the pier /29th
and made a large gap in it abreast E borth; until this WO.ES bridged the
outer berths could not be used as the roadway along the pier was cut. The
harbour was very shallow to the west of the West quay, and the place where
the "ROUEN" went ashore on the night of 2nd June when leaving the Quay is
shown - also where the "KELLETT" grounded on the night of 3rd Juno.
As soon 2B "HEBIG" got alongside the East Pier I made my way up to the
Local Naval Headquarters while the "HEBE" was quickly filled up with six to
seven hundred men - some of them wounded.
The Naval Headquarters were established in a dug-out at the shore end
of the East Pier. This area was not large and VISA separated from the main-
land by a bridge over a canal. The surface was uneven and covered with heaps
of rubble. there was a Bofors gun and a fow ambulances, dust-stained dis-
hevelled cars and wounded men. I was greeted by some of the staff of the
S.N.O., Captain Tennant. This small band of Officers with a party of
ratings did wonderful work controlling the embarkation and doaling with
the situation ashore. They worked under constant shellfire and were short
of sleep and food. While I was waiting there, shelling of the area began
and we retired to the dug-out entrance - but were urged by a French soldier
to go further down and round the corner as he said the direction of the fire
was straight into the entrance. I did not see Tonnant as he was away some-
where with the General, but I learnt that there were plenty of troops ready
to embark at the pier and they would take all the ships that could be sent
in.
At this time the gap in the roadway half way along the East Pier
completely out off the end, so that the only berths where we could
embark were inside this point. Later this hole was bridged DD that the whole
pier could be used except where ships were sunk alongside.
It had been my intention to keep "HERE" as my headquarters, and for
this reason she had not taken any troops on board from the beaches. I did
not feel I could refuse to fill her up at Dunkirk, and onco this was done
the question of their disposal inovitably arose. On leaving Dunkirk I