TNA ADM 234 360

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THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. VII
and miracle. unpredictable difficulties, as a
such courage, energy and single-mindedness, that it has since and in come the face to be of such incredible
found
the
Hebe
situation, Captain the ferring By water 0100 to Bush. and her up Rear-Admiral to from "of their From the the waists." ghastly him, Esk, Wake-Walker Rear-Admiral Rear-Admiral he sight He took had of over the had the shore, Wake-Walker, Wake-Walker to duties watch black of with the off S.N.O. heard terribly standing in Bray, (Afloat) and, trans- from
gress of embarkation", says I could the which I had pro-
seemed to detect in his voice".¹
then seen, but I did not feel that accept note of despair which not I
proceeding to take charge off-shore at Panne, and the latter off-shore at
Commodores Stephenson and Hallett were La transferred to drifters, the former
Bray.
Wake-Walker was able to glimpse for the first
By dawn the Hebe was off La Panne, and in the growing light Adminal the growing lear Readminl
he had to work. He saw a dark line of men at the water's edge, and large
groups of men all over the beaches. Off Bray the Bideford was ashore with her
stern completely blown off and the Locust was trying to take her in tow. Nearer
Dunkirk the Crested Eagle was high and dry on the beach-burnt out. Lying
off the beaches were destroyers, sloops, drifters and other craft, while men
were making their way off in whalers, motor boats and pontoon craft. There
was a slight swell which made landing difficult, and many boats were lying
broached-to and stranded by the tide.
As daylight illumined the scene Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker saw that the
beaches were packed with troops, who were orderly and under proper control.
To anyone with an appreciation of the practical difficulties of embarking in
small boats with a long pull to seaward, the sight of that beach black with troops
was indeed almost dismaying. The numbers increased steadily as more men
filed down the sand dunes, and "at the back of our minds all the time", says
Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker, "was the question of how long the defence line
could hold and the weather remain fair." The crux of the matter was boats.²
Twice during the day Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker went to Dunkirk in un-
successful efforts to contact Captain Tennant. With his staff he transferred
from the Hebe to the Windsor and thence to the Worcester, as these ships in
turn " filled up with troops. Captain Bush took home in the Hebe
come off the benches".3
to stress the vital necessity for boats and crews if passage any large numbers were to
would Admiral was hampered by lack of means of about quickly". Ships
There was great difficulty in exercising control off the beaches. The Rear-
desirable, everything would be impracticable. The urgency of a the moment governed
arrive at beaches and start loading ; getting and redistribution, though
where At 2000 he on the 30th May Rear-Admiral Panne
and met Lord Gort and Captain Tennant. Wake-Walker landed at La discussed
1800 arrangements next were made for Lord Gort's The situation was Panne at
On this day, and Commodore Stephenson embarkation from of La it.
1 evening a method of identifying was the put beaches in charge from seaward was
2 2 R.A. report
M.A. Dover's p.4.
R.A. Dover's Dover's Report Report (M.017978/41). (M.017978/41). (R.O.III, p.374).
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