TNA ADM 199 792

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the conditions inshore were getting worse and I did not want to get
stranded I decided to go into Dunkirk and drive to La Panne from there.
All this time the large number of mon and wounded in "НЯ" had
been on my mind. Feeling that I could not keep her any longer I decided
to send her back to Dover with Captain Bush to explain the boat situation
and point out the vital necessity of sending out boats and crews.
Accordingly at 3.30 I transferred my staff to "WINDSOR" and went
into Dunkirk in M.T.B. 102 which had come at my request. I had folt
badly in need of means of getting about quickly, and a fast boat of
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light draft would have been invaluable. The trouble was that when I did
get one its endurance was so low that it had to return almost immediately
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to Dover.
On arrival at Dunkirk I found that Tennant was with Lord Gort and
that to drive there would be likely to take a longer time than I cared
to be away so I decided that I must land from a boat after all.
The M.T.B. had not onough fuel to reach La Panne and roturn to
Dover, so I boarded the "GOSSAMER" and took her up to La Panne where
I transferred to "WORCESTER" at about 5.30 p.m. There I again found
Commodore Stevenson and lent him my spare pair of trousers and underclothea
as he got soaked through whenever he landed.
La Panne was in telephonic communication with England and sometimes
I received messages by W/T from Dover about the situation there - 80 for
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instance one timed 1749 saying that ships were urgently wanted off In
Panne actually at 1900 there were four destroyers and one minesweeper
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at LO. Panne and the situation was constantly changing. G.H.Q. wear in
touch with Admiralty and Vice Admiral, Dover, and gave their views and
criticisms of what was happening. This probably accounts for a signal
from the First Sea Lord on this day asking if boats were distributed
along the beaches to the best advantago. Actually of course practically
the only boats that could get inshore except the pontoons and D. few
local craft were whalers and their distribution was dependont on the
position of the ships they belonged to.