TNA / ADM 234 360

TNA ADM 234 360

Collection details

TNA ADM 234 360

Naval Staff History No. 41, the official historical study of the evacuation from Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo, 26 May–4 June 1940, dated 1949.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: ADM 234 360

View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 234/360. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 71–220 of this collection

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WEDNESDAY, 29TH MAY
CHAP. VI
No contact with S.N.O. Dunkirk
At 2057 the Vice-Admiral, Dover, asked the Verity and the S.N.O., Dunkirk, whether the harbour was blocked¹. At 2120 the Verity replied that the eastern half of the channel was blocked, and that on leaving the harbour she had grounded slightly on a sunken drifter in the entrance. S.N.O. Dunkirk replied at 2150 that the harbour was not blocked, but that it was doubtful whether much more could be done during daylight hours². It is not known if or when this reply was received, because as late as 2357 V.A. Dover signalled Admiral
Abrial, "I cannot get in touch with Captain Tennant. Can you inform me whether it is still possible for transports to enter harbour and berth alongside."
It is noteworthy that reception on the Naval W/T set at Dunkirk was not established until 2300 on the 30th May, and full communication with Dover was not established on the set until daylight on the 31st May.³
Vice-Admiral, Dover, diverts all ships to the beaches
Indeed, already at 2128, the situation, as it could be seen by the staff at
Dover, was confused, and it seemed probable that the use of Dunkirk harbour would be denied to us except possibly for small ships⁴. Consequently, the
Vice-Admiral, Dover, ordered all ships approaching Dunkirk not to close the harbour, but to remain off the eastern beach and collect troops from the shore5;
drifters and minesweepers which were about to be despatched to Dunkirk harbour were also diverted to the beach⁶.
A good opportunity at Dunkirk missed
In the event, only 4 drifters and a yacht⁷ entered Dunkirk during the hours of darkness, and as only 2 bombing attacks were made a good opportunity was missed. It is probable that about 10,000 troops could have been lifted from the harbour during the night with little reduction of the numbers embarked from the beaches⁸. Nevertheless, it was only by good fortune that the vital
Dunkirk channel was not blocked by sinking ships at this early date⁹.
Admiralty's urgent call for small craft
Meanwhile, during the forenoon of the 29th May, in response to the insistent call for beaching craft, the Admiralty called on the C's in C. Portsmouth and the Nore "to investigate as a matter of urgency the provision of additional small motor craft and X and other self-propelled lighters, which could be made available within 48 hours from all ports in their Commands¹⁰. Thereafter, the supply of beaching craft increased rapidly.
The A.L.C.'s arrive off the beaches
On this day, however, only the first trickle of the anxiously awaited small motor craft began to arrive off the beaches. The most important arrivals
I S.N.O. Dunkirk's report. (R.O.III, p.350).
2 Appendix O.12.
3 See p. 67.
4 D.R. p.10, para. 34.
5 D.R. p.10, para. 34.
6 D.R. p.10, para. 34.
7 The 4 drifters of the 1st M/R Flotilla - the Fidget, Fisher Boy, Jacketa and Silver Dawn and the yacht Bystander.
8 D.R. p.10, para. 35.
V.A. Dover's letter No. A 14/0/876/40 of 10th June 1940 (covering his report on Operation Dynamo), para. 7(b).
10 Appendix G.14.
51

Bystander Dawn Drifter Fidget Fisher Boy Jacketa Silver Dawn Verity Day Dover Fisher Little May Tennant

163

OCR table 1 from document page 163
	APPENDIX A
	TROOPS TRANSPORTED
YACHTS. Total 26, of which 3 were lost.	5
Ahola (Lt. J. F. Alexander, R.N.V.R.) II	175
Alouette (S/Lt. R. E. Lee, R.N.V.R., Unit Officer)	I
Amulree (S/Lt. G. P. Probert, R.N.V.R.)	-
Ankh (Lt. C. C. Bone, R.N.V.R., Senior Officer, Inner Patrol)	42
Aronia (Lieut. J. S. Roe, R.N.V.R.)	-
Bounty (Lt. C. A. Lundy, R.N.V.R.)	99
Bystander (S/Lt. H. J. B. Barge, R.N.V.R.)	35
Caleta (S/Lt. J. F. Dunning, R.N.V.R.)	-
Caryanda (Lt. D. A. L. Kings, R.N.V.R.)	317
Chico (S/Lt. J. Mason, R.N.V.R.)	33
Christobel II (Lieut. H. E. Wigfull, R.N.V.R.)	80
Conidaw (Skipper R. G. Snelgrove)	-
Eilla II (Lt. E. H. Batt, R.N.V.R.)
Erica	- -
Glagla (S/Lt. J. A. Dow, R.N.V.R.)	1,484
Grive (Capt. the Hon. L. J. O. Lambart, D.S.O., R.N. (Retd.)³	814
Gulzar (Ty. Lt. C. V. Brammall, R.N.R.)	15
Lahloo Laroc	147
(Capt. G. B. Butler, (Master/Owner) Llanthony	280
(S/Lt. R. W. Timbrell, R.N.)
Noneta (S/Lt. A. J. Potter-Irwin, R.N.V.R.)	-
Pellag II² (Lieut. F. W. R. Martino, R.N.V.R.) Sargasso	\| 605
(Lt. C. C. L. Gaussen, R.N.V.R.)
Seriola	-
(Lieut. D. A. Dawson, R.N.V.R.) Tarret	550
Thele	-
(Lt. H. M. Glassborow, R.N.V.R.)
Total	4,681
PERSONNEL SHIPS. Total 45 (including 3 store ships and 2 motor vessels) of which 8 were sunk. Archangel Auto Carrier	- 712
(Capt. C. M. Masters, Master) Beal (M/V)	364
(J. W. Liley, Master)

