TNA ADM 199 795

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55.
I had to send some ships out and delay others goding to the West
pier until the entrance was cleared.
56.
The flow of troops down the East pier vas far better, but there were
bad pauses. The West pier was always crowled, and as the ships detailed for
this were insufficient I led in a Personnel Ship to the Test pier at 0145
and she was followed by ROYAL SOVEREIGN which did not leave till 0300.
berthing 57. party. When the latter left there were about 200 nen on the East
MALCOLM left at 0240 and EXPRESS at 0300 after embarking the
pier and these were later embarked by SHIKART who was escorting the blockships.
58. had KELLET available and with her slow speed I did not feel justified in
At the West pier there were still & few hundred non, but I only
taking the risk of the late departure that loading her would have involved.
59. transferred her troops, KELLET went aground and got off, and one paddler was
During the night KINGFISHER was holed by at French Trander and
ce
sent back unfilled.
French 60. Ships more than I have of British Ships. On all days, all however, they
In the foregoing narrative I have made no particular mention of
French any were using the West Quar and I think they did of French
could and Destroyers played their part well. Latterly also, large numbers from
fishing boats and small steamers took part and embarked nary nen
Dunkirk.
intermittent shall fire on Dunicink the whole East time, Pier but
61. There effectively was directed on the vital points such as the sunk in the
it was never the embarkation, although one trueler was been
and had no That effect so on little interference occurred must, 1 think, have due
Harbour. to the affective bombing of the batteries during the nights.
three nights at Dunkirk the handling of Transports, ships in
62. During the the most last difficult conditions vas magnificent. of small graft were
the harbour under Paddlers, and all descriptions several wrecks
Destroyers, and Minesweepers, out in these confined waters, where and there that were so many non were
moving in Little time was lost, the Caytains
brought in inconvenient off is due places. to the coolness and supreme seamanship of of
these ships.
During these operations the work of largest, all those and engaged what has has been been
beyond 63. praise is from the the result smallest of the craft single-minied to the but that purpose did not and matter determination for cases, of
all accomplished concerned. Few orders could be given ydok out special
but everyone of those did who his came utmost. under I my had own few to bring to your notice
the following Officers:-
Captain Berthon - H.M.S. KRITH
the time I was in H.H.S. sunk. NRITH Captain she VELIE Berthon subjected handled to shell and his
his ship
with fire great and bombing coolness During attack, and jurigment being finally and not all the calls I put upon him
ship.
Ideutenant - H.H.S. KRITH.
which finally disabled KEITH this took officer drastic
handled the During ship with the complete air attack coolness in a masterly my, /avoiding and ********