TNA ADM 234 360

CHAP. IX
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
east of Dunkirk. deserted. The too, empty, small seen that the beach to the enemy tanks or As the light grew, at 0330, it was position against
The Rear-Admiral, lorries in along the Keith, the beach, with the was Basilisk for supporting fire and going instructions Panne back was westward, to to England move though westward as intended. sea to were was Dunkirk However, moving whilst ships westward those were boats which a still had loading off Bray vanished were by under La to the men anchored the had been hit by shell fire. she grounded aft and continued at daylight, and at about her motor boat and two She closed the shore ship as the Panne, using
The minesweeper Speedwell whalers was to ferry troops a little to the west of La shortly after low water, fire by aircraft of the thus to embark 0500, and the ship, until minesweeper took off 100 her off. She sailed at boats, under machine-gun the enemy Albury towed troops on shore, the troops for Dunkirk. On the way she troops from the Ivanhoe 0730
made repeatedly damaged up her by but a number bomb unsuccessfully as of the troops Speedwell bombed. to 972 was and steaming The left minesweeper for past Dover her. at 0950 Salamander At Dunkirk after which being was she anchored a mile east of Bray Dunes, similarly engaged in embarking troops was with her boats, and she sailed for Dunkirk astern of the Keith and Skipjack soon after 0600. At Dunkirk she came in for two air attacks in one of which, at about 0820, she was damaged by a near miss, but she reached Dover on one boiler at 1530 and disembarked 479 troops. It was her last trip. A mile east of Bray, too, the minesweeper Sutton embarked 453 troops from the beaches before sailing at 0600 for Dover. She was bombed and machine-gunned, but the only man hit was one wounded soldier. The minesweeper Dundalk was anchored nearer to La Panne, also embarking troops. Having no motor boat, the Speedwell and Salamander both lent a hand to tow her whalers. From
0500 onwards she was subjected to air attacks at regular intervals, and about
0800 she decided to proceed to Margate," where she arrived at 1215 with
280 troops. Still further east, the minesweeper Halcyon was anchored off La
Panne embarking troops swimming off to the ship, paddling in rubber boats, and in her whalers, during which she had one officer (Lieut. N. Thurston, R.N.)
mortally wounded and suffered some casualties amongst the crew from machine gunning by enemy aircraft.
Off Bray, the destroyer Sabre was embarking 451 troops and the minesweeper
Niger 310, pressing into service carley floats and lifebelts with which men swam from the beach. Daylight showed a minesweeper and a paddle minesweeper ashore, and the Rear-Admiral hailed a tug which was on its way homeward with soldiers on board, and told him to go in and try to tow off the minesweepers.
However, the tugs had been sent over from England with pulling boats in tow and told to load up, and they regarded themselves as transports only, whereas
Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker, who knew nothing of these instructions, naturally regarded them as tugs. It was not until a gun was trained on the tug and an
R.N.V.R. Sub.-Lieutenant put on board to take charge, that the master's anxiety to get away was overcome.
A welcome addition to the evacuation craft consisted of the first of a dozen
Belgian fishing boats which now appeared on the scene from seaward down the Zyuidcoote Pass.¹
Early liftings from Dunkirk
At 0241 Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker had given orders for all small craft to
I Probably the 10 Belgian trawlers from Brixham, referred to in Section 176.
86

CHAP. IX
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
side by two further hits, within a few inches of the to port, which the bomb hit. It seems probable for the that ship serious took a damage heavy list was now caused to until the upper deck was with one anchor down. water. Steam was increased lost and the ship stopped, depth charges set to safe and Torpedoes were gradually no range on and all were jettisoned.
