TNA ADM 199 792

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alongside the pier. They could carry large numbers, some as many 08 3,000
mon, and so were very valuable, but they Were also large targets and were
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used with reluctance when bombing was probable, especially as several would only go into Dunkirk in daylight. This WAB now considered too dangerous, and in consequence Naval Officers were put on board to act as advisors to the masters and the crews were stiffened with seamon. For the rest of the ovacuation they went in every night and did magnificent work.
Besides the personnel ships various other craft were to go into the harbour to load alongside, including French destroyors, The British ships were to use the East Pier where the British troops were and the French the Foot quay, where the French were.
If any large numbers were to come off from Dunkirk itself it WCG covential to be able to use the East Pier. This already had one gap in it made by the
"KING ORRY", but the gap had been bridged. I feared that the Germans would now shell this pier heavily and perhaps damage it or at any rate make it impossible to keep ships alongside. I accordingly asked if the P.A.F. could reconnoitre and report what the state of the pier was and whother It was being sholled. This was arranged and had an amusing seque]. as will be told later.
Before I returned to Dunkirk a report came back from the air reconnaissance giving an accurate description of the gap in the pior which we alroady know about, but not a word as to whether 3.t was being shelled.
It was arranged that I should go over in N.A.S.B.10, one of the Motor
Anti-Submarino Boats. These are large fast motor hosts, enthor like M.T.B.to, with a speed of 25 knots and armed with two twin mochine guns and depth charges.
A portable Loud-spockor act was to be fitted in her. as I had found cirilar
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set very useful in "HEBE" and "EXPRESS."
In the afternoon my Secretary, Paymaster Commander Batloy, srrived down bringing with him some clothing which was very welcome, and I VIOB able to feel respectable once more. I sent him back to London 85 there WOD nothing there
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for him to do.
I had arranged to leave Dover at 1700 and on my way down to the Naval
Horbour I stopped in the own to buy & pair of pants and SOMO food to take bed over with UD. I picked up Wynne-Edwards and Norfolk at the hotsol where they

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Markness looking out to seaward, and lendward dark silhouotton showing against the stoady glow of fires and the occasional flash of hombs. To 20y the ships visible as dark blurs only, waiting off the harbour entrance for thoir turn to como in to the piers, 100ming up largo and distinct 0.13 they drow near. Rooking shoreward the whole town and harbour were shut in by a. poll of smoke overhead, which was 110 up by the glare of fires in soveral places inland. Againmt the glare the piers, harbour and town were sharply silhoustied, and on the piors and quays an endloss line of helmotted mon in servied ranks, sometimes moving, sometimon stationary. The funnels and masts of ships showed clear DD they lay alongside or went in and out of harbour, their hullo hiddon and dark and invisible,
There was not a great amount of noise, syrens hooted occasionally when ships moved, shells bursting with sharp cracks, distant crashes of hombo, machinegun fire faintly heard and nearby at times when someone fived at a plane overhood, engines throbbing as D. destroyer moved past, occasional orders and hailing of boats.
The French T.B.S had an A.A. machino gun that fired à stream of bullots with coloured tracers, these and the ordinary tracers filled the sky with firework exhibitions in lovely curves of light.
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The return to Dover gave me the chance to sleep but soon ve blinged into the harbour and made fast alongside - broad daylight and a silent town alleep but the welcome sight of a car waiting for us. Up to the Offices for a few words with Somerville and thon to the Admiral's house and a couple of hours on
Somerville's bed. It WAS very conveniont to have him on duty at that time QS'
day leaving a vacant bed. I slept heavily and woke suddenly as two fellows came into my room - it HGS Berthon, Captain of the "KETTH," and his First
Licutenant. They were black with oil fuol and in the clothes tikey had boon resoued the day before but they had come to lot EC know they were sofe. I
looked at them only half conscious and dropped off to sleep again at once, with
D. feeling of thankfulness.
After in bath and breakfast and a for momento in the sun outside I Colt fit for anything and made my way to the dungeon 011100 again to discuss the noxt night's operation. There were still 5,000 of the B.E.F. to como thousand. and an unknown number of French, which was thought to be from thirty to forty