TNA ADM 199 792

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Page 20.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
Friday, 31st May (continued).
effective quantities direct from the beaches, and to use the
special tows, ships lifeboats, power lifeboats and ear-marked tugs, which
were on passage from Ramsgate, and which had been
for lifting the final covering force.
In the afternoon, however, it was learned that the
Military plan had been changed, and that it was no longer
possible for the original covering position, as planned, to be
held by 4,000 troops who were then to withdraw to the beaches
for embarkation by boat. Instead, it was learned that the
Eastern-most Division was to be withdrawn Westward from the
La Panne area, and that the special flight of boats was to be
used to lift this force from the beaches. At the same time,
the troops in the Bray and Malo sectors were boing thinned out
by movements Westward towards Dunkirk itself. This change of
plan involved concentrating the special tows and the mine-
sweepers - to which they were to transfer the troops - into
the stretch opposite the beach between Bray and one mile East
of La Panne, and also advancing the commencement of the
operation by one hour. The risk of this change of plan was
obvious as the boat tows were not in communication with the
Vice Admiral, and reliance had to be placed on the Minesweepers
to inform and see that the escorting M.A.S.B.'s would shepherd
the tows to the new positions. The minesweepers had anchored
so as to serve as guiding marks, as had been explained to the
Naval Officers in each tow.
Apart from the special tow, a very large number of
small power boats despatched, in most cases direct, from the
South East Ports, Newhaven to Sheerness, were arriving off the
beaches, and compensated in a large measure for the heavy
losses that had occurred amongst the original towing boats,
whalers, outters, lifeboats and ships' boats, which had
occurred on the beaches during the preceding 3 days.
On the La Panne beaches after 1600 very good progress
was made. The piers of pontoons built by the Military the
previous day were extremely useful, and were largely respons-
ible for the rapid evacuation of troops. All the troops
that could be found were embarked by midnight and ferried off
to the ships. The local Beach-master (Captain R. Pim, R.N.V.R.)
searched the adjacent beaches for stragglers at midnight, and
was informed by a Starf Officer that no more troops would
embark from the La Panne beaches, but would march to Dunkirk,
as it was anticipated that these beaches would be shelled and
probably be in German hands the following day. This, as it
turned out, was a correct forecast. The Beach-master
estimates that 5,000 men were lifted from the La Panne beaches
during the evening and up to midnight.
62. At 1920 all ships in the fleets were informed by
the Vice Admiral that the final evacuation of the B.E.F. was
expedted on the night lst/2nd June, and that the evacuation
of the French from Dunkirk and Malo beach would continue from
1st June by both British and French ships.
63/