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