TNA ADM 234 360

THE WEEK BEFORE OPERATION "DYNAMO"
CHAP. II
Communication with England was cut, and all messages had to be sent by destroyers.
By 1530 the Germans had occupied the whole of Boulogne except a bridgehead, all anti-tank guns were out of action, and half of Major Holford's force were estimated to be casualties. The destroyers Keith (D. (19), Captain D. J.R.
Simson) and Whitshed went over to Boulogne during the afternoon, and were followed later by the Venetia, Venomous, Vimiera, Wild Swan and Windsor.
The arrival of the first two destroyers was followed by an enemy air attack, together with close range mortar, machine gun and rifle fire, which caused damage and casualties, including Captain D. (19) who was killed, and necessitated breaking off, the work of evacuating wounded and withdrawing temporarily from the port. Fortunately, No. 92 Squadron of the R.A.F. (12
Spitfires) soon encountered the large enemy formation and, with some loss to themselves and much to the enemy, gained a measure of control of the situation;
and by 1955 the destroyers were back in harbour and carrying out the evacuation of the Welsh Guards. The Keith had received a signal at 1749 ordering all troops to be evacuated.
About 2000, while Lieut.-Comdr. Welman was on the point of firing the last of the demolition charges, German tanks towing field guns appeared over the hill north of the harbour and opened heavy fire at the three destroyers coming in to take off Force Buttercup." An amazing engagement, described by eye-witnesses as magnificent, ensued between the German field guns and the destroyers. The Venetia was hit while in mid-channel, but she was got under control and out of the harbour, thus avoiding blocking in the Venomous and Wild who were embarking " Force Buttercup" and the Irish Guards while engaging the enemy tanks and field guns with every gun they had.
It was low water when the destroyers eventually backed out of harbour, loaded down with troops. When the Venomous backed out her wheel jammed and she had to steer with her engines; the Wild Swan, following her, grounded for a moment, but both ships got off and both reached Dover safely. When, at 2234 some 3,000 troops had been brought off, the Wild Swan reported that although a considerable number remained further evacuation was impracticable.
The Windsor, however, which had been ordered at about 2030 to help in the evacuation, arrived after the rest of the destroyers had left; she entered the harbour after dark, filled to capacity and sailed again without damage or much difficulty. On clearing the harbour, the Windsor informed V.-A. Dover that further evacuation under cover of darkness was still possible and that two more destroyers could lift all the soldiers still left at Boulogne.
Vice-Admiral, Dover, therefore, despatched the Vimiera at 0015 on the 24th to try to bring off the remaining troops. She arrived at Boulogne at 0130, and found all silent. At length the Commanding Officer's hail was answered, and it was found that there were more than 1000 troops waiting for a ship.
Going alongside the jetty, the destroyer was crowded to the tiller flat by 0230, the only space left being round the guns; and when she slipped at 0245 she was compelled to leave some 200 men behind. Five minutes later shore batteries opened fire on the jetty, and at 0255 a bomber passed close and a bomb exploded 20 yards away. The Vimiera was so over-loaded that even five degrees of helm made the ship list unpleasantly. She reached Dover safely at 0355
and landed some 1400 men, including Belgian and French troops and some
I The Whitshed had been at Boulogne helping to evacuate wounded from 0630 to 1045
when she left with two transports for Calais.
9

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. II
refugees who got on board. The numbers evacuated by the destroyers concerned were approximately:-
Keith
180
Vimy
...
...
150
Whitshed
...
...
580
Vimiera
...
...
Wild Swan
1955 403 (in two trips)
...
...
Windsor
...
600
Venomous
...
500
Total
...
4368
The Venetia, damaged, did not get alongside a quay. During the night
22 23rd May, before the evacuation under fire, the Verity took off two General
Officers and some 150 troops.
