TNA ADM 234 360

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WEDNESDAY, 29TH MAY
CHAP. VI
route was shielded by the French minefields in the Ruytingen and Dyck
channels. The E-boat Command apparently failed to appreciate this with-
drawal of traffic to the south-west, and did not follow up.¹
Barge piers impracticable
The considerable alarm as to the immediate safety of the B.E.F. felt during
the night of 27th/28th and the forenoon of 28th May, which caused all available
resources to be immediately concentrated on the French coast, eased during
the 29th. But emergency measures taken late on the 28th had an adverse
effect on the orderly organisation for evacuation so necessary if effective
measures were to be devised and put in force². On the 29th, for instance, the
practicability was considered of building piers on the beaches to facilitate
embarkation, using lines of barges³; but reports from ships that worked off
the beaches showed that the very gradual shoaling of the water at all states of
the tide would necessitate such piers being inordinately long, and beyond the
resources available. A much needed Medical Party was shipped in the Verity
for use on the beaches, and a Naval Medical Party was sent to Dunkirk.
Captain Howson sails for Dunkirk
As the 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, Captain J. M. Howson R.N., with Commanders
H. G. Gorton and R. J. O. Otway-Ruthven, R.N., Lt. Cdrs. Cockburn, R.N.
and R. G. Wardrop, R.D., R.N.R., and Lieuts. Whalley, Nettle and Jones
sailed at 1600 in the Sabre for Dunkirk.⁴ Captain Howson arrived at Dunkirk
at 1815 to find that S.N.O., Dunkirk, had been away at La Panne since noon
on a visit to Lord Gort. Captain Tennant returned to Dunkirk at about 2140,
and at 2300 Captain Howson was able to have a consultation with him.
Captain Howson then divided the beach party into two; 3 officers under Cdr.
Gorton proceeded to the beach east of Bray, and two officers under Cdr. Otway-
Ruthven to the beach at Bray. Captain Howson went with the latter party.
These appointments appear to have had good results, for embarkations at
the beaches reached peak next day.
Rear-Admiral, Dover sails for Dunkirk,
Captain E. W. Bush, D.S.C., R.N., had also taken passage in the Sabre at
1600, to act as S.N.O. afloat off, the beaches' in the Hebe5 but an hour
and a half later, the Admiralty appointed Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker,
O.B.E. as Rear-Admiral, Dover, for command of sea-going ships and vessels
off the Belgian coast", and left it to the Vice-Admiral, Dover, to decide in
which ship the R.A., Dover, should fly his flag⁶. Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker,
who was to take over from Captain Bush⁷, sailed in the destroyer Esk at 2000
for Dunkirk. With him on board were Vice-Admiral (acting Commodore)
G. O. Stephenson, C.B., C.M.G., and Vice-Admiral (acting Commodore) T. J.
Hallett, C.B., C.B.E. Also on board were 12 officers and 60 ratings to act as
beach parties. On the way over he arranged that Commodore Stephenson
I D.R. p.9, para. 29.
2 D.R. p.7, para. 27.
3 Appendix G.
4
Captain Howson's report. (R.O.III, p.394).
5 D.R. p.9, para. 30, and R.O.III, p.394.
6 Appendix O.4.
7 D.R. p.11, para. 36.
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