TNA ADM 199 792

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This was a most disheartening night; for some reason the flow 02
2-3/6
June.
French troops to the East Pier stopped for some hours. One report said
they were held up to make 2. countor attack, but to US there with ships
waiting to be filled and no one appearing it was most exasperating. Even
when the French did come it was almost impossible to got them to the ships
at the end of the pier, they all wanted to get into the first one they came to,
and the pier was so narrow that they then blocked the way to any ship boyond.
One ship lay 31/2 hours at the end borth waiting for mon. At last they started
to trickle down but by then it was obvious that many of the ships waiting
outside could not be used and I had to send back empty two personnel shigo,
three destroyers and several Floot sweeprs.
As it started to get light the French came down faster and 28 the time
of leaving got closer I was hailing them to make them run down the pier.
Even then they were quite hopeless. I can remember seeing mon, who were on
their way to a ship that was alongside the end of the pier, twn and run back
down the pier because they saw snother ship coming alongside further in,
3/6
Again I ordered the ships to leave at 0300, and I waited to see the last
go, and to hail the two blockships as they passed up the herbour shortly ofter,
accompanied by M.T.B.s who were to take off the crews.
One of these ships was sunk as arranged SCHOES 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 noxt one block ship was blown up
on a magnetic mine just outside the harbour. After scoing the blockships
pass up the harbour the M.A.S.B. took usback to Dover where NO arrived in time
to have a. couple of hours rest before breakfast,
This had been a very disappointing night and only 24,000 were embarked.
Many more could have been taken but for the long paurse when the flow of
men to the East Pier ceased for some hours. After the Navel ratings had loft
at 2300 there was also difficulty in gotting ships botthed so the Everch did
nothing to replace our men, although the Port was the headquerters 02' is French
Naval Command and there was always a considerable number of Fronch marines
in evidence,
In the Vice Admiral's office I 1earnt that there was to be another
can shat but that this really would be the end. Each night