TNA ADM 234 360

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. V
off Dunkirk at 1315. They had picked up that morning from arrived
The destroyers Codrington, Jaguar and Javelin, 33 survivors diverted from patrol,
S.S. Abukir, which had been torpedoed by United an E-boat while returning the about 200 evacuees from Ostend to Grenade the which Kingdom; these survivors with
Javelin Dunkirk. were transferred using The their Codrington to own the boats, destroyer went embarked into Dunkirk troops harbour, from subsequently Bray while beach. the went Jaguar At on 1730 and to the Grenade left Dunkirk with 1,000 troops on board.
skoot Lena. The Vimy also made a second
359 troops from Zuydcoote, assisted by ships' a the second.t.Bip,embarked
Between 1230 and 1815 the Vivacious, a her
Dunkirk harbour.
More ships were on the way. From 1230 onwards 19 minesweepers were sailed from Harwich, from Dover and the Downs, for Dunkirk and the beaches.
By 2130 five of them had arrived off Bray beach I, and four off La Panne²;
three reached Dunkirk by 2140³.
Four other minesweepers arrived off the beaches late on the night of
28th/29th May4, and two more reached the beaches at 0600/29⁵.
Early on the 28th May the eight ships of the 7th and 8th minesweeping flotillas had been ordered from Rosyth to Harwich, to work under the orders of the Vice-Admiral, Dover⁶; they could not, however, reach the beaches until about 72 hours later.
During the forenoon and afternoon of the 28th May the call went out for more and more destroyers, and seven reached the evacuation area next day⁷.
In the signals from the Admiralty and the Vice-Admiral, Dover, summoning them there sounds the same note of extreme urgency, traceable to S.N.O.
Dunkirk's message⁸ declaring that evacuation on the night of 28th/29th May was problematical. "If the older class destroyers and other vessels cannot compete with the situation signalled the Admiralty, destroyers of all classes are to be used for bringing men off'.9 Every available destroyer" in the
Western Approaches and Portsmouth Commands was to be sailed to Dover.
Destroyers on patrol or on escort duty were to be diverted to Dunkirk or the beaches.¹¹
Vulnerability of personnel vessels
The vulnerability of the personnel vessels, with their large troop-carrying capacity, was a cause of anxiety. On the 27th May the Biarritz and Archangel, the Mona's Queen, King Orry, Sequacity, Yewdale, and the Isle of Thanet12,
I The Albury, Gossamer, Leda, Kellett and Sutton.
2 The Salamander, Halcyon, Skipjack and Waverley.
3 The Ross, Pangbourne and Lydd.
4 The Hebe, Sharpshooter, Duchess of Fife snd Emperor of India.
5 The Oriole and Marmion.
6
A.M.0163/28.
7 The Verity, Harvester, Esk, Malcolm, Express, Shikari and Scimitar.
8 Appendix M.4.
9 A.M.0754/28.
10 A.M.1229/28.
11 Appendices D.4, D.5 and D.7.
collided with the Examination Service Vessel leaving Ocean Reward, which sank
12 At 0254, on 28th May, shortly after Dover for Newhaven, the Isle of Thanet
Assisted by the tug Lady Brassey, a search was made for survivors, but none was found.
28

WEDNESDAY, 29TH MAY
CHAP. VI
Mistral damaged
At 1555 a bomb struck the west quay and damaged the Mistral, killing 3 and seriously wounding 4, including her captain.
Jaguar severely damaged
Meanwhile, at 1550, the Jaguar was ordered out of Dunkirk harbour, to act as escort to the Lochgarry then waiting outside. While taking station ahead of the Lochgarry at about 1630 the second air attack over Dunkirk took place¹.