As the ship was now settling, the order Rear-Admiral to abandon Wake-Walker transferred the Keith to M.T.B. 102 this moment a further series ship was given, and from shook the ship with near misses amongst the men in the water.
the men left her. At which landed of dive bombing most attacks of took off survivors and picked up men water. The skoot Hilda
About 0830 the tug St. Abbs came alongside in the and assisted by the tug Vincia was bombed and sunk. As late as 1100 men were still struggling in the oil rescued 7 ratings. An unidentified grey yacht which was picking up survivors
Lt. Gen. Laidsell, 2 officers, and 20 ratings. The minesweeper Salamander rescued slick, and the motor barge Sherfield, which had arrived off the coast with a small convoy of 2 X lighters and a motor launch, rescued 15.
At about 0940 aircraft again appeared, and the Keith was sunk in a salvo of bombs from about 50 of the enemy. Three officers and 33 men were reported lost.
Ten minutes later the St. Abbs, by this time off Dunkirk, was hit by bombs and sank in 45 seconds. Of the 135 officers, ratings and trcops on board, 30
were left swimming in the water, including the Captain of the Keith, Capt. E. L.
Berthon, D.S.C., R.N., who was saved.
Meanwhile the Skipjack, which had been busy off Malo embarking troops and fighting off continuous air attacks from 0530 which had reduced her ammunition supply to about 12 rounds a gun, was dive-bombed at 0845 by 10
aircraft and hit by 2 bombs. A minute later 3 more bombs hit her. She turned turtle and floated bottom upwards for about 2 minutes before finally sinking. A few survivors were picked up by the Hilda and the St. Abbs. Nearly all the 275 troops on board were below decks and had no chance to escape.
Enemy aircraft machine-gunned men in the water.
Ivanhoe damaged, Basilisk sunk.
Already, by this time, another destroyer had been put out of action. At
0800 off Dunkirk harbour, the Ivanhoe, with 1,000 troops on board which she had embarked from La Panne, was dive-bombed and hit amidships. Damage was severe and she had 26 killed and 30 wounded. The troops and wounded the were transferred to the Havant, the Speedwell and the yacht Grive; and proceeded to Sheerness. tug While within radius of 1 mile of No. 6 W buoy,
Ivanhoe, assisted by the Persia and escorted by the War Dept. M. L. Haig, 3
waves (each of 21 bombers) attacked the a Ivanhoe and other vessels in that area for half an hour, but the Ivanhoe received no further damage.
and Dunkirk, the Basilisk the also Keith and bombed off La Panne. Three room,
At about the time that Ivanhoe were under attack off attacks Bray were made. In the first was being exploded in No. 3 boiler out of action; six other bombs auxiliary exploded steam underneath lines the ship, causing the upper cutting the main and attack one bomb and putting all machinery deck and the ship's sides to buckle.
Torpedoes and depth charges were jettisoned and at 0845 the ship was floating on an even keel.
An hour later, while efforts were being made by the French trawler Jolie
90

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 NIGHT 2ND-3RD JUNE
CHAP. XI
also stopped off the harbour by entered orders at the 0050 harbour and had only 44 troops when she devoid of troops and was by Whitshed found Wake-Walker to return to was sailed at 0250. The Express ordered Rear-Admiral at 0200, found the pier sailed at 0245 with 82 men collected small craft. Finally, the Malcolm and Dover lay outside with orders to hail from stop other ships from entering. She with the Codrington. The and no berth on arrival at 0030
was ordered back at 0248, empty. Thus five destroyer trips were wasted.
Only the minesweepers which berthed at the inner end of the East Pier after the British rearguard had embarked, managed to collect normal quotas from the trickle of French troops.
Dunkirk was the headquarters of a French Naval Command and there was always a considerable number of French marines in evidence. But after the
British naval ratings left at 2300 there was difficulty in getting ships berthed, as the French did not replace them.
The Albury embarked 200 French troops, the Duchess of Fife 300, the Dundalk
399, the Gossamer 490, the Halcyon 416, the Kellett 350 French and 14 British, the Marmion 198, the Medway Queen 481, and the Speedwell 300. The Niger slipped at 0120 with 430 French troops. While turning an unknown French craft crossed her bows and was rammed, though apparently no damage was done to her. A few minutes later the Frenchman returned and rammed the
Niger.