In addition to the Venetia, the Wild Swan, Whitshed, Keith and Venomous all received damage during the evacuation. The Keith lost Captain D. (19) and
7 ratings killed, and had 28 wounded; the Vimy had one officer killed and her
Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Comdr. C. G. W. Donald R.N. was seriously wounded and died subsequently; the Whitshed lost one officer killed and had
12 ratings wounded; the Venetia had 20 ratings killed or missing and 11
wounded; the Commanding Officer of the Verity, Lt. Cdr. A. R. M. Black R.N.
was wounded and subsequently died.
23RD 24TH MAY
The "Weygand" Plan
In the midst of this changing panorama of events, on the 23rd May, General
Weygand became Commander-in-Chief in all theatres of war". He had, however, previously formulated the ' Weygand plan". This plan contemplated a counter-offensive on a large scale¹ and, briefly, it consisted of 3
operations:-:-
(a) An attack south-westward from the north, by the French 1st Army and the B.E.F., with the Belgian Cavalry Corps supporting the
British right.
(b) An attack northward from the line of the Somme, which line the newly formed Third French Army Group was reported to be organising.
(c) Operations on the line of the Somme west of Amiens, by a new Cavalry
Corps which was assembling south of the river near Neufchatel.
On the 23rd May Lord Gort received a telegram from the British Prime Minister to extract:- the French Prime Minister, M. Reynaud, of which the following is an
"Strong Salvation enemy armoured forces have cut Armies.
gand's plan. of these I Armies can only be obtained communications by immediate of execution Northern of Weynorth Not could feeling sure that the situation armies in the to General be accurately appreciated developing for the Lord Allied Gort telegraphed
I Sir John Dill asking him to except fly over on the that spot, day.
Lord Gort's Second Despatch, para. 38
10

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 EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. X
The Windsor did some quick turns round. From the present night's work she returned to Dover with 493 troops, sailed again for Dunkirk and lifted a further was out, she was once more alongside Dunkirk East Pier embarking troops,
624 men which she disembarked at Dover, leaving about 1900. Before the day and she sailed at 0100 on 3rd June, loaded with 1,022 men.
As the Esk was unable to sail owing to exhaustion of her crew the Shikari proceeded alone. She berthed at Dunkirk at 0125 and left again at 0200 with
470 troops. When the first vessel of the last pair of destroyers, the Whitshed and Winchelsea, arrived at Dunkirk the East Pier was bare of troops; but by using a loud hailer and making a search a total of 512 were collected. The
Winchelsea disembarked 1,100 men at Dover.
On this night personnel vessels were not much in evidence at Dunkirk. The
Côte Argent disembarked 1,250 troops in England on 2nd June, the Newhaven
716 at Dover at 1030. The Royal Daffodil, after bring turned back earlier in the day by a French destroyer, left Margate again at 2200 on the 1st and was back at 0600 on the 2nd with 1,500 troops. The Manxman did not arrive at
Dunkirk until 0506 on the 2nd, long after daylight; she brought back 177 troops and disembarked them at Dover at 1043. The only other considerable lift from Dunkirk pier by a British ship on this night was by the 220 ton coaster
Seine, which arrived at Dunkirk about 2000 and, after an air attack lasting about an hour, went alongside the pier and embarked 250 troops. After landing these at Ramsgate the crew, who had worked continuously for four days and nights, had their first night's sleep.
In addition to the large ships, tugs, skoots, drifters and all manner of small craft evacuated troops on this night. Some lay off and were loaded by smaller boats ferrying troops out to them, others went up harbour, past the large ship berths. Over 4,000 men were brought to England on the 2nd June in this way. Of these the skoot Hondsrug took 421 French and the skoot Reiger
330 French.
French embarkations
During the early part of the night 1st-2nd June French troops embarked as arranged at the West Pier, though none of the French torpedo boats which it was intended to employ disembarked troops in England.¹ Looking shoreward from the sea, the characteristic helmets of the endless line of French troops on the West Pier showed up against the glare of fires inland. The town and harbour lay under a pall of smoke. The minesweeping trawler Chasse-Marée lifted from the harbour 391 troops, the patrol vessel Reine des Flots 350, the cargo ship Cap Antifer 291, and trawlers and motor fishing vessels a further
548; all these were landed in England.