Dive-bombers attacked with salvoes of 4 bombs. About 14 salvoes were aimed at the Jaguar and one at the Lochgarry. A near miss severely damaged the Jaguar, holing her near the waterline and putting her engines and steering gear out of action; a list to port developed. The destroyer drifted helplessly until, at 1645, she was in danger of drifting on to a wreck 50 yards away. The destroyer Express then sighted her and taking her in tow alongside transferred some of her troops. The skoot Rika, en route for La Panne beach, although she had been severely shaken by bombs off Middelkerke buoy, closed the
Jaguar and took off 295 troops. The Jaguar eventually reached Dover at
2350 (in spite of further high level bombing attacks at 2014 and 2026), making the last part of the passage under her own power. She was unable to take any further part in ' Dynamo."
Clan Macalister sunk
In the attack which damaged the Jaguar, the Lochgarry was also damaged by a near miss; she was, however, able to proceed, and did so unescorted.
Near 6 W buoy, she passed the S.S. Clan Macalister which, after having hoisted out 6 motor landing craft earlier in the day and subsequently embarked troops, had just been bombed and was on fire and sinking. The destroyer Malcolm had already taken off, the wounded members of the Clan Macalister's crew and some of her troops, and the minesweeper Pangbourne had embarked the remainder. The Clan Macalister settled on the sea bed on an even keel with her upper works above water, and remained on fire for days. For days also, she acted as a target for enemy airmen, who thought she was still afloat.
Gracie Fields abandoned
Continuing on her way near Kwint Bank buoy, the Lochgarry saw the paddleminesweeper Gracie Fields (which was carrying about 750 troops from La
Panne beach) hit amidships by a bomb. The Gracie Fields, unable to stop her engines, and with her upper deck enveloped in clouds of steam, continued underway at 6 knots with her helm jammed with 15° starboard wheel on.
Nevertheless, the skoot Twente, which was on her way to La Panne beach, secured alongside the circling Gracie Fields and transferred as many injured and others as she could. The skoot Jutland, returning from La Panne beach with 275 French troops, also secured alongside the Gracie Fields' disengaged side and took off some more of her troops.
Later, at about 1830, the minesweeper Pangbourne (which had just been holed on both sides above and below the waterline and had had 13 killed and
11 wounded by near misses off Bray beach) went alongside the Gracie Fields, transferred about 80 British troops, and took her in tow. The M/S Kellett, carrying 550 troops from Bray beach, led the Pangbourne, whose compasses had been put out of action by bomb blast. At 0130 next morning the Gracie
I At 1630 hours, a renewed spell of Luftwaffe activity began, fighters was on the line.
when none of our
(R.A.F. Narrative, p.327).
41

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. VI
and abandoned her.
The Pangbourne slipped the tow, Fields' ship's company
Fields (in approx. position 51° 20' N., took 02° off 05' the E) Gracie reported that she was sinking.
Grenade damaged the Express (with 500 troops she and embark picked more up Bray beach) entered
Meanwhile, at about the time that had the Jaguar from had left Dunkirk harbour, so, to berth however, alongside near-missed the previously the Grenade ahead mentioned and astern. second Only air troops. splinters attack took Before place, she could and the do it
Express, but the Grenade was damaged harbour. some casualties. The Express
Express was and had came on board the thereupon cleared out of the
Greyhound severely damaged, Nautilus sunk
Anthony, which left La Panne for Dover at 1525 with 550 troops, was bombed
The bombing between 1530 and 1600 was widespread¹. The destroyer at 1555 (and 1645), but the bombs fell wide. Off La Panne, at about 1600, high level bombing attack was made on the destroyer Greyhound, on the mine- a sweepers Sutton and Salamander, and on the paddle-minesweeper Sandown.
The Sutton was straddled but no damage was done. In the dive-bomb attack which followed, however, the Greyhound was severely damaged by 2 near misses, and had 90 casualties, 20 of which were fatal. The Sp. S/V
Royal Eagle, which was assisting in rescue work, escaped damage, but the trawler Nautilus, which had already ferried some 600 troops from the beach, was straddled by bombs and had her engines and steering gear put out of action.