Personnel ships did well. The Royal Sovereign sailed at 2205 with 1500
troops, the King George V at 2225 with 1460, the St. Helier at 2330 with 2,000.
The Côte Argent took 955 men, the Newhaven 396 French, the Tynwald 1,200, the Rouen 1,286; but the Lady of Mann was ordered back for lack of troops and took only 18 French embarked from a small boat.
Amongst the French ships the torpedo-boat Bouclier embarked 340 men and the La Flore 410. The patrol vessel Reine des Flots embarked 500 troops during a violent bombardment" and also reported air attacks (from German strays returning no doubt), en route to England, for which she sailed from
Dunkirk at 2300 on the 2nd. Seventeen French trawlers and motor fishing vessels brought off 1,662 troops and a Belgian patrol boat 229.
Summary of troops evacuated, night 2nd-3rd June
To Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker, who had worked out a programme by which 37,000 men could have been lifted, in addition to those that would get off in small craft, this had been a most disappointing night's work, owing to the long pause when the flow of men to the East Pier ceased for some hours after the British rearguard completed its embarkation, and the difficulty of getting ships berthed owing to the failure of the French to replace the British naval parties after these left Dunkirk. Between midnight on 2nd-3rd and
0300 on the 3rd a lifting capacity of about 10,000 men was left empty.
There were disembarked in England on 3rd June 26,700 troops. Of these,
British ships lifted 21,671, French ships 3,216 and Belgian ships 1,812. The great majority of these, namely 24,830, were embarked in Dunkirk harbour, principally by ships berthed alongside, though a few were ferried to ships waiting outside the port. Most of the remainder were taken out of small craft by ships which were likely to reach England with greater expedition and certainty many of these found in small craft had no doubt come off from the beaches.
109

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. XI
The Admiralty had already continued (2312/2) for the undertaken evacuation that ships would be night the evacuation 3rd to 4th on June, this and night. they To this the French agreed. complete on the vided and air protection now urged the French of Admiralty trops pro-
Plan for the night embarkation, the hours of 2230/3 and with such ships for
For this last and night the maximum it was decided effort to was cut to down be made, by one hour the time mained available, between to be made by personnel 0230/4. From the as re-
Pier, liftings were to be sent to the entire vessels, destroyers, and East minesweepers; be ships received, were and it was estimated that length of the pier as paddle as they could Drifters and fast thus be provided and for docks 14,000 of men. the inner harbour. small craft were to go would up to the quays be French ships, for which right latter pier the remaining would also lift ships (minesweepers the other than paddle, the beach, the Quai Félix Faure, British Avant Port (West Pier); from numbers could be estimated, were and the to New responsible for evacuation from Malo no boats. Locust was to remain loads ferried out to her by small vettes and skoots) outside and troops, receive to number of 5,000. The gunboat cor-
It was intended to employ on the work a force of 9 personnel vessels, 9
destroyers (all that were available), 4 paddle minesweepers, 7 fleet minesweepers,
9 drifters, the Locust, 2 corvettes, 4 French torpedo boats, and a number of organised motor boats flotillas including lifeboats from Ramsgate and Dover, together with a large number of French and Belgian fishing vessels. Eleven small French ships and 3 small tugs left Cherbourg for Dover on the night
2nd-3rd June; Le Havre was scheduled to send 8 trawlers, 2 minesweepers,
1 tug, and 20 small dinghies; and Fécamp sent 14 trawlers.
During the afternoon of the 3rd the French authorities transmitted the figure of French troops still remaining in Dunkirk. This was about 30,000, a proportion of whom belonged to other than combatant units. The total capacity of the lifting force, if used to the full, was 30,000, but this was about 5,000 more than the facilities within the port would permit of being embarked in 4 hours, even if the French troops moved with the greatest rapidity at all points of embarkation. On previous occasions there had been some instances of difficulty in persuading French troops to embark otherwise than as complete units.
