TNA ADM 199 792

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CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 39.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
Inshore Flotillas and Naval Shore Parties (continued).
A.L.C. 5 Report. East end of Bray beach 29th May.
"A slight surf, thrown up by the onshore wind,
made beaching awkward, and the use of an anchor was essential.
Owing to bad seamanship, A.L.C. 5 lost her anchor and warp
at the first attempt at beaching, with the result that the
craft rode on much farther than was intended or desirable.
She was inmediately rushed on all sides by a wild, undiscip-
lined mob of French soldiers, so many of whom got aboard
that the boat was grounded; and it was only by the use of
considerable amount of force that a sufficient number could
be got overboard, so that the craft could be got off the
beach.
Two very good anchors, one complete with a good
long warp, were found in a derelict motor boat and these
were used to replace the lost anchors before making a further
trip.
The second attempt to embark French troops shewed
that their undisciplined behaviour was likely to imperil
the safety of the craft, and it was decided to proceed
farther found. up the coast to La Panne where British troops were
These troops were ferried from the beach to one or
other of the craft anchored offshore, at the rate of
approximately 3 trips per hour."
A.L.C. 16. Report. 29th May.
and proceeded straight inshore to the beach near Old Dunkirk
"A.L.C. 16 was the first boat to be hoisted out,
where she evacuated British troops. After making some seven
soldiers, who overwhelmed the boat to such an extent that
trips successfully, she was boarded by a mob of French
flooded and both engines failed.
she became partially swamped, the starboard battery was
A.L.C. 16 to be floated off, and the port engine started."
Eventually sufficient French were evicted to enable
A.L.C. 17. Report. 29th May.
and followed A.L.C. 5 up the coast towards Bray. On
"A.L.C. 17 was the fourth boat to be hoisted out,
of approaching the beach she was promptly boarded by crowd
grounded. On the falling tide she was soon left
French soldiers, who so overloaded the boat that a she
dry, the and remained In the meantime stranded the for Coxswain some three of A.L.C.17 hours. high procured and
bayonets, to drove off the French when these again attempted
assistance of some British troops, who with fixed
rush the boat as the tide rose."
Wednesday, 29th May.
attempts of Large masses of French troops to intercept boats
"Soat difficulty experienced through persistent
holding off French by means of rifle fire 50 yards further
and demand passage. Assisted by British troops succeeded in
along the beach."
June 1st/