Making water rapidly, she managed to get alongside the Greyhound and transfer to her the 150 troops she was carrying. The Nautilus, already 6 feet down in the water and sinking, was then abandoned and set on fire.
The Greyhound limped back to Dover carrying 506 troops, but for 4 hours of the passage she was in tow of the Polish destroyer Blyskawica which had been on patrol with the destroyer Vega in the vicinity of the West Hinder buoy.
The Greyhound took no further part in "Dynamo."
Waverley sunk
Meanwhile, at about 1630, the Cyclone left the harbour with 500 troops on board en route for Dover. Near Kwint Bank buoy she saw the minesweeper through her bottom, leaving a hole about 6 feet in diameter. Four of the 600
Waverley sinking; a bomb had struck her on the port quarter and passed right troops she had embarked from La Panne beach were killed and a number wounded. When the Waverley sank, many of her troops were left swimming or trying to keep afloat, but the numbers thinned out considerably within 15/20
minutes². Golden The Cyclone picked up 158. About hour later the Sp. S/V
picked up a few more.
Eagle picked up 285 and, guided by a plane, an the tug Java and 2 drifters
Canterbury damaged
1,960 While these air attacks had been going on the had embarked troops from the east pier. During a brief lull Canterbury in the bombing, at about hours, 1" From to the the effect vessels that off-shore there came a series of 1545 and 1555
attacks (R.A.F. 2 seem Narrative, to have p.327). begun the at anchorages about 1430 at Bray when and none La Panne of signals, our were aircraft between being were bombed. on the line. These
Report by the Captain of the Waverley.
42

TUESDAY, 28TH MAY
CHAP. VI
1650, she left the harbour, but soon after was damaged by a near miss. She was able to reach Dover, but took no further part in "Dynamo." At 1720
the berth vacated by the Canterbury in Dunkirk harbour was taken by the destroyer Verity.
Intrepid severely damaged
Meanwhile, at 1700, the Intrepid, hurrying back to Dunkirk from Dover
(where she had disembarked 661 troops), was bombed between Middelkerke
Bank and La Panne. A near miss caused severe damage, started fires, and killed 2 and wounded 19. The Intrepid had to return to Dover, and took no further part in Operation "Dynamo."
Hospital ship deliberately bombed
At 1700 also, the H/C St. Julien, en route for Dunkirk harbour, was deliberately bombed for a considerable period" in the vicinity of Nieuport
Bank buoy1; she was slightly damaged by near misses. The St. Julien lay off Dunkirk harbour for about 1/2 an hour waiting for an opportunity to enter;
when air attacks recommenced, however, she sailed for Dover without having entered the harbour.
At 1730 the Siroco sailed from Dunkirk harbour with 500 troops and a little later was joined outside by the Mistral which had only embarked 4 troops.
Both the French destroyers proceeded to Dover. The Mistral took no further part in "Dynamo."
Grenade hit, Calvi and Fenella sunk
At about 1750 the third air attack was made over Dunkirk harbour by waves of bombers; some 100 bombs were dropped. Allied fighters, being engaged by enemy fighters, were unable to interfere with the bombing². A near miss blew a hole in the Grenade's side; the trawler Calvi, lying outside the John
Cattling, received a direct hit and sank immediately. Her masts and funnel were above water, and her ensign remained flying from the foremast. The personnel vessel Fenella, which by then had 650 troops on board, was hit on the promenade deck; a second bomb hit the pier, and blew some concrete through the Fenella's side below the waterline; a third bomb, falling between the pier and the Fenella's side, wrecked the engine room. The Fenella's troops were disembarked on to the pier and re-embarked in the Crested Eagle.
The Fenella was abandoned while sinking. The P/V St. Seiriol, which shortly before had secured alongside the outer east pier, astern of the Crested Eagle, cast off and shifted eastward to the beaches.
