TNA ADM 199 795

377
351
5.
2/3/6
attack on the way. I then embarked General Alexander and transferred him shortly after to the first Destroyer to leave. Two motor boats with parties to assist on the pier and in the control and berthing of shipping had been sent over but these were attacked by aircraft on passage, and one with Commander Clouston was sunk. The other arrived, but had one engine cut of action and was too badly damaged to be of use. She was sent back to England.
46.
The evacuation was timed to start at 2100 and four Destroyers had got away by 2200. There was a fresh Northerly breeze and this, coupled with the flood tide, set ships off the pier and they had difficulty in berthing until the tide turned and the breeze dropped. Large mmbers of French fishing and other craft moving in and out of the harbours added to the difficulties.
2230 7. the B.E.F. were all away and at 2300 Captain Tennant and the rest of the
M.A/S.B. 10 assisted two destroyers to berth by pushing them.in. by
Naval party left in M.T.B. 102, The absence of the naval berthing parties, embarked with the last of the B.E.F., was much folt, and the French did nothing to replace them. There was then & very long pause before any French troops came down to the East pier. One ship was alongside 20 hours before she vas loaded.
TWO 8. Personnel Ships were sent in there. The second of these, the 300321, went
There were large mmbers of French troops at the Test Quar and ground when clearing and I was reluctant to risk any more. Also this ydar ras supposed to be used by French ships and some French Destroyers did & there.
OUEN refloated High tide next day and returned safely.
vailable 9. could not be filled in the time and I sent back three destroyers and
The flow of troops was so slow that it was obvious that the alige several Fleet Sweepers empty and also at least two Personnel Ships.
cme 0. down and did was not & appear in any mumbers until about half an hour before there were dam.
This disappointing night. For some reason the French did not he was that a counter-attack had to be made. At 0300 The hree reason Personnel given Ships alongside and I had to order then to leave at 0310.
lockships arrived at 0310 and I left for Dover shortly afterwants.
1ght 3/4 June.
educed by an hour, quays of the harbour. Teasels and lay two correttes
1. For this and night it was planned to use both East and West also piers off for addition loading the time available for embartation, 2230 to 0230, in YES
rom ere detailed. small boats. East For pier was to have 10 Transports, 6 Destroyers, Padilers.
0 small creft at the upper the West pier schoots, minesweepers, and s
HITSHED was to land berthing parties at 2200.
M.T.B. 102 and arrived at 2200 to find full the harbour of warming 2. with I went French over fishing in boats on their way in and the piers troops.
There was again a fresh Northerly wind WHITSHED and berthing and three conditions Personnel were Ships ary 3. difficult until the tide for turned over an at hour 2330. to get them. alongaide, No ship and succeeding finally I took in nd later SABRE were trying WHITSHED and landed available for abarkation. erthing at the It is remarkable pier that in spite of one of the berthing East party until off 2330 so that only this three only hours one was paddler was unable load from the East pier.
Owing to ships, the harbour entrance got in which the delay in berthing, the numbers of mall very craft congested and and the hat he there were handled no in these constricted waters. feared ontinual arrival of collisions fresh is usle solely to the magnificent Time and way again I
ship ships would were go ashore in some impossible position.
/55 I

Report Captain I. Hugge RN
of Bray the Paime beaches
I reported to Vice Admiral Dover, about 0530
on Wednesday, 29th May. As a result of a report of an
Army officer recently evacuated, it was decided that a party of Naval Officers was required on the beaches between La Panne and Dunkirk. Accordingly, I together with Commanders Gorton and Otway-Ruthven, Lt.Commander brop
Nottle and Jones)embarked in SABRE about 1400, eventually
Cockburn, R.N., Lt.Commander Woodward and Lts. Whalley, sailing for Dunkirk about 1600.
Dunkish
Captain Bush, who had also arrived from Dover in the morning, took passage with my party. On arrival in at
Dunkirk about 1820, the Western side of the town was southward. GRENADE was seen to be heavily on fire and flames and vast volumes of smoke were drifting to the alongside the Eastern pier and a transport sinking sinking in the inner harbour. A trawler was sinking at the outer side of the Eastern pier.
29
We disembarked at once, and proceeded to the inner Dunkirk) staff. Captain Tennant had proceeded at end of the pier where we met Captain Tennant's to G.H.Q. Our arrival coincided with until dusk. heavy in the morning and was expected back of any bombardment had to clear the harbour as soon as possible to time. which went on almost continuously owing
SABRE bombing, and it was therefore impracticable her to the W/T sets she had brought prior to 2100(?) leaving transfer beaches. the Captain Tennant returned time about to seek his my function had been)to act to as and proceeded instructions as to my party's disposal. either as for the to a conference before I had Before double-back leaving Dover, for Captain Tennant or alternatively decision. work on the beaches according to S.N.O's the above shelling and bombing, manoeuvring 3 or 4
transports were to the harbour was a near miss
During sunk or disabled. ordered KING ORRY to proceed and subsequently remaining there until towed making the clear, rammed the Eastern pier alongside by large at in the entrance but before doing go was damaged by making a drifter. hole, and The pier was holed by at bomb outer part useless.
hospital ship about to enter was dark. ordered As to proceed clear A and a considerable return alongside number after of stretcher the only cases three darkness fell, accumulated were despatched other in side of the which ambulances had available readiness' for to the the quay hospital the ship's across return. the Large harbour in of walking cases were transferred harbour numbers by drifter to the same quay.
Captain Bush in the S.N.O. meanwhile afloat proceeded of the beaches, in an
M.T.B. M.T.B. to embark being directed in HEBE as to return to transport me to the beaches the later if necessary.
At about to proceed along the beaches. divided officers passage
2330 (7) S.N.O. returned and said On he wished across my the party Channel, I had tentatively my into/