TNA ADM 234 360

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THURSDAY, 30TH MAY
CHAP. VII
established-two lights being shown at La Panne and one at Bray-and Dover
was informed accordingly.
Later that night Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker transferred from the Worcester,
by that time full of troops, to the Express-his fourth transfer in twenty-four
hours.
Captain Howson, N.O.I.C., Beaches
On the beaches the progress was better than appeared at the time. Captain
Howson, Naval-Officer-in-Charge of beaches, making his first acquaintance
with conditions there, says that on the 30th May, off Bray, " in the lightening
dawn, a number of destroyers, sloops and skoots were seen to be lying off, and
embarkation was proceeding in such boats as were available. Several boats
were aground, others were holed, and some had no oars.
By about 0600, all
destroyers, sloops, etc., had cleared for England and there were no further
ships available
Before leaving Dover he had understood that there would be 24 signal ratings
along the beaches adequately supplied with Aldis lamps, but he never saw any
of them². " Communication along so many miles of flat beaches was very
difficult, if not impossible, with so many troops on the shore.
there was no
communication until Thursday afternoon [30th May] between La Panne and
Bray³, and never any between Bray and Dunkirk⁴".
At about 0600 Captain Howson went to Corps Headquarters in a house at
Bray, where he met one of his party, Commander Gorton, and also some naval
officers who had apparently been working on the beaches for some time
before our arrival".
" About 0800", continues Captain Howson, " I proceeded on a motor bicycle
to La Panne where I met Commander J. S. Dove, R.N., who
took me to
see Q.M.G. [Lieut. General Laidsell] with whom I discussed the position.
off La Panne " there were 2 or 3 destroyers and sloops, and embarkation
appeared to be proceeding satisfactorily
On the return to Bray an hour later
the sky was
overcast and a Scotch mist prevailed which was a Godsend,
for throughout the forenoon vast masses of French troops, quite apart from
British troops, were proceeding along the beaches, and had aircraft attacked
the carnage would have been dreadful. No further ships arrived during the
forenoon off Bray or La Panne and a great opportunity was missed for embark-
ing troops undisturbed.
"
"During the forenoon
on my way to Dunkirk I found the water lighter
Claudes high and dry, but with ample supplies of water, and on my return
arranged with the military aurhorities for lorries and cans to collect and dis-
tribute this sorely needed requirement".
Meanwhile, during the forenoon also, the sappers and troops of the First
Division had built a long pier of lorries off Bray into the sea⁶ with plank decking.
This was an excellent piece of work, and though not strong enough for use by
I Report by S/Lt. E. C. Croswell, R.N. (C.W.23187/40).
2 See p. 67.
3 S/Lt. E. C. Croswell, R.N., on shore at La Panne, says, Lt. Cdr. McCullough [?L. Cdr.
J.W. McClelland R.N.] and signal staff arrived at La Panne on the evening of 30th May.
(C.W.23817/40). The Gossamer reports that she embarked a party of signalmen for La
Panne on 30th May, and arrived there at 1930.
4 1st Corps had a H.Q. at Bray.
5 She had been towed over to Dunkirk on 25th May by the tug Fairplay I.
6 This was done at the suggestion of Cdr. H. du P. Richardson R.N., who was in charge of
a section of Bray beach. (R.O.III, p.369).
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