Grenade hit, set on fire, and abandoned
Then five minutes after the third air attack had begun the Grenade received two direct hits; her engines were put out of action and she caught fire. As she swung round, some of her ships company were able to step on board the damaged trawler Polly Johnson. The Verity (which had been continuously
I Reports by Pangbourne and Lydd.
2 According to the R.A.F. Narrative, p.327, two Hurricane squadrons which arrived at
1710 were attacked by large numbers of Me. 109's; one Spitfire squadron was attacked from above and behind at 1715, and another was in combat with enemy fighters at 1740.
" None of our squadrons encountered enemy bombers, and the attacks on our shipping between 1630 and 1745 hours (resulting, amongst other casualties, in the Crested Eagle being hit and beached off Bray) can thus not have been interfered with by our patrols'
R.A.F. Narrative, p.327).
43

WEDNESDAY, 29TH MAY
CHAP. VI
Ships lost or damaged on 29th May
H.M. SHIPS SUNK
The destroyers Wakeful, Grafton and Grenade.
The armed boarding vessel King Orrry
The Special Service Vessel Crested Eagle.
The Paddle Minesweepers Waverley and Gracie Fields.¹
The Personnel Vessels Normania,1 Lorina, Fenella and Mona's Queen.
The trawlers Polly Johnson and Calvi.
The danlayers Comfort and Nautilus.
The drifter Girl Pamela².
H.M. SHIPS DAMAGED AND PUT OUT OF ACTION.
The destroyers Saladin, Greyhound, Intrepid, Montrose, Mackay, Gallant and Jaguar.
The sloop Bideford.
The minesweeper Pangbourne (required dockyard repairs).
The personnel vessel Canterbury.
The hospital carrier Isle of Guernsey.
OTHER VESSELS
SUNK A.L.C.16, the S.S. Clan Macalister (6,900 tons), the M/B's Minikoi,
Viewfinder, Bobeli, Hanora, Sceneshifter and Queen of England.
DAMAGED AND PUT OUT OF ACTION The tug Sun V.
Destroyers of the "H," "I" and "J" Classes withdrawn
As a result of the heavy casualties and losses amongst the destroyer force, particularly the misfortunes which befell those of the larger and more modern types, a consultation was held between the Admiralty and the Vice-Admiral,
Dover, on 29th May, which led to a decision to withdraw the 7 destroyers of the "H", "I" and "J" Classes from "Dynamo"3; they were the only modern destroyers remaining with Vice-Admiral, Dover. All destroyers of the "G" class⁴ were already out of action.
There remained available for "Dynamo" 15 destroyers::-
Esk
Malcolm
Verity
Express
Whitehall
Vanquisher
Anthony
Winchelsea
Sabre
Keith
Worcester
Scimitar
Codrington
Windsor
Shikari
Excluding any casualties, this number of destroyers might be expected to maintain a flow of one destroyer per hour to the coast and would lift 17,000
troops in 24 hours⁵. It is noteworthy that in spite of their unsuitability for the work of troop carrying, the 39 destroyers so employed in Dynamo"
brought off more troops-96,000-than any other type of ship (see Table 1).
The 45 personnel vessels brought off 87,000; the 36 minesweepers 46,000;
the 39 skoots 22,000; and among the smaller vessels, the 51 drifters brought off 12,000.
I Actually sank on 30th May, as a result of damage received on 29th May.
2 In collision with the Lydd off Dunkirk harbour on the night of 28th/29th May.
3 The Icarus, Impulsive, Intrepid, Ivanhoe, Harvester, Havant and Javelin.
4 The Gallant, Grafton, Grenade and Greyhound.
5 D.R. p.11, para. 37.
55

WEDNESDAY, 29TH MAY
CHAP. VI
Ships lost or damaged on 29th May
H.M. SHIPS SUNK
The destroyers Wakeful, Grafton and Grenade.
The armed boarding vessel King Orrry
The Special Service Vessel Crested Eagle.
