TNA ADM 199 795

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CONFIDENTIAL.
405
H.M.S. 'EXCELLENT",
6th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to forward a report of the operations
carried out by the Naval Beach Staff at Bray during the ambar
emabarkation of the BritiMsh Expeditionary Force on Thursday
and Friday, 30th and 31st May, 1940.
2. Oz: antival sit. Dover with the other Lieutanants selected
for service at Dunkilck, the situation was briefly explained by
Commander M.G. Goodenough. He gave us the necressary orders for
policing the beaches and expediting the embarkation as much as
not to be exposed to danger and that we were to evacuate the
possible. A definite stipulation was that Naval personnel were
beaches as soon as enemy action made the risk serious.
3. At 2000 we 29 embarked in H.M.S." "ESK" with about 60 ratings
have a party of onez Petty Officer, one Leading Seaman, two Able
Each of the twelve officers in charge of embarkation were to
Seaman and a Signalman.
The ship sailed for Dunkirk at 2045
and, attached to the beaches explained our duties in greater detail.
en route, Rear Admiral Wake-Walker and the Commodores
and 4. the parties of ratings. Commodore Hallett, who was him in charge at
At 0125, I was landed at Bray with three other officers
of the beach as a whole, remained afloat. We never saw towed
all,as I believe his boat broke down and he had to be naval
It was obvádus that
clear of the danger area.
personnel then waiting on the beach. They were all very
were needed for the embarkation of the large number tired
of and troops to get off the beach at any cost. Some that had been by waitin
for 48 eager hours and all had witnessed the bombing the day best
The system that produced
German aircraft. to organize them into a long queue at thex each were of
results was embarkation points at Bray beach. The this queues number
the three and were spaced out in groups of ten, The
being most could be used for shoving off as to at boat, bar
three deep suitable for the types of boat available. loaded
which took at to the sea. The Army pontoon construction
following group good deal of moving at half tide owing boats proved
most suitable handiness. Fortunately the weather and gentle
running parallel owing to their draught, double ended was favourable
for the operations, breeze assisting in the recovery seems
and general the sea remaining calm all of drifting day as craft.
Northerly sky and the presence of our fighter bombing. patrols
An to overcast have deterred the enemy aircraft from
5. The take main charge of the outgoing boats soldiers and bring detailed back to
difficulty lay in the insufficiency of them naval
ratings to the did not carry out
return CANADA for the operation.
to the drifting boats, order,
causing a delay blame them as it was clearly made our to this effect
and it was that up responsibility.
One can hardly for more ratings and a signal was arrived.
from I asked outlying warships. However, none
handicap was the bad communication substitute between ships for
and 6. shore Another Lamp. A motor Semaphore cycle was headlamp not easy is a and poors we failed to find the
an and W/T Aldis sets that had been promised at Dover.
It was neccessary at one