TNA ADM 199 795

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into two parties, one to work from Le Panne to Bray and
one from Bray to Dunkirk. Commander Gorton proceeded
along the beach with his party to work East of Bray and
later I with Commander Otway-Ruthven and two other officers
also proceeded along the beach to Bray. There were vast
numbers of troops on the beaches round Malo le Baine.
Enemy aircraft were heard overhead and they and the guns
west of Dunkirk were bombing and shelling Malo and Dunkirk
Fort. The night was very dark, the tide was low and
as we proceeded to Bray we met many large bodies of troops
making their way westward including a certain number of
French, who asked if they could be sent off.
I informed these that French ships might be expected
in due course.
Half way to Bray were sighted some ships at
anchor off the beach but heard nothing in reply to our hail.
Later we passed the CRESTED EAGLE high and dry and still
burning. A little further another ship was sighted to
seaward and a boat just observed. On hailing her, she
also,
proved to be from MEDWAY QUESN lying off. Later & second
boat and a power boat also came in. Te sent off 700 to
750 troops in these boats to MEDWAY QUEEN. As we approached
Bray in the lightening dawn, a number of destroyers, sloops
and scoots were seen to be lying off and embarkation was
proceeding in such boats as were available. Several boats
were aground, others were hold, and some had no cars.
At about 0500 (?) I reached Bray and made contact
If
had cleared for England and there were no further ships
with Headquarters. By about 0600 all destroyers, sloops, etc.,
available. At Bray I also met some Naval Officers who and had
apparently been working on the beaches for some time had
some Naval Lieutenants and Naval ratings who
apparently later arrived from EXCELLENT and VERNON. The lamps. latter
were leaving Dover I had understood that there be
few in number and a a certain amount of signal would
with 24 Aldis lamps, but these I never saw, and so was
Before Signal Ratings along the beaches adequately their supplied need
certainly felt. In any case, communication along if not
many with so many troops on the shore, with passing also
miles of flat beaches was very difficult and I
sorely ships anchored off beaches. Similarly between La Panne was
impossible felt the need of communication there
ship communication or until Thursday afternoon Dunkirk.
and no Bray and never any between Bray and
About 0800 I proceeded on a motor bicyle in to at La
very with whom I discussed the position. La Panne and some were
Panne fatigued where and ineffective condition. There to
I met Commander Dover who I felt He was took me
see Q.M.G. French troops between Bray and British ships, but
very many had been allowed to embark in had been
before I move westward to Malo. Off Le embarkation were
of these took steps to stop this, the French Panne there
ordered three to destroyers and sloops, and Not
appeared were to in evidence on the beaches, but to Bray an
two or be proceeding satisfactoriny. possibly many British they
were inshore the sky was then overcast and a the
troops among the dunes. On the return Scotch mist
hour later which was a Godsend, for throughout British forenoon
vast masses were proceeding along the beaches, and aircraft
prevailed of French troops quite apart from had
attacked, troops the carnage would have been dreadful.
No/