The Paddle Minesweepers Waverley and Gracie Fields.¹
The Personnel Vessels Normania,1 Lorina, Fenella and Mona's Queen.
The trawlers Polly Johnson and Calvi.
The danlayers Comfort and Nautilus.
The drifter Girl Pamela².
H.M. SHIPS DAMAGED AND PUT OUT OF ACTION.
The destroyers Saladin, Greyhound, Intrepid, Montrose, Mackay, Gallant and Jaguar.
The sloop Bideford.
The minesweeper Pangbourne (required dockyard repairs).
The personnel vessel Canterbury.
The hospital carrier Isle of Guernsey.
OTHER VESSELS
SUNK A.L.C.16, the S.S. Clan Macalister (6,900 tons), the M/B's Minikoi,
Viewfinder, Bobeli, Hanora, Sceneshifter and Queen of England.
DAMAGED AND PUT OUT OF ACTION The tug Sun V.
Destroyers of the "H," "I" and "J" Classes withdrawn
As a result of the heavy casualties and losses amongst the destroyer force, particularly the misfortunes which befell those of the larger and more modern types, a consultation was held between the Admiralty and the Vice-Admiral,
Dover, on 29th May, which led to a decision to withdraw the 7 destroyers of the "H", "I" and "J" Classes from "Dynamo"3; they were the only modern destroyers remaining with Vice-Admiral, Dover. All destroyers of the "G" class4 were already out of action.
There remained available for "Dynamo" 15 destroyers:-
Esk
Malcolm
Verity
Express
Whitehall
Vanquisher
Anthony
Winchelsea
Sabre
Keith
Worcester
Scimitar
Codrington
Windsor
Shikari
Excluding any casualties, this number of destroyers might be expected to maintain a flow of one destroyer per hour to the coast and would lift 17,000
troops in 24 hours⁵. It is noteworthy that in spite of their unsuitability for the work of troop carrying, the 39 destroyers so employed in ' Dynamo "
brought off more troops-96,000-than any other type of ship (see Table 1).
The 45 personnel vessels brought off 87,000; the 36 minesweepers 46,000;
the 39 skoots 22,000; and among the smaller vessels, the 51 drifters brought off 12,000.
I Actually sank on 30th May, as a result of damage received on 29th May.
2 In collision with the Lydd off Dunkirk harbour on the night of 28th/29th May.
3 The Icarus, Impulsive, Intrepid, Ivanhoe, Harvester, Havant and Javelin.
4 The Gallant, Grafton, Grenade and Greyhound.
5 D.R. p.11, para. 37.
55

DUSK TO DUSK, 1ST-2ND JUNE
CHAP. X
number and 8 destroyers were to enter Dunkirk harbour and go alongside the
East Pier, where British troops were. Only by using this pier would it be possible to evacuate large numbers, and there was considerable apprehension lest the Germans should shell it heavily and damage it or render it impossible for ships to lie alongside. The pier had already been damaged by the armed boarding vessel King Orry when she secured alongside at 1730 on 29th May with her steering gear out of order and all instruments shattered by air attack, but the gap had been bridged. Drifters and other small craft were to be sent into the inner harbour at Dunkirk, to lift troops from the Quay Félix Faure, in the Tidal Harbour, the North Quay, in the shipyard, and the quay in the new outer harbour.
The French troops assembled on the west side of the harbour, and it was intended that French vessels, including torpedo boats, should serve the West
Quay in the new outer harbour, whilst private small boats used the Quay Félix
Faure.
Assembly of shipping
Early in the afternoon of the 1st June Vice-Admiral Dover recalled all destroyers to harbour and minesweepers of the 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th M/S Flotillas were warned for duty only ships having degaussing equipment were to sail.
Five vessels, the Sharpshooter, Albury, Kellett, Ross, and Leda were unable to comply; the compasses of another the Pangbourne, were unreliable, though her D.G. gear was functioning; and in the event, she sailed, led by a Dutch skoot, though she was too late to go to the beaches, and accordingly proceeded along Route Y as far as T buoy, looking for any ships in need of assistance.