Vice-Admiral Ramsay consequently impressed on the French liaison officers the necessity of speed, and he added a number of French officers and ratings to the augmented pier parties which were despatched to Dunkirk at 2200, in
I The following ships landed troops in England on 4th June (numbers landed in brackets)
British - destroyers Express (611), Malcolm (736), Sabre (592), Shikari (383), Vanquisher
Minesweepers Albury (400), Halcyon (501), Kellett (30), Leda (500), Medway Queen (266), ferred to trawler off Dunkirk on account of collision damage) Gunboat Locust (196)
(414), Venomous (1200), Whitshed (444); Corvettes Guillemot (460), Kingfisher (200, trans-
Princess Elizabeth (329), Queen of Thanet (150), Speedwell (396) Trawler Saturn (418)
Drifters Forecast (123), "L.H.W.D." (90) Skoots Bornrif (96), Hondsrug (308), Pascholl
(255), Ruja (300); Yacht Gulzar (140); Personnel vessels Autocarrier (712), Canterbury
Princess (659), Côte d'Argent (1349), King George V (817), Lady of Mann (1244), Newhaven (729),
(1350), Tynwald (3000); Tugs Racia (123), Sun XV (37) War Dept. M.Ls.
Maud (1270), Royal Sovereign (took the place of Manxman which refused to sail)
Pigeon (23), Swallow (23); Sailing Barge Beatrice Maud (31), Tanga not reach England until 5th and June) launches (260); R.N.L.I. lifeboats Edward Z. Dresden (50), Greater (did London (48); Motor boats
Nayland Bonny Heather (210), Diana Mary (28), Elizabeth Green (10), Meuse (50),
Coliath trawlers (355), 3 patrol vessels (836), 13 trawlers and M.F.Vs. (1416), 1104. Belgian Tug
3 M/S (55), Walker II (76). French 5 Torpedo boats 2 S/M chasers (127),
(183), 5 trawlers (554).
114

THE FINAL NIGHT, 3RD-4TH JUNE
CHAP. XII
on motor boats, sailed the Thark with the motor boats, the 3rd the tugs Sun from IV, Tanga, Ramsgate Sun to XV, Dunkirk. and Racia, Two towing of between them were on account of water trouble petrol; the Diana Mary was
14 abandoned on the way across: in the while foul propeller and rudder, mouth, to piled up 28 Dunkirk troops), on some with and submerged engine the barge masonry of the (though Admiral in Dunkirk she Superintendent, eventually harbour and returned Ports- was abandoned. After waiting off Dunkirk since 2300 on the 3rd, the four tugs ordered at about 0200 on the 4th to go alongside the (East) Pier and embark were as many troops as possible, and by the time they were ordered to out they had collected 203 between them. Of the 14 motor boats which started clear from Ramsgate with the tugs only 5 or 6 found their way back; all the remainder were abandoned for one reason or another.
Embarkations at the West Pier (see Plan 4)
Owing to confusion of nomenclature it is impossible in every case to specify definitely at which of the west piers or jetties the ships (other than destroyers and personnel vessels which berthed at the east pier) embarked their troops.
In the western part of the port, reading from west to east, were (1) the West
Pier (termed western jetty in the Sailing Directions), (2) the West Quay or
Guiding Jetty, and (3) the Inner Western Pier (the inner or old western jetty of the Sailing Directions). Of the other three skoots that came over with the
Lena, the Bornrif stated that she embarked 96 troops at the West Mole"
between 2230 on the 3rd and 0100 on the 4th, and the Hondsrug 308 at the
"West Pier' between 2245 and 0000; while the Pascholl, which had been commanded by four different captains in 8 days, does not specify from which part of the port she lifted the 255 troops with which she sailed at 0030. Another skoot, the Rina, which had spent 24 hours at Dunkirk, sailed about this time with 300 troops.
The corvette Guillemot, which had come over with the Kingfisher, went to the Western mole" and secured ahead of the minesweeper Speedwell at 2355, leaving again at 0154 with French troops embarked to capacity" (460).
This was her first and only trip, her previous service having been as base ship at Margate. The Speedwell which had berthed nearly an hour earlier than the
Guillemot, took off 396 French troops, and the Halcyon, which had sailed from
Dover in her company, 501.
