TNA ADM 199 792

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[HCLOSURE
No.
TO DOVER LETTER OF 18 guay 1940
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS AT BRAYDUNE AND LA PANNE.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report.
On the night of Tuesday, 28th. May 1940, while serving in
H.M.S. "Harvester", under your command, I went ashore in the motor boa
accompanied by Petty Officer Pleasance, Signalman Bird and Able Seamer
Potter and Law. We landed at Bray Dune where we found about 4,000
oldiers awaiting embarkation. I remained on shore with Signalman Bird and
Able Seaman Law. There was a strong cross sea and sand bars made the
launching of boats difficult. Throughout the night we managed to
evacuate about 700 which included about 100 wounded. Discipline was
very bad.
At 0400 Wednesday, the supply of boats for embarkation ceased
and I returned with Bird and Law to H.M.S. "Harvester".
There had been considerable wastage of boats through lack of
discipline in the troops; overcrowding was hard to control as the
embarkation beach extended for over one mile.
About 0500 Wednesday, H.M.S. "Harvester" moved eastward to
La Panne and I landed in the motor skiff with Petty Officer Shrimpton,
and Leading Seaman Kendall. Mr. Robinson, Gunner T, H.M.S. "Harvester
Petty Officer Steward Beale, Able Seamen Potter and Law also landed
and evacuation was resumed. On the beach we found 14 boats which we
launched. A line ferry was established from a paddle steamer which
was aground close in shore and this steamer served as a pier alongside
which other boats were able to come. A.B. Potter remained on shore,
the others continued ferrying. Throughout the day embarkation
continued.
About 1400 Wednesday bombing commenced - there were no
casualties though 8 heavy bombs fell within 100 yards of the place
of embarkation. A supply ship to the right of the beach was fired
and destroyed by a near miss, and a destroyer was hit by an
incendiary bomb but continued in action. I joined up with the Army
Staff controlling evacuation - there were no other Naval Officers at
La Panne. There was some panic among troops, one boat overturning
and seven men were drowned in four feet of water. We were unable to
revive these men.
About 1700 Wednesday the following requests were telephoned
to the Admiralty :- that Naval staff be sent, that fighter protection
be extended to La Panne and that numerous flat bottomed boats be sent
immediately. (Two Lieutenants R.N. and some seamen arrived at La Panne
early on Thursday morning, Lieut. Cmdr. McCullough and signal staff on
Thursday evening and some fighter protection was given.) There was
but it did not interfere; enemy planes raided in the gaps between
occasional shelling to the right of the beach throughout Wednesday
immediately. There was A.A. protection on the beach - the four
our fighter patrols and a destroyer was hit by a heavy bomb and sank
Bofors proving most effective.
but was told nothing could be done that night. Owing to lack of
About 2300 Wednesday I requested that piers should be built
boats the only a few men removed morning that and night. asked what could Lord be Gort done arrived to assist. on
1 The
The erection of piers, and under Colonel Porter's
the pier at La Panne being ready and in use
action and destroyed some of our own fighters; there appeared to
No bombing occurred on Thursday but the beach guns were in
Sta. 47/88.
U. E. 7881/1922.
81500 We 12/11/0514 450,000 3/39-McO & Co Ltd-T. 3255