The destroyers designated Force K, were to proceed in pairs at hourly intervals to berth at the East Pier in Dunkirk harbour, returning to Dover when loaded.
If there was no vacant berth at the pier when a pair of destroyers arrived, they were to assist at the beach instead. Four pairs were detailed, viz. the
Windsor and Icarus, Codrington and Sabre, Shikari and Esk, Winchelsea and
Whitshed. The Esk, however, which had been running almost continuously since 27th May, was unable to sail and was given 24 hours stand off.
Preparations to assemble the requisite small craft for working off the beach commenced early in the forenoon of 1st June, when a number of Senior Officers were despatched from Dover in fast motor boats to round up all stray motor boats in the Downs and along the routes, and direct them back in the evening to the beach 11 miles east of Dunkirk. A flight of 30 motor boats and 34 lifeboats with 3 tugs, the last three large tugs left in London, was sent during the early hours of 1st June from London to Ramsgate where they were prepared for beach work, naval crews being placed in the lifeboats that lacked crews and extra towage provided. Motor boats were also sent from Harwich and Sheerness. A number of flotillas under Commodore A. H. Taylor and Captain the
Hon. G. Frazer were re-organised for the night's effort.
Abandonment of daylight evacuations (Appendix R)
It was decided to abandon daylight evacuation after 1st June, because the scale of enemy air attack experienced on that day, and the fact that the Germans could by now command the newly swept central route at its point of junction with Dunkirk Roads by gunfire from the shore, rendered it too costly.
Vice-Admiral Ramsay, when drawing up the plan for the night, intended sailings to cease at 0300 or 0330; and Captain Tennant at Dunkirk, who did not yet know of the plan arranged for the night, independently gave orders,
97

THE NIGHT 2ND-3RD JUNE
CHAP. XI
Teteghem, the event this was postponed 2000 and when it took place some on a front of two miles. The until French intended to counter-attack at
There was no movement in the port. Later Admiral was in the hands of the enemy, but they had not advanced beyond. Further attacks were expected by the French this day, when the situation regarding munitions might become critical.
Sailing of the night flight from England
The movement from England towards Dunkirk commenced at 1700. The armada consisted of 13 personnel vessels, 2 large store carriers, 11 destroyers,
5 paddle minesweepers, 9 fleet sweepers, 1 special service vessel, 9 drifters,
6 skoots, 2 armed yachts, 1 gunboat, a large number of tugs, lifeboats, etc., formed either in organised tows or proceeding individually. For various reasons, however, not all of these ships evacuated troops.¹
The composition of the French contingent was not known at Dover. Actually,
3 French torpedo boats, two minesweeping trawlers, two patrol vessels, and
17 trawlers and motor fishing vessels landed troops in England on the 3rd June.
One Belgian patrol boat and 16 or 17 trawlers brought troops.
B.E.F. evacuated, 2330/2
The first destroyers to reach Dunkirk were the Sabre and Shikari, which sailed together from Dover at 1845. As the latter ship rounded No. 6 W buoy enemy shore batteries opened fire, but caused no damage. Berthing was carried out by an officer with a loud speaker at the pier head. Both destroyers sailed again at 2200, the Sabre with 500 and the Shikari with 700 troops. The
Venomous, which arrived at 2150, had difficulty in going alongside the East Pier.
