TNA ADM 234 360

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CHAPTER XI
THE NIGHT 2ND 3RD JUNE
B.E.F. EVACUATED 2330/2
Plan for the night 2nd-3rd June
During the forenoon of the 2nd June considerable doubt existed at Dover
to the numbers remaining to be evacuated from Dunkirk. Captain Tennant
thought as that about 5,000 British and 30,000 French remained, but it was
estimated at Dover, that in addition to the rearguard of 4,000, (who had been
withdrawn according to plan, from the front line), a further 2,000 British
troops might be found in Dunkirk; while the estimated number of French
troops remaining increased during the forenoon from 25,000 quoted on the
previous evening to figures in the region of 50,000 to 60,000. Admiral Nord
himself estimated the French remaining to number 65,000 of which he hoped
that 30,000 might be evacuated on the night 2nd-3rd and the remaining 35,000,
who were holding the bridgeheads, on the following night.
Major-General Alexander intended that all British troops should be
evacuated by 2400 on 2nd, and Captain Tennant asked for the maximum
number of transports to be sent over. During the forenoon of the 2nd a joint
Naval and Military conference was held at Dover, attended by Rear-Admiral
Wake-Walker who came over from Dunkirk in the early hours, and by Com-
mander J. C. Clouston, Pier Master at the East Pier, to devise a plan to accom-
plish this. The French Admiralty wished daylight evacuation to be resumed,
but Vice-Admiral Ramsay refused to countenance it. The suspension of traffic
in daylight hours had the advantage of enabling all transport resources to
accumulate during the day and to be held available for a massed descent"
upon Dunkirk harbour during the night. By making provision for increased
pier and berthing parties and control of traffic in the harbour channels by
motor boats, it was hoped to berth all craft that were available between the
hours of 2100 on 2nd and 0300 on 3rd.
At 1052 Vice-Admiral Dover made a signal to the destroyers and mine-
sweepers, which practically amounted to a call for volunteers for the night's
work (Appendix T.3) :-
"The final evacuation is staged for tonight, and the Nation looks to the Navy to
see this through.
I want every ship to report as soon as possible whether she is fit to meet the call
which has been made on our courage and endurance".
The replies showed that there was no lack of willing spirit. Ships were fit
and ready", ready and anxious to carry out your orders", ship unfit but
...
officers and ship's company are willing to serve in any capacity : so the replies
came in. Only the paddle minesweeper Medway Queen, which had returned
to Ramsgate three hours earlier on her fifth evacuation trip, was unable to sail
owing to the exhaustion of her crew, and was sent on to Dover where additional
officers and crew were lent from the Sandown, which, like the destroyer Javelin,
was not degaussed and was consequently forbidden to sail.
It was hoped to avoid on this night the situation which occurred on the
previous night, when more ships could have used the pier had they been avail-
able, by working out a programme whereby personnel ships, destroyers, fleet
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