June. Four Belgian trawlers brought over 313 troops from Dunkirk on the 2nd
British Naval base party embarks, 0245/2
the The shore end of the East Pier at Dunkirk, to embark the base party as arranged.
At 0200 on the 2nd Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker in M.A/S.B.10 went up to party arrived and the M. A/S.B. sailed at 0245.
had been haze which had prevented some ships from arriving the morning was
By this time it was beginning to get light, and although at one time there
T.B's. on this night alongside the West quay.
I Rear-Admiral loaded Wake-Walker in his Report M.017978/41 p.32 says, however, French
102

DUSK TO DUSK, 1ST-2ND JUNE
CHAP. X
very clear and the Rear-Admiral decided to get the ships away at 0300
now of 0330 as originally planned. The Admiralty orders that evacuation
Dunkirk Pier was to continue until 0700 did not apparently Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker not receive the orders which went by Dunkirk (Appendix did R.20, 23); and it is to be preout from the Admiralty at 0115/2, that destroyers were to continue the evacuation until 0700 (Appendix R.21). Although men were still coming down the the Rear-Admiral was unwilling to run the risk of having ships sunk alongside pier, and blocking the pier and harbour. Accordingly he told the ships to leave and himself followed out of harbour the last of them, apparently the destroyers Winchelsea and Whitshed about 0300.
British rearguard held up
Meanwhile, a most disquieting message had been received at Dover. At
0040 on the 2nd the Lydd, while embarking troops off Malo beach, was requested by the Brigadier of the brigade then embarking to transmit to Rear-Admiral
Wake-Walker a message from Major General Alexander reporting that on account of French congestion on the mole at Dunkirk a considerable number of British troops were held up and further arrivals were still expected. It was essential that the rearguard of the B.E.F. should embark from the beaches east of the mole, where they were expected to arrive by 0230.
What had happened was, that French troops had cut into the flow of British making their way along the road to the East Pier, by a converging route; and both
British and French troops were now being embarked at the pier.
Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker apparently never received the message and knew nothing of the state of affairs at the East Pier until he arrived there at
0200.
Vice-Admiral Dover, who received the message at 02001, at once sent orders to all destroyers of Force K still on the coast, the minesweepers, and the gunboat Locust which was off Bray supporting the evacuation by covering fire, to endeavour to embark the British rearguard from the beach, remaining after 0300
if necessary. The coding and transmission of the message took some time, and the orders apparently went out too late; all ships had sailed, and the rearguard could not get away that night. Only the personnel vessel Portsdown was left on the coast. This was an undegaussed ship manned by a naval crew, which had anchored off Malo at 2205/1. After running to death her own two dinghies ferrying troops she got hold of a large motor boat, and she sailed about 0400. On the way home the ship collected further troops from a French vessel aground off Dunkirk, and from two further vessels encountered, and she eventually disembarked at Dover 168 British and 450 French.
Bombing of the hospital ships Worthing and Paris. (App. S)
There was a large number of wounded in Dunkirk because no hospital ships had sailed for 24 hours, orders having been given to evacuate fit men in preference, since, other considerations apart, embarking wounded would have taken up too much valuable time. The cessation of daylight sailings rendered it possible for hospital ships to occupy berths alongside, without detriment to the operation, and jt was decided to get some of the wounded away in daytime in hospital ships, in the hope that the Germans would respect them.
In order to afford the enemy no excuse to attack a warning signal was sent
0120. I Dover Report, p.27. The time of receipt on the flimsy of the decypher appears to be
103

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

CHAP. XI
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
quarter of an hour later they all three proceeded, with the Holland last in the line, to carry out their part in blocking the port. As they neared Dunkirk a
"long line of destroyers came out of the harbour. " Astern of them", stated the Holland, there was a gap of over a mile and then a large and fast transport". M.A/S.B. 7 led the Holland through the gap between the destroyer line and the transport. When the latter was 6 cables away, and steaming very fast with the first streaks of dawn behind her, the danger of collision became apparent, SO the Holland sounded one blast and put her wheel hard astarboard.