This was not a solid jetty, but was built of concrete piles through which the west-going tide set. This, coupled with a fresh easterly wind, made it very
I The following ships (other than those on patrol which picked up survivors and landed them) landed troops in England on 3rd June, (numbers in brackets):-
BRITISH Destroyers - Codrington (44), Esk (500), Sabre (500), Shikari (700), Vanquisher (37),
Venomous (1500), Whitshed (82), Winchelsea (152), Windsor (1022);
Gunboat Locust (800)
Minesweepers - Albury (200), Duchess of Fife (300), Dundalk (399), Gossamer (490),
Halcyon (416), Kellett (364), Marmion (198), Medway Queen (481), Niger (430),
Oriole (750), Pangbourne (47), Speedwell (300), Westward-Ho (48);
Special Service Ship Golden Eagle (1);
Drifters - Forecast (108), Golden Sunbeam (163), Lord Howard (100), Midas (43),
Netsukis (119), Starlight Rays (319), Ut Prosim (49), Yorkshire Lass (103)
Trawler Cayton Wyke (300);
Skoot Doggersbank (50);
Yacht Sargasso (252);
Personnel ships - Côte d'Argent (955), King George V (1460), Newhaven (396),
Lady of Mann (18), Rouen (1286), Royal Sovereign (1500), St. Helier (2000),
Tynwald (1200) H.M.S. Nelson's M.B. (27)
Tugs - St. Olaves (200), Sun X (211), Sun XI (188), War Dept. M.Ls. (69)
Sailing barge Glenway (213)
R.N.L.I. Lifeboats Cecil & Lilian Philpot (51), Michael Stephens (52):
3 motor boats and launches (300).
FRENCH Torpedo boats - Bouclier (340), La Flore (410);
Destroyer Léopard (19);
S/M Chaser 6 (50, apparently disembarked at Havre);
M/S trawlers - Ste. Bernadette de Lourdes (79), Ste. Denise Louise (78);
Patrol vessels - Lucien Gougy (78), Reine des Flots (500);
17 trawlers and M.F.V's. (1663).
BELGIAN Patrol boat A.5 (229);
17 trawlers (1583).
107

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. XII
Moyle rammed the As Inner she sank, Western she Pier slid off abreast the bank the wreck towards of the Westcove scuttled line channel, intention The of Pacifico the herself. as was channel, the to decided Westcove proceed her to after between had scuttle part done, down and in being and the between beyond finally against position the them settled the allotted wrecks Westcove. at of to a slight the the the Edvard Gourko. centre angle to of Her and the the and Westcove and defeated then drift this the Pacifico broadside on. Nissen the strong current after hold, dropped manoeuvre, anchor so into her and rammed However,
The stern then swung not over turn further owing to the tide Nissen, but, after cove abreast her to port towards the Edvard secured ships. of certain point, Orders would were then accompanied given for the by scuttling considerable of the Pacifico; race between As in the the case two a due in this instance to vapour.
the Westcove, this was oil fuel a sheet of flame, probably
One shell hit the pier, causing many casualties, for there were still some 200
The time now was about 0330 and at this juncture shelling recommenced.
French troops on the East Pier. General Bathelemy, Commander of the
Flanders Garrison, who was taken off by the Shikari, stated that 12,000 French troops still remained in Dunkirk. The Shikari carried 383 when she sailed from Dunkirk at 0340 by orders of Captain Dangerfield; she was the last ship to leave. Apart from an air attack, which caused no damage, her passage home was uneventful.
An M.T.B. had been detailed to evacuate Admiral Abrial but the latter could not be found, and as a matter of fact he was brought out from Dunkirk in a French M.T.B. V.T.B. 25. Near the North Goodwin Light Vessel the vessel's propeller became disabled by wreckage, and the Malcolm towed her to Dover about 0600.
On the conclusion of the blocking operation there remained a gap of about
100 to 120 feet unobstructed on the west side of the channel. Part of this gap was, however, shoal water, because of the shelving bank.
Disembarkation figures, 4th June
There were landed in England on 4th June 26,175 persons, of which British ships had evacuated 21,600, French 3,838, and Belgian 737. These figures included a number of survivors, both troops and ships' crews, from sunken ships and some refugees. It was recorded that 622 of the total were evacuated from the beaches, but it is doubtful whether any of these were actually evacuated from the beaches, for the figure includes many such as the 43 French troops landed by the Pangbourne, who were taken from a French vessel
(probably the mail packet Rouen) which had run aground on a sand bank: the
260 brought over by the Beatrice Maud: a number (apparently 210) recorded as evacuated from the beaches and landed in England but actually ferried from
Dunkirk pier to various transports, by the motor launch Bonny Heather.