The minesweeper Kellett grounded forward against the western breakwater on a falling tide when she attempted to go alongside at 0100. It was an anxious moment, for almost simultaneously there same a report that 6 enemy
T.B.Ds. were proceeding south-westward from off Ostend; but the motor lifeboat Greater London towed the Kellett's stern away from the wall and enabled her to back away. She embarked a few troops from motor boats and sailed for Margate at 0220 by orders of Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker, for the West
Pier was occupied and it would be some time before she could be loaded, and the Rear-Admiral feared that so slow a ship might not be able to reach England while our fighter patrols were operating. Two of the personnel ships were sent by Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker to the West Pier instead of to the East Pier, since the former was continuously crowded with French troops, whereas at the East Pier there were gaps in the flow of men. One of the two, the Royal
Sovereign, embarked 1,350 men and sailed overladen half an hour after she should have been clear.
Among the many ships and craft of which few or no details are recorded
117

SIGNALS
APPENDIX Q
APPENDIX Q
SIGNALS RE EVACUATION ON 31st MAY AND
NIGHT OF 31st MAY 1st JUNE
Friday, 31st May
1. VICE-ADMIRAL to Gossamer, Leda, Speedwell, Halcyon, Skipjack, Salamander, Niger,
Ross, Albury, Kellett, Fitzvoy, Sutton, Saltash, Lydd, Dundalk, (R) C.-in-C.
Nore, F.O.I.C. Harwich.
Ships addressed are grouped as follows for special embarkation today Friday.
Group one. Gossamer, Leda, Ross, Albury.
Group two. Halcyon, Skipjack, Speedwell, Dundalk.
Group three. Niger, Salamander, Fitzroy, Sutton.
Spare. Kellett, Saltash, Lydd.
Each ship is to adjust programme forthwith as necessary to rendezvous empty with Senior Officers of groups at W buoy at 2200/31. Object final evacuation of covering force of five thousand troops.
Execution. Groups are to proceed so as to arrive off beach eastward of Dunkirk in following positions vide chart 1872 as close as possible to the shore at 2400/31.
Group One. Bray Dunes Hotel, 5 cables apart.
Group Two. La Panne light 41 cables apart.
Group Three. Niger, Salamander, Rosendael.
Fitzvoy, Sutton, battery longitude 02° 27' E.
Kellet, Saltash, spare ship between Groups One and Three and
Groups One and Two respectively. Lydd is to make rendezvous, and if not required to complete Groups, to lie off Braye.
Troops will be brought off in three fights by waiting motor boats commencing at
0130 or earlier. Maximum speed of embarkation essential. Seven ocean tugs will lie to seaward of minesweepers to take overflow but maximum loading of ships is necessary to ensure complete evacuation. Group One is to return to Sheerness,
Groups Two and Three to Dover. Spare ship to Harwich. Acknowledge.
0400/31
Note: The above signal was amended later-see Appendix Q.18.
2. S.N.O. DUNKIRK to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Every available ship will be required at Dunkirk during next 2 hours to evacuate rest of Army.
0445/31
3. REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Conditions on beach bad. On-shore wind. Whalers capsized.
0651/31
4. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to ADMIRAL [LANDRIAU], Savorgnan de Brazza
Request you will send in all your available destroyers and ships to Dunkirk and to beaches at once.
0819/31
5. ADMIRAL [LANDRIAU] to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
C.-in-C. Dover from French Admiral, Pas de Calais:
This night and tomorrow I continue maximum effort. I request support of aviation on Dunkirk tomorrow as today.
