TNA ADM 199 792

159
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 38
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
157
Inshore Flotillas and Naval Shore Parties (continued).
Bray Beach, 2100/27.
"On arrival at Bray beach at about 2100/27, it was apparent that the first flight of the Army were showing signs of lack of discipline and for about 20 minutes we had a difficult time to restore order.
I ordered the soldiers in my vicinity to sit down and at the same time placed my platoon across the road to prevent any more men coming on the beaches. I then called for Army Officers to assist me and about 7 or 8 approached me.
I divided the soldiers up into parties of 30
and placed them under the care of an Army Officer or an Able Seaman and dispersed them at intervals along the beaches in the direction of Dunkirk.
As each party arrived on the road leading on to the beach they were met by seamen who marshalled them into parties of 50 and then led them on to the beaches.
Quiet was then maintained and the embarking on boats commenced."
M.T.B. 16. Bray Dunes 1600/28.
"Several destroyers were now anchored off the beach, and winlers were embarking troops and taking them to the ships. The two Skoots were aground close inshore. The troops appeared in a demoralised state. They were hampering the work of the whalers, and some were attempting to swim off to the Skoots.
I proceeded close inshore, anchored in one fathom, and succeeded in embarking many troops.
This was done under considerable difficulties, as the troops were in an exhausted state and carrying full equipment. Few of them were able to climb onboard, and most of them had to be hauled in through the torpedo stern doors. A slow and exhausting procedure."
Tuesday 28th May, Bray beach 2125.
"Troops appeared from sand dunes in disorganised parties, mostly R.A.S.C. and R.E.'s who had been engaged on demolition work. Troops were rather shaken by the constant air attacks and machine guns. They had been waiting on the beaches for 30 hours before contacting ships. Very critical of Allied air support during whole of retreat, but were cheerful and disciplined. C.O. reported no embarkation organisation or control ashore. Clean shaven and comparatively fresh appearance of troops and the condition of their equipment contrasted increasingly as the evacuation progressed with the evidences of strain shown by ship's companies of H.M. Ships."
A.L.C. 5/

160
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 39.
158
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 immediately rushed on all sides by a wild, undisciplined 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 up the coast to La Panne where British troops were found.
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.
"A.L.C. 16 was the first boat to be hoisted out, and proceeded straight inshore to the beach near Old Dunkir where she e vacuated British troops. After making some sever trips successfully, she was boarded by a mob of French soldiers, who overwhelmed the boat to such an extent that she became partially swamped, the starboard battery was flooded and both engines failed.
Eventually sufficient French were evicted to enabl
A.L.C. 16 to be floated off, and the port engine started.
A.L.C. 17. Report. 29th May.
"A.L.C. 17 was the fourth boat to be hoisted out, and followed A.L.C. 5 up the coast towards Bray. On approaching the beach she was promptly boarded by a crowd of French soldiers, who so overloaded the boat that she grounded. On the falling tide she was soon left high and dry, and remained stranded for some three hours.
In the meantime the Coxswain of A.L.C.17 procured the assistance of some British troops, who with fixed bayonets, drove off the French when these again attempted to rush the boat as the tide rose."
Wednesday, 29th May.
"Sono difficulty experienced through persistent attempts of large masses of French troops to intercept boa and demand passage. Assisted by British troops succeeded holding off French by means of rifle fire 50 yards further along the beach."

CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 38
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
Inshore Flotillas and Naval Shore Parties (continued).
Bray Beach, 2100/27.
"On arrival at Bray beach at about 2100/27, it was apparent that the first flight of the Army were showing signs of lack of discipline and for about 20 minutes we had a difficult time to restore order.
I ordered the soldiers in my vicinity to sit down and at the same time placed my platoon across the road to prevent any more men coming on the beaches. I then called for Army Officers to assist me and about 7 or 8 approached me.
I divided the soldiers up into parties of 30
and placed them under the care of an Army Officer or an Able Seaman and dispersed them at intervals along the beaches in the direction of Dunkirk.
As each party arrived on the road leading on to the beach they were met by seamen who marshalled them into parties of 50 and then led them on to the beaches.
Quiet was then maintained and the embarking on boats cormenced."
M.T.B. 16. Bray Dunes 1600/28.
"Several destroyers were now anchored off the beach, and whalers were embarking troops and taking them to the ships. The two Skoots were aground close inshore. The troops appeared in a demoralised state. They were hampering the work of the whalers, and some were attempting to swim off to the Skoots.
I proceeded close inshore, anchored in one fathom, and succeeded in embarking many troops.
This was done under considerable difficulties, as the troops were in an exhausted state and carrying full equipment. Few of them were able to climb onboard, and most of them had to be hauled in through the torpedo stern doors. A slow and exhausting procedure."
Tuesday 28th May, Bray beach 2125.
"Troops appeared from sand dunes in disorganised parties, mostly R.A.S.C. and R.E.'s who had been engaged on demolition work. Troops were rather shaken by the constant air attacks and machine guns. They had been waiting on the beaches for 30 hours before contacting ships. Very critical of Allied air support during whole of retreat, but were cheerful and disciplined. C.O. reported no embarkation organisation or control ashore. Clean shaven and comparatively fresh appearance of troops and the condition of their equipment contrasted increasingly as the evacuation progressed with the evidences of strain shown by ship's companies 01 H.M. Ships."
A.L.C. 5/

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, undisciplined 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/

Page 3.
OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
PORTSMOUTH A/P YACHTS
AHOLA
CARYANDA
NONETA
ANLAH
EILA II
SERIOLA
ANKH
LAHLOO
THELE
BOUNTY
MASAYRU
MISCELLANEOUS H.M. SHIPS (small craft)
A.L.C. 5
GREY MIST (Dan-laying
A.L.C. 15
Vessel)
-
A.L.C. 16
# GRIVE (F.A.A. Yacht)
A.L.C. 17
KINDRED STAR (Drifter)
ALOUETTE II
# KING ORRY (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
# AMULREE (Harbour Defence
LLANTHONY (Examination
Patrol Craft)
Service Vessel)
ARONIA (Yacht)
LORMONT (Armed Boarding
BEN AND LUCY (Drifter)
Vessel)
BLUEBIRD (M.B.)
MONARDA (Drifter)
BYSTANDER
MONA'S ISLE (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
CALETA (Harbour Defence
ST. OLAVES (Rescue Tug)
Patrol Craft)
TARRET (A/S Yacht)
CHRYSTOBEL II (Harbour
THRIFTY (Drifter)
Defence Patrol Craft )
V. 4 ("Vernon' s" pinnace)
"DOLPHIN'S" MOTOR-BOAT
VELIA (Armed Trawler)
EVELYN ROSE Trawler)
VERNON I
"EXCELLENT'S" A/A MOTOR-BOAT
VIVIANA (A/S Trawler)
GAVA (Trawler)
Ambleve.
Escaut.
transferred
GLALA (Harbour Defence Patrol
Meuse.
from
Craft)
Sambre.
Semoise.
page 9.
yser.
DUTCH SKOOTS (Commissioned with Naval Crews)
ABEL TASMAN
DOGGERSBANK
PACIFIC
PASCHOLL
AEGIR
FREDANJA
PATRIA
ALICE
FRISCO
PRINCESS JULIANA
AMAZONE
GORECHT
REIGER
ANTJE
HEBE
RIKA
ATLANTIC
HILDA
RUJA
BART
HONDSRUG
BORNRIF
HORST (Abandoned)
SAN ANTONIO
SURSUM CORDA
BRANDARIS
JAVA
TILLY
CARIBIA
JUTLAND
TINY
DELTA
KAAPFALGA
TUNG
DEMOK I
LENA
TWENTE
DENEB
ORANJE
VREDE
DESPATCH II
ORANGE YREESWIJH
ZEUS
(Continued)
# Sunk