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THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. VII
In pursuance of this decision, during although the forenoon later in and the early afternoon
seven them, the Vanquisher, Malcolm, Vimy a second trip to the of
destroyers went to Dunkirk¹, and Wolsey made afternoon four only
east pier.
There was delay in the sailing of personnel vessels, in while enquiries about
harbour were being made, and this resulted the forenoon. only one The of them-the Royal the
Daffodil-reaching Dunkirk during of the store ship Dorrien
Rose arrived there at 0650, and unloaded part provisions she was carrying;
with 590 and sailed. The Dorrien brought any of the much up
then, in view of the number of troops Rose awaiting had not transport, she was filled
needed fresh water, but some was obtained from the destroyers.
the drifters Girl Gladys, Golden Sunbeam and Yorkshire Lass².
The only other ships arriving at Dunkirk harbour during the forenoon were
It was this restricted service of ships during a day of quiet (because of mist
and low visibility) and a night of little enemy activity during which only
4 drifters and a yacht had entered Dunkirk3, that called forth the reproachful
comment from the harassed Naval Staff, in their dug-out at the shore end of
the east pier⁴, a great opportunity
again lost".
At 1257 the P/V Princess Maud, en route for Dunkirk, was fired on when
3 miles west of Gravelines, by a shore battery and received 3 hits, one being
six inches above the water line. Three of the crew were killed and three
wounded, and the ship had to return to Dover for repairs.
French ships arrive in larger numbers. Bourrasque sunk
The contribution of French ships had SO far been negligible. On Friday
(May 30th), however, some 15 ships went to Dunkirk harbour, including 2
destroyers and 3 torpedo boats⁶, the minesweepers Arras and L'Impétueuse,
4 trawlers⁷ the tug Lutteur, and 3 motor fishing vessels⁸.
The participation in "Dynamo" of one of these French reinforcements was
unfortunately very short-lived, for an enemy battery at Nieuport was instru-
mental in sinking the torpedo boat Bourrasque. She had sailed from Dunkirk
at 1530 loaded with over 600 French troops of all descriptions-officers without
troops, a mixture of artillerymen, Moroccan troops, air force personnel, sailors
from ships, barracks, fleet air arm personnel, naval recruiting officers, crews of sunken
Capitaine be de Frégate R. Fouque, or she would have been of the first to
etc. even one woman ("I did not notice her presence until at sea," says
saved"). The troops had few arms on the other hand one the decks were
encumbered make with baggage and there were even some bicycles. An to
the an approximate count of the passengers had to be given up, attempt because of
congestion in the gangways and spaces.
the intervals. a battery at Nieuport, the salvoes falling Bourrasque came minute
At fire about of 1600, after passing Nieuport buoy, the under
course was To open the range more rapidly and regularly at about bombardment, 31/2
was increased. set closely to the edge of an adjacent so avoid this
I The crowded decks made it dangerous French to return minefield the and fire of speed the
2 3 4 The Reports See Section Vanquisher, by Captain 139, footnote Vimy, A/P, Malcolm, Dover, Wolsey, and S.N.O., Sabre, Dunkirk. Express and Scimitar.
M.017978/40, p.7.
5 6 S.N.O. Dunkirk's report.
7 8 Louise The
Louis. Bouclier, Marie and Siroco. Jeune France.
62