TNA ADM 234 360

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THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. VIII
several wrecks close inshore. vessels one to and
boats, motor launches and yachts About aground mile and, out in most cases, abandoned, most cases, abandoned,
numerous boats were destroyers running and between other the shore waiting and these ships. the but scarcely
quiet any except for occasional shelling and intermittent
between 0800 and 1315 Lt. Col. Hutchins about 250 ferried about 450
pulsive off Malo, and thereafter, about 1800 troops to the off Bray.
the
The Swallow sailed for Ramsgate at with 30 troops on board.
beaches were very bad owing to a freshening in on-shore wind; that the majority small
of pulling boats were no crews that
At 1035 Rear-Admiral broached-to Wake-Walker and informed had V.A. Dover that the majority that the majority that the majon smity
numbers were being embarked even daylight; that motor boats could
get close in, and that under present conditions any large scale embarkation not
a ship to form a lee and SO improve conditions¹.
of embarking any number was at Dunkirk, that he would attempt to beach
from the beaches was quite impracticable. but He considered that the only hope
Sailing of personnel vessels suspended
Simultaneously with this bad news came a signal from S.N.O., Dunkirk, to
the effect that Dunkirk was being continuously and heavily bombarded; that
the enemy artillery were gradually finding the range of the loading berths
and that only ships necessary for the flow of troops should enter². This signal
personnel vessels to Dunkirk until the number of those en route had been
confirmed the V.A. Dover in a decision he had made to suspend the sailing of
reduced. There were at this time no less than 9 personnel vessels and 3 hospital
carriers known to be on the round trip U.K.-Dunkirk and back, and one other
personnel vessel had been ordered to sail during the night but her whereabouts
was unknown. In addition, 3 other personnel vessels were under orders to
sail between 0900 and 1030.
Military plan changed
B.E.F. beach on the 30th May, was to lift the B.E.F. rearguard of 4,000, R.N.
The plan, arranged between V.A. Dover and representatives of the C.-in-C.,
been parties, on the night of 31st May/Ist June; and naval plus had
been made³. The minesweepers had received their orders4 arrangements instructions had
all available X; and C.-in-C. Nore, and F.O.I.C. Harwich, were to
Route issued for the special tows to leave Ramsgate at 1300/31 for Dunkirk via
as possible. M.T.B.'s to escort this convoy for as much of requested the outward provide
at Dover Speed of advance 6 knots⁵. A party of Naval officers assembled passage
At 1000 to embark in these tows were given detailed instructions
evacuation. the Hebe arrived off La Panne beach carrying the plans on the for plan. this
Military In the afternoon of the 31st May, however, Dover
covering plan had been changed, as it was was informed that the
withdrawn embarkation. Instead, the finally to withdraw to
the beaches position for to be held by 4,000 troops no who longer were possible for the original
was to be westward from the La Panne easternmost Division was to boats be
I used to lift this force from the beaches. area, and At the the special same time flight the of troops
Appendix Q.6.
2 Appendix Q.7.
5 Appendix Q.1.
4 3 Appendices Q.1, G.29.
Appendix G.29.
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