TNA ADM 199 xxx

Dynam 286.
193
SECRET.
Use of Landing Craft during the
Evacuation of the B.R.F.
APPENDIX "A"
PART III
Report by Sub. Lieut. E.R. Ponsonby R.N.V.R.
The City of Christchurch with A.L.C. 10
and M.L.C. Nos. 12, 17, 21, and 22 anboard arrived off
Dover at midnight 31st May 1940,
At 0900 an 1st June orders were received to place A.L.C. 10 and M.L.C. 31 and 82 in the water and to embark sufficient fuel and water for 48 hrs running over and above that which was already in them,
(sufficient for 130 miles), using the utmost despatch,
This was completed by 1130,
2.
At 1430 orders were received for the City of Christchurch to drop all the Landing Craft off Buoy
The These were then to proceed to the beach, and to return to Dover, under their own power, the following morning. M.C.C. 17 was unfit for service owing to a hole in her water pump, and was therefore left behind,
3.
The craft left Buoy W at 2130 and proceeded in line ahead I, myself being in A.L.C. 10.
On arrival at the beach I found it impossible to keep all the craft under my personal control owing to the number of boats that were there, and I therefore gave orders for each coxswain to carry on independantly.

128
4.
At dawn and June, having embarked 70 soldiers and finding every ship had left, I proceeded towards
Dover, Halfway across the Straits I sighted a paddle steamer, and put the soldiers onboard her, A.L.C. 10
arrived at Dover about 1000 where I reported to the
Captain in charge of Auxiliary Services, asking for a mechanic to repair my starboard engine.
I received orders to leave A.L.C. 10 at
Dover and to take charge of the Royal National
Lifeboat Jane Holland.
5.
I proceeded in this vessel under tow, at
1600 2nd June with orders to sick up French troons at the Eastern Breakwater. 1 was employed on this work until dawn 3rd June, when 1 received orders to 80 to
B, and C beacher and take off the Beach Basters there.
on arrival at there beacher which were being heavily shelled, I was unable to find any trace of there officers
I was informed however by some troops who were embarking in a destroyer, that the Reach Haster had been taken off by another destroyer. Having obtained confirmation of this, 1 returned to Dunkirk, but found all the ships had left.
6.
It was now daylight and I not courre for
Dover, Shortly aftervards my engine broke down and the lifeboat was taken in tox by a motor boat, I borrowed a mechanic from this hoat who succeded in getting the engine running again, when we cast off.
A little later the engine crught fire, and became completely useless. The crew were taken off by a C.M.R. from Dover and an the lifeboat was of very