Ahola Alouette II Amulree Ankh Archangel Aronia Beal Bounty Bystander Caleta Caryanda Chico Conidaw Erica Grive Gulzar Lahloo Laroc Llanthony Noneta Sargasso Seriola Tarret Thele Alexander Barge Batt Beal Bone Brammall Butler Dawson Dover Dow Dunning Gaussen Glassborow Kings Lambart Lee Liley Lundy Martino Mason Masters Potter Potter-Irwin Probert Roe Senior Snelgrove Timbrell West Wigfull

220

INDEX
await embarkation, 82; surf stops embarkation, 82; evacuation from beaches and harbour compared, 124;
Bray, 23, 28, 29, 31 (bombed), 36, 42n (bombed), 50, 52, 58-60, 69, 71, 78-82.
Coxyde, 26.
doned), 83 (Devonia used as pier), 86.
La Panne, 23, 26, 27-28, 30-32, 42n (bombed), 46-7, 50, 52, 58-60, 66, 70, 75-83 (aban-
Malo, 23, 27, 31, 71-2, 84, 101.
Zuydcoote, 27, 31.
Beaching boats, See small craft.
Beal, 47.
Beatrice Maud, 60, 114n, 118 (towed to Dover), 120.
Beckwith-Smith, Brig. M. B., 66.
Belgium invaded, 1; Belgium Army bad news of, 1; withdraws 2, 12; collapses, 15
craft, 73, 86.
Belgians, King of 6, 19 (surrenders); Belgian troops sink Viewfinder, 53; Belgian fishing
Ben and Lucy, 71m, 73.
Benlawers, 11.
Ben-My-Chree, in collision, 110.
Bennett, S/Lt. P. H.E. Wounded, 74.
Bernadette, 92.
Berthon, Capt. E. L. 90 (two ships sunk under him).
Biarrits, 19, 28.
Biddulph, Act. Com. M. A. 0., 101.
Bideford: damaged, 45-6, 52; ashore off Bray, 58 calls for towing ropes, 61.
Bill, Lt. R. 39, 44 (restores order).
Billotte, General, 1, 3, 6.
Black, Lt. Cdr. A. R. M., died of wounds, 10.
Black Arrow, 60n.
Blackburn Rovers, 34n, 38 (sinking of), 110 (sunk).
Blanchard, General, 1, 11, 13, 14, 19, 26.
Blount, Air V.M., C. H., 4.
Blyskawica, 34, 42, 69.
Board of Trade Officials, 94.
Boatkeepers, lack of, 60, 81.
Boats, See Small Craft.
Bobeli, abandoned, 53; sunk, 55.
Bonny Heather, 60n, 120.
Bornrif, 20n, 24, 114n, 116-7.
Botanic, 13.
Bouclier, 62n, 69, 107n, 109.
Boulogne, evacuated, 8-10.
Bounty, 66, 71n, 83.
Bourrasque, sunk, 62-3.
Boy Roy, 23n, 31 (damaged).
Boyle, Cdr. R. C., 44.
Brandaris, 20n, 24.
Branlebas, 62n, 63.
Bray. See Beaches.
Brighton Belle, 23n, 27, 31 (sunk).
Brighton Queen, sunk, 92.
Britannic, 72n.
British Expeditionary Force; movements 10th May-4th June, XIV; reaches Dyle R., 1;
withdraws, 2, 3, 6, 14, 15; communications cut, 3, 6; evacuation foreseen, 4, 14
put on half rations, 8; short of ammunition, 11; discipline, 36n, 58, 80, 127-8; in good heart, 57 evacuation of rearguard, 65, 70, 108; under Adm. Abrial's orders, 66;
rearguard held up, 103; evacuation complete, 108.
Brock, 13n, 39.
Brooke, Lt. Gen. A. F., 2.
Buchanan, Cdr. H. J., R.A.N., 118.
Buffalo Bill, 73n.
Bullfinch, 47.
Bush, Capt. E. W., S.N.O. afloat off Beaches, 49, 50; hands over to R.A. Dover, 58
goes home to press for more boats, 58.
Butler, Pay S/Lt., W. J., R.N.V.R., killed, 31.
Buttercup Force, 8.
Bystander, 51n.
196

Beal Beatrice Maud Ben-my-Chree Benlawers Bernadette Bideford Black Arrow Bobeli Bonny Heather Bornrif Botanic Bounty Boy Roy Brandaris Britannic Brock Bullfinch Bystander Błyskawica Devonia Queen Viewfinder Beal Bennett Berthon Biddulph Bill Black Boyle Brooke Bush Butler Dover Goes King Maud May Smith