Lieutenant-Commander E. C. Coats, R.N., captain of the blockship, reported that the transport had then only to alter course 5° to starboard to pass well clear. However, she appeared to alter to port", with the result that she struck the Holland hard on the bridge and just before the boiler room bulkhead. The transport, which did not appear to have sustained much damage, backed out and carried on her way. The Holland had no buoyancy in hand, and, a few seconds before she was struck, her captain ordered abandon ship", seeing that it was inevitable she would be rammed. The bows sunk at once and rested on the bottom, there being apparently only 8 feet of water under her keel;
the stern remained above water. Two seamen were crushed and seriously injured in the collision. M.A/S.B.7 took off the crew and transferred them to the Vivacious. The wreck of the Holland came within an ace of being rammed a second time, for two more ships, reported to be destroyers, passed and missed the Holland's stern by no more than a few feet.
At 0300 the blockship Westcove entered Dunkirk, followed ten minutes later by the Edvard Nissen. Both ships proceeded into the channel leading to the inner harbour. When in her allotted position the Westcove put her wheel hard astarboard to ram the Inner Western Jetty, but her bows struck mud about
50 feet from the pier, with the ship at an angle of about 30° across the channel.
By going full speed ahead on the engines, the athwartship's angle was increased to 50°.
As the Edvard Nissen came in with the intention of ramming the East Pier she endeavoured to strike the Westcove's stern a glancing blow in order to increase her angle to the channel before scuttling herself; but underestimating the strength of the ebb stream she passed close under the Westcove's stern, and rammed the East Pier abreast of the latter. Letting go an anchor, she applied full port helm with all engine power to increase the blocking angle. The
Westcove now fired her scuttling charges, which probably owing to coal gas in the bunkers, caused a large column of flame and smoke to envelop the ship's stern. When this had dissipated, the crew, who had pulled clear in their boat, saw that the Westcove had slid off the sloping bank of the channel and was lying on an even keel in the line of the piers, almost in mid stream, thus causing a minimum of obstruction. Between the sterns of the two ships there was now a gap of 80 feet which was reduced to 50 feet by heaving on a hawser run by the Edvard Nissen's motor boat from the ship's stern to the Westcove. No more could be done and the Edvard Nissen abandoned ship and fired her scuttling charges from the boat. M.A/S.B. 7 took out both ship's crews to the Vivacious.
1 No transport reported being in collision at this time and it has not been possible to identify any of the vessels concerned. The following destroyers and transports sailed from
Dunkirk at the times given destroyers - Vanquisher 0230, Whitshed 2045, Malcolm 0248,
Codrington 0250 and Express 0250; transports Newhaven (French 1,888 tons) 0245,
Tynwald (British 2,376 tons) 0300, Rouen (French, 1,882 tons time not known but ship was in Dunkirk in the early hours of 3rd June), and Côte Argent (French 3,047 tons, time not known but ship landed troops at Dover on 3rd June.)
112

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 EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. XII
were the trawler Saturn which An brought unknown 418 drifter troops to England, and the
Gulzar which brought 140. Maud, while brought 90, and abandoned Dover by a destroyer by her crew, on the and 5th were June. up mid-Channel and towed to boarded the sailing barge Beatrice picked in she was lying at the staff of Rear-Admiral Pier at 2230, Maintenance on
Pier for the embarkation on A. H. Taylor, "Dynamo" R.N., West
The Leda paid tribute in her this report night. to the Commander excellent arrangements at him assumed number of charge men they at the could Centre take quickly. and then Commander getting making the Troup ships French fast, officers finding to out Officer, assist the embarked at least 10,000 troops.
to embark the troops estimated that he
Embarkations at the East Pier despite a hold up which threw out the programme of ships entering the harbour
Meanwhile, there had been some heavy liftings of troops from the East Pier and caused great congestion in the entrance. The flow of French troops to the East Pier was better than on the preceding night, though there were some bad pauses.
