TNA ADM 234 360

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THE FINAL NIGHT, 3RD-4TH JUNE
CHAP. XII
advance of the evacuation force. Captain de Revoir, the French Naval Attaché,
also crossed over to assist.
There were still many British wounded in Dunkirk, and Admiral Nord was
asked to make special arranagements to evacuate as many as possible in return
for the effort the British were making on behalf of the French Army.
Air Protection
Coastal Command were to provide protection for shipping between Dover
and Dunkirk during the period from 1930 on the 3rd until dark.
Fighter Command was to maintain a continuous patrol by one Blenheim
over the Dunkirk area during the dark hours. Fighter protection over the
Dunkirk area and shipping in the Channel was arranged for first light, the
intention being that Fighter Command should patrol from 0345 to 0600 on
June 4th, and Coastal Command from 0600 to 0800. The execution of the
first part of this programme was hindered, and that of the second part pro-
hibited by fog which, however, no doubt supplied an even more thorough form
of protection for the ships.
From 0430 to 0615 four Spitfires squadrons were on the line, but encountered
no enemy aircraft. Fog rendered their landing in England difficult on their
return. Hurricane squadrons continued the patrol, reaching the Dunkirk
area about 0530 again no enemy aircraft were encountered, and again great
difficulty was experienced in landing, one squadron losing 4 aircraft. With
this unfortunate anti-climax, the fighter patrols over Dunkirk came to an end.
The scene at Dunkirk 2200, 3rd June
Movements from England of the 50 or so ships and numerous small craft
for the night's evacuation commenced according to plan. Rear-Admiral
Wake-Walker, who had come over to Dover earlier in the day for consultation,
returned to Dunkirk, arriving at 2200 in M.T.B. 102 " to find the harbour
swarming with French fishing craft and vessels of all sorts. They were yelling
and crowding alongside the East Pier which was already thick with French
troops. At one time it looked as if they would get in the way of the transports
and destroyers which were on their way, but I managed to get them to go on
up the inner harbour and out of the way in time."¹
"The congestion", said Lieutenant J. N. Wise, R.N.V.R., one of the officers
of the skoot Pascholl which arrived at Dunkirk at 2300, was chaotic, ships
going astern into others coming ahead. French destroyers shrieking on their
sirens, small craft nipping here and there, rendering the exit most dangerous."
The numerous wrecks in the harbour and its approaches increased the
difficulty and danger of entering. In addition to old wrecks marked on the
charts there were now a dozen or more new ones, 3 to the west, and 9 to the
east, half of them in the fairway; and more wrecks lay in the harbour. One
lay alongside the East Pier ; there was a wrecked trawler off the end of the
piling on the west side of the Channel leading up harbour and blockships in
the Channel, though luckily the tide was high.
Off the Thanet Coast and in mid-Channel there was thick fog (the Royal
Sovereign, 40 minutes out from Margate, reported visibility nil), though the
ships were spared this added difficulty at Dunkirk where a fresh easterly wind
was blowing and there was a choppy sea at the entrance.
M.017978/41 Report of R. A. Wake-Walker, p.37.
115