T.O.R. 2104/31
179

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
APPENDIX Q
6. REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER (R) Admiralty very bad owing to freshening on-shore conditions Only small numbers are being are
Majority of boats are broached to and wind. have no crews. Conditions on beach barked even in daylight. Under present any large scale embarkation to form a lee to try to improve only hope of embarking any number conditions. at Will attempt to beach ship from beach is quite impracticable. Motor is Dunkirk. boats cannot get close Consider
1035/31
7. S.N.O. DUNKIRK to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Your 0855. We have been continuously and heavily bombarded and they which are necessary for the flow of troops.
gradually finding the range of our loading berth. I would rather only enter ships are
1044/31
8. REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Dunkirk our only real hope. Can guns shelling pier from westward be bombed and silenced.
1105/31
9. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to Saltash, Queen of Thanet, Westward Ho, Devonia, Plinlimmon,
Sheerness. Brighton Queen, Niger, Dundalk, Fitzroy, Speedwell, N.O.I.C. Margate, C.S.
Ships carrying out Sheerness-La Panne ferry are now to run to Dunkerque beach and Margate instead. This service is to be maintained as long as possible while conforming to my 0400/31 [i.e. Appendix Q.1.].
1114/31
SIGNALS RE EVACUATION ON 31ST MAY AND NIGHT OF 31st MAY-1sr JUNE
10. ADMIRALTY to REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER (R) V.A. Dover, S.N.O. Dunkirk
A paddle minesweeper suggests that much time could be saved if she puts her bows ashore on rising tide and she is then used as a bridge for deeper draught ships coming to her stern.
1134/31
11. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Admiralty's 1134:
Act on this if you judge conditions suitable.¹
1151/31
12. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER (R) S.N.O. Dunkirk
Officers and men of beach parties have returned to Dover under intructions from Dunkirk. All repeat all beach parties must be retained to the last.
1229/31
13. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to Worcester
Land them as allocated and then continue evacuation from La Panne.
Embark beach parties and proceed when ready by Route X with all despatch.
1308/31
14. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Fresh beach parties are being sent in Worcester and have been allocated to beaches.
1405/31
I Note: The minesweeper Devonia was beached at about. 1600.
180

APPENDIX R
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
APPENDIX R
SIGNALS RE EVACUATION ON 1st JUNE
AND NIGHT OF 1st-2nd JUNE
Saturday, 1st June
1. REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Dunkirk road.
Parachute mines are being dropped all over west of Bray. Request sweep of
0047/1
2. REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER (R) Admiralty dangerous area westward. reason, and mining, consider any beach work
Yesterday ships off Bray For were this under fire. Today's shorter front will bring too costly and evacuation must be confined to Dunkirk. Small craft will be moved westward at dawn.
0235/1
3. VICE-ADMIRAL, Sharpshooter DOVER to REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER (R) Halcyon, Skipjack, Speedwell,
Troops from La Panne now marching towards Dunkirk. Act accordingly.
0306/1
4. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER
We must take full advantage of low visibility to use beaches. Keep me informed on this point.
0630/1
5. VICE-ADMIRAL, Dunkirk DOVER to GENERAL ALEXANDER, DUNKIRK (R) R.A. Dover, S.N.O.
On the likely assumption that complete evacuation will be ordered tonight the problem beach. of transport makes it essential to use both sides of harbour, pier and eastern
I am planning on these lines and for evacuation to start at 2200/1.
0951/1 (as amended by 1044/1)
6. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to DESTROYERS
All destroyers are to return to harbour forthwith.
1345/1
7. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to C.-IN-C. NORE, N.O.I.C. HARWICH, COMMODORE in CHARGE,
SHEERNESS, N.O.I.C. RAMSGATE, 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th M/S Flotillas
All available ships operating under V.A. Dover of the minesweeping flotillas addressed, are required to assist in evacuation tonight Saturday.
Ships to sail to arrive off the beach between Dunkirk and a point 11 miles east, at
2200/1. Ships which have not D.G. equipment are not to sail. Ships report forthwith whether they can comply.
1510/1
8. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to GENERAL ALEXANDER, S.N.O. DUNKIRK. C.-IN-C. NORTHERN
NAVAL FORCES (R) Admiralty
Evacuation will take place tonight Saturday from
(A) Beach betwween Dunkirk and 11 miles to the eastward, between 2100/1 and
0300/2, for 9,000 men.
