TNA ADM 234 360

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THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. XI
minesweepers different berths SO that three or four ships should be alongside the East
and paddle minesweepers were to come in at intervals of half an
hour to Five inside berths were established, three large, A. B,
smaller, Pier C at continuously. the D outer and end E, at of the the inner pier end for destroyers for minesweepers, and personnel all of which vessels, were and to and two be
kept constantly filled. If all inside berths were occupied a berth might be used
on the east side of the pier, though this would not normally be filled.
A pier master (Commander E. R. Lewis, R.N. (Retd.) was to direct the
berthing, and ships were to be guided to their berths by motor boat, two of
which were sent over in the afternoon. However, one of the two motor boats
was sunk by air attack on the way across with Commander Clouston, and the
other disabled. (See p.110).
Special brows and ladders were prepared at Dover, for even at high water
the decks of all but the larger personnel ships were below the level of the footway
of the pier; and ships were told to have boxes ready to form steps.
Thirteen destroyers were detailed to sail to arrive at Dunkirk at intervals
of half an hour from 2100. Groups of minesweepers were to sail at intervals
of an hour and a half from Margate, Sheerness, Dover, and Harwich respectively,
commencing with the Margate contingent at 2100, and ships in each group
were to stagger their time of arrival at Dunkirk.
In addition to the large ships, tugs, scoots, drifters and various small craft
were to go over for the night's work, some to lie off and be loaded by smaller
boats, and others to go right up the harbour, past the larger ships' berths.
Demolitions at Dunkirk (Operation X.D.(E)) (See Plan 4)
Now that the operation was drawing to a close it was time to carry out
demolitions in the port. The Royal Naval demolition party, which arrived at
Dunkirk on the 23rd May, had carried out the placing of demolition charges
at the New Lock, the Trystram Lock, and the Guillain Lock in Dunkirk harbour,
demolition of which had been agreed upon at an Anglo-French conference as
a British responsibility. The French undertook to destroy Le Main Lock and
all the pumping stations and the bridges over the locks and canals.
On the 2nd June Admiral Abrial decided to carry out the following modified
programme of demolitions :-
New Lock-gates and bridge to be demolished;
Trystram Lock-the two gates at the outer and inner ends to be demolished
Guillian Lock-the two northern gates to be demolished.
All bridges had to be left intact as large numbers of French troops were
still withdrawing across them.
By now, however, two of the charges which were not under water and four
primers had been exploded by bomb or shell fire they had been replaced and
re-fuzed, but supplies of demolition stores were running short.
Demolitions were completed by 1400 on the 2nd June, except one depth
charge at Guillain Lock which misfired. A second charge which was placed
and primed also misfired and there remained now no further primers or fuzes.
Situation ashore
the afternoon of the 2nd the S.N.O. Dunkirk hoped to get the troops away that
Although during the forenoon the military position had seemed critical, on
night. of The French were still maintaining the front line except for an area east
Bergues where the Germans had penetrated to a depth of two miles, to
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