TNA ADM 199 792

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Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 678.

(1952) Wt. 20006/971* 100
CW. 24984/40
51.
(Revised-June, 1933.)
740
FROM WHOM
DATE
5.6.40.
MARKINGS TO BOARD,
ENCLOSURE Mo.
to DOVER LETTER OF 18 July 1961
no signals from the fighters and the guns' crews had no information
th
regarding recognition signals.
Up till 2000 Thursday, it is estimated that 17,000 men were
embarked from La Panne.
On Thursday evening a method of identifying the beaches was
established - two lights being shown at La Panne and one at Bray Dune
and communicated to the Admiralty, Dover. The Admiralty were also
asked to send more ships.
On Friday embarkation at La Panne was slowed up as shelling
caused some ships to move westward to Bray Dune. The rest camp in the
rear of La Panne beach and a small arms ammunition hut were hit during
bombing attacks which continued throughout Friday and ships also
suffered shell fire.
Early Friday afternoon the 12th Lancers, who had been
marshalling the beaches for 24 hours were relieved and marched to
Dunkirk.
On Friday evening German Gunners found the range of the beach
and were aided by two observation balloons which we did not manage to
destroy. Lord Gort and his staff were embarked in a whaler from
La Panne and taken to a patrol vessel. Lieut. Cmdr. McCullough
ordered me to embark in H.M. Yacht PHELE and I went with the remainder
of the Commander-in-Chief's staff. About 2000 the enemy sent over a
large number of planes accompanied by fighters, but the intensive
bombing appeared to have little effect, though it provided ten minutes
of extreme discomfort. Throughout the night H.M.Y.PHELE continued
to assist with evacuation. Shelling at La Panne was intensified, the
pier being the objective.
At 0200 Saturday La Panne was abandoned as a place of
embarkation and H.M.Y. PHELE sailed to Bray Dune and thence to Dover
where we arrived without further incident at 10.30 Saturday.
Except during the first day of evacuation, the bearing of the
B.E.F. at La Panne was magnificent.
I was not given orders to remain ashore, but as at La Panne
there was no liaison between Army and Navy I realised I could do a
much more useful job by remaining there.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
ER.
Your obedient Servant,
(signed) EDMUND C. CRESSWELL.
Sub Lieutenant Royal Navy
24th June, 1940.
Royal Naval Hospital,
Haslar.
To
The Commending orficer,
Sta. 47/88.
U. 10. 7881/1922.
21500 Wt. 12/11/0514 430,000 8/39-McO & Co Ltd-T. 3255