The first ship to arrive off the pier was the destroyer Whitshed at 2215, with
Commander H. J. Buchanan, R.A.N. and pier party on board. In consequence of the fresh easterly wind and the westgoing tide the ship could not get alongside the East Pier, where there was nobody who could be persuaded to take a line.
However, after disembarking part of her pier party into Rear-Admiral Wake-
Walker's M.T.B. for transfer to the pier, she got her bows alongside the personnel ship Autocarrier and her stern alongside the Sabre and commenced embarking troops. The Sabre had been working since 30th May with a compass damaged and rendered unreliable by a shell splinter, and had been led across by the Venomous. She got away from the East Pier at 0025 with 592
troops and followed other ships towards England until they were lost to sight near U buoy at the south end of the South Falls. This was within hearing of the North Goodwin Light Vessel, which the Sabre located by sound, subsequently proceeding from buoy to buoy until she reached Dover at 0500.
When the Autocarrier left in her turn at 0035 she carried 712 French troops.
The Canterbury left ten minutes later with 659, while the Côte Argent had shoved off from the pier five minutes earlier with 1,349 troops. After these three practically simultaneous sailings of personnel ships some time elapsed before another bunch got away. The Princess Maud had berthed at the extreme end of the pier, and sailed at 0150 with 1,270 troops and dogs of all kinds" that managed to get aboard. The Lady of Mann which berthed about the time when the first three personnel vessels left, took 1,244 troops at 0200.
The Tynwald seems to have been the last to leave the East Pier. She sailed at 0305 with the record lift, only equalled by the Scotia on 29th May, of 3,000
French troops: in 4 trips she had evacuated 8,953 men. With a single exception all destroyers had now gone; the Malcolm went at 0245 with 736
troops, Vanquisher at 0240 with 414, and the Venomous, which had arrived at
0245 to find the harbour very congested and ordered to wait outside until
0130, 5 took out no less than 1,200 troops. In four was days the Venomous had made trips, evacuating 4,410 men in all, to fog, did not arrive at Dunkirk until 0230 on the 4th. She left half an hour
The British pier party was taken off by the destroyer Express which, owing later, having embarked 611 troops.
118

SIGNALS
APPENDIX R
All naval personnel are to be withdrawn this Saturday night.
Reference (B), time of termination of this evacuation may be extended and will be signalled.
1609/1
9. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to DESTROYERS
Following destroyers are required for duty tonight.
Remainder revert to 21 hours notice for steam
Esk, Codrington, Icarus, Windsor, Venomous, Winchelsea, Whitshed, Sabre, Shikari.
1711/1
and later
10. Destroyers named in my 1711 will be addressed Force K.
1745/1
SIGNALS RE EVACUATION ON 1ST JUNE AND NIGHT OF 1ST/2ND JUNE
11. S.N.O. DUNKIRK to VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Things are getting very hot for ships. Over 100 bombers on ships near here since 0530. Many casualties.
Have directed that no ships sail during daylight. Evacuation by transports therefore ceases at 0300. If perimeter holds, will complete evacuation tomorrow
Sunday night, including most French. General concurs.
1754/1
12. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to FORCE K (R) R.A. Dover
Destroyers are to proceed in pairs at hourly intervals to berth on east pier Dunkirk harbour, returning to Dover when loaded.
If no vacant berth, V.A. Dover and next pair to be informed, and the destroyers to assist at beach instead.
The personnel vessels will also be berthing at east pier and have priority.
Destroyers to leave Dunkirk vicinity not later than 0300/2, Route X. Route Z
may be used during dark.
First pair to arrive Dunkirk 2200.
Pairs: Windsor, Icarus.
Codrington, Sabre.
Shikari, Esk.
Winchelsea, Whitshed.
Caution is necessary owing to wrecks in Dunkirk harbour.