Operation Dynamo completed, 1423/4th June
Ammunition in Dunkirk was exhausted, enemy were and reported the remaining consisted
When the Shikari sailed, the to be only 3 miles away.
principally the of non-combatant units. troops Admiral Nord agreed that was dispersed at 1030.
operation should be considered as Accordingly, terminated. The fleet of rescue ships
The decision to terminate the operation was agreed to by the French
120

INDEX
Mosquito,44,727, 74, 88 (damaged), 92-3 (sunk).
Motor boats Control sunk Organisation, 5, 25.
93. to salvage pulling boats, 60-61,; follow Capt. Howson to England 74.
Movements 119-120.
M.T.B.67, 66n, 67.
M.T.B.16, 28, 113.
M.T.B.68, 66n, 71, 75.
M.T.B.107, 66n, 111, 119 (in operation CK).
M.T.B.102, 66n, 90, 108, 115.
Naiad Errant, 72n, 92.
Nautilus, sunk, 36, 42, 47.
Nanette II, 72n.
Nelson's, picket boa+, 72n: motor boat, 107n, 119.
Nayland, 32n, 47n, 114n.
Netsukis, 23n, 107n.
Nettle, Lt., 49.
New Britannic, 32n, 47n.
Newhaven, 102, 107n, 109, 112n, 114n.
Newhaven, sends small craft, 61.
New Prince of Wales, damaged, 74.
Ngaroma, 16.
Nicolle, General, 101.
Niger, 61, 86, 100 (meets small craft returning empty), 101, 107n, 109 (rams a French ship).
Noakes, Mr. W. H., killed, 73.
N.O.I.C. Beaches, see Capt. Howson.
Noneta, 71n.
Nord, Admiral. see Abrial, Admiral.
Nore C. in C., 8, 17 (to cover Dynamo); provision of boats, 51; M.T.B.'s, 70.
Normania, sunk, 44.
Ocean Breeze, 60, 71n.
Ocean Cock, 71n.
Ocean Reward, 28n, 34 (sunk).
Olivier, Mr. G. D., 73.
Olvina, 60 (goes to France in error), 91.
O.L.V. van Vlaandaren, 73n, 110 (lost).
Operations: CK Blocking of Dunkirk, 111-2, 119-20; XD (E) Dunkirk demolitions, 8,
19, 106; XD (G) Boulogne demolitions, 8-9.
Oranje, 20, 24, 29n, 47n, 100.
Oriole, 28n, 47 (beached to form pier), 107n.
Osborne, Mr. F. W., 73n.
Osborne, Mr. L. V., 73n.
Ostend, unsuitable for military requirements, 7; captured, 27.
Otway-Riven, Cdr. H. J. O., 49, 80n.
Our Bairns, 34.
Overfalls, 71n.
Pacific, 30n.
Pacifico, 119-120.
Pangbourne, 28n, 41 (damaged), 42, 97, 107n, 120.
Paris, 29n, 103-4 (sunk).
Parminster, Brigadier, 22.
Pascholl, 30n, 114n, 115-7.
Patria, 20n, 24, 29n, 46.
Patricia, 20.
Patrols: air, see Royal Air Force; Naval of the routes, 20, 23, 28, 33-34 (ships taken off),
34 (strengthened), 85 (inshore channel).
Pauleter, 60n.
Paxton, 23n, 31 (damaged).
Pellag II, sunk, 95.
Persia, 71n, 90.
Personnel vessels: vulnerability, 28; not to be employed in daylight, 29, 99; strain
Pharailde, 73n.
on, 48; sailings suspended, 70; heavy losses, 98-9.
203