TNA ADM 199 795

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landing craft at position some 10 miles off shore.
To this arrangement I agreed,
L
4.
At daybreak, when making for this position, we were
ordered by one of the minesweepers to keep to the route laid
down so that eventually Clan Macalister Tas anchored some
1/2 miles off shore, close to Old Dunkirk, and in the vicinity
of a. heavily listed French merchant ship which was slowly
sinking. The first of the A.L.C., six of which were stowed
forward, the remaining two aft, was histed out shortly afterwards.
Those stowed forward were holsted out first, commencium with
No. 16. No. 15, was put into the water next, followed by my
own craft No. 5.
The weather was fine, with a light breeze from N.N.:.
5.
My instructions were that concentrations of British
troops were to be expected at ta Panne, Braye, and someshere
between Braye and Old Dunkirk. Accordingly I gave instructions
that the craft should be grouped as follows :-
Nos. 5, 3, 17, (Commander Cassidi in No. 3), to work off 1.2 Panne,
Kos. 4, 8, 16, (Sub. Lieut Wilcoxon R.N.V.R. in 4), off Braye, and
Nos, 15, 18, (Sub Lieut Syre R.N.V.R. in No. 15), between Braye
and Old Dunkirk. Shortly before commeneing operations 1 modified
these instructions, and left it to the discretion of individual
cexswains to work where their services seemed likely to prove
most effective.
A.L.C. 16 left the ship 28 soon RP she 8 hoisted out and
proceeded straight inshore, No. .15 had slight difficulty in
starting her engines, 16 that 5 was the next to leave. 1 mysèlf
was onboard this craft.
Commander Note. Cassidi's report is continued in Part II under the
detached action of A.L.C.5, as he remained with that craft.