(B) East Pier, between 2100/1 and 0330/2, for 7,000 men.
(C) East side inside harbour, between 2200/1 and 0300/2, for 1,000 men.
182

INDEX
Silver Moon, crosses to France without charts or compass, 53.
Silver Queen, 53, 60n.
Simpson, Ch. Skpr. D. W. L., R.N.R., lost, 34.
Simson, Capt. D. J. R., Capt. D. (19), killed, 9.
Siroco, 39, 43, 62n, 69 (sunk), 85.
Skipjack, 20, 28n, 31, 60, 86, 90 (sunk).
Skipwith, Cdr. L. P., handling of Royal Sovereign, 108.
Skoots: Commissioned, 7; return to Downs in error, 20; reach Dunkirk and beaches, 29;
continuous service, 30.
Skylark, sunk, 72.
Small craft: provision of 5, 15, 17, 21, 32, 51 manning difficulty, 17; sent to Dover, in error, 21, 22; shortage of, 24-5, 32-3, 61, 76, 80-82, 127 losses of 32, 36; difficulties due to weather, 36, 48, 69-70; overcrowding, 36; supply increases, 51, 61, 71
ordered to move towards Dunkirk, 86-7; return empty to England, 100.
broached to and stranded, 58, 69-70; cast adrift and lost, 60; all vanished, 86;
Snaefell, 100-1.
S.N.O. Afloat, see Bush, Capt, E. W. and Wake-Walker, Rear-Adm. W. F.
S.N.O. Dunkirk, see Tennant, Capt. W. G.
Solomon, S/Lt. M. B. H., R.N.V.R., 73n.
Spanish refugees, 100-1.
Speedwell, 86, 90, 107n, 109, 114n, 117.
Spurs, 32n, 69 (hunts S/M.), 110 (damaged).
Starlight Rays, 60n, 107n, 108.
Stella Dorado, 34n, 69, 85 (sunk).
Stella Reigel, 85.
Stephenson, Vice-Adm. G. O., 49 (act. Cdre.), 58 (takes charge off La Panne), 66-7, 79,
83; effect of his arrival, 126.
Strathelliot, 72, 101.
Stubbs, Lt., 81.
Submarine Chaser 6, 107n.
Submarines (German): believed minelaying, 38; sighted, 69.
Sunshine, 60n, 75n.
Sun IV, 71n, 104n, 117.
Sun V, 32, 36 (put out of action).
Sun VII, 71n.
Sun VIII, 71n.
Sun X, 107n, 111.
Sun XI, 71n, 107n, 111.
Sun XII, 71n.
Sun XV, 71a, 104, 114n, 117.
Sunny Isle, lost, 110.
Surcouf, 62n.
Sursum Corda, 29n.
Survivors, machine gunned, 44, 90, 92.
Sutton, 28n, 31, 42, 47, 86 (attacked), 101.
Swallow, 69-70, 72n, 114n.
Swift Wing, 7In.
Tanga, 71n, 88, 114n, 117.
Tanks, British worn out, 6.
Taransay, 71n.
Taylor, Rear-Adm. (act. Cdre.), A. H., (Dynamo Maintenance Officer), 21, 97.
Tennant, Capt. W. G., 16, 50 (appointed S.N.O. Dunkirk); 21-22 (assumes duty)
22 (sends dramatic signal) 24, 48 (asks for all ships to be sent to Dunkirk); 50 (responsible England). under R.A. Dover); 50n (false report sent in his absence); 108 (embarks for
Thark, lost, 117.
Thele, 71n.
Thérèse Compas, 73.
Thérèse Louis, 62n.
Thirlwall, A/Ldg. Sea. R., 93.
Thomas Bartlett, sunk, 34.
Thornton, Lt. Cdr. M., 47n.
Thuringia, sunk, 34, 38.
Thurston, Lt. N., mortally wounded, 86.
Thyra, 71n.
Tibbits, Lieut., 79.
206