1810/1
13. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to REAR-ADMIRAL, DOVER (R) S.N.O. Dunkirk
Enemy action bombing and shell fire make it impossible for personnel ships enter harbour in daylight.
1859/1
14. AIR MINISTRY to FIGHTER COMMAND, BOMBER COMMAND, COASTAL COMMAND, BACK C.
B.E.F., WAR OFFICE, ADMIRALTY, VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER
Confirming conversation between C.-in-C. and D.H.O.X. 153 1/6.
Situation at Dunkirk.
Two divisions French territorials reduced strength still to be evacuated. Evacuation will continue in any event until tomorrow morning. Strong continuous patrols should therefore be carried out over Dunkirk and beaches from 0430 to 0830
hours 2/6.
183

SIGNALS
APPENDIX T
3. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to DESTROYERS AND MINESWEEPERS
The final evacuation is staged for tonight, and the Nation looks to the Navy to see this through.
I want every ship to report as soon as possible whether she is fit to meet the call which has been made on our courage and endurance.
1052/2
4. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to DESTROYERS, PADDLE SWEEPERS, PERSONNEL VESSELS (R)
S.N.O. Dunkirk
Evacuation tonight 2nd June will be from Dunkirk harbour, ships berthing on east pier.
Following berths established if required (?) from north to south:
Berth A: from lighthouse to trawler wreck.
B: from wreck to gap in pier.
"
C: from gap in wall to hut at end of pier.
"
Berths
D&E: smaller berths extending to the inner end of pier.
In addition, berth on east side of east pier. This berth will not normally be used unless all inside berths are occupied.
Pier master will direct berthing from cast pier, and ships entering will be guided by a motor boat.
Ships are to work special brows and ladders which will be supplied at Dover, and have boxes ready to form steps
Intention is to keep berths A to E constantly filled.
1430/2
5. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to DESTROYERS
My 1430/2. Destroyers are to sail to arrive at Dunkirk as follows:
2100-Shikari and Sabre.
2130-Venomous.
2200-Windsor.
2230-Icarus.
2300-Winchelsea.
2330-Esk.
2400-Vanquisher.
0030-Codrington.
0100-Express.
0130-Vivacious¹.
0200-Whitshed.
0230-Malcolm.
Acknowledge.
1715/2
SIGNALS RE THE EVACUATION OF THE BRITISH REAR GUARD ON NIGHT
2ND/3RD JUNE
Sunday, 2nd June-contd.
6. VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER to MINESWEEPERS (R) C.-in-C. Nore, F.O.I.C. Harwich, Cdre.
i/c Sheerness
Ships evacuating tonight Sunday are to sail to arrive off Dunkirk as follows:
From Margate: 2100 to 2230.
From Sheerness 2230 to 2359.
From Dover: 0001 to 0130.
From Harwich 0130 to 0200.
I Vivacious had, however, been detailed to take part in a blocking operation.
187

INDEX
Whitshed: at Boulogne, 9-10; in Dynamo, 97, 102-3, 107, 109 (sent back almost empty),
112n, 114n, 118 (takes over pier party).
Whittle, Lieut. L. C., R.N.R., 13n.
Widgeon, 34, 69.
Wilcoxon, S.Lt. R. O., R.N.V.R., mortally wounded, 52.
Wild Swan, at Boulogne, 9-10; at Dunkirk, 16.
Willing Boys, 13n.
Winche sea, 55, 64n, 70, 87, 97, 102-3, 107-8.
Windsor: at Boulogne, 9-10; at Calais, 13; in Dynamo, 16, 23, 24n, 30 (damaged), 55,
58 (hoists flag of R.A. Dover), 81, 97, 101-2 (quick turn round), 107-8, 127.
Wise, Lt. J. N., R.N.V.R., 115.
Wolfe, 72n.
Wolfhound, 21, 22 (damaged), 23-5, 27.
Wolsey, 16, 21, 67 (W/T. link), 23-5, 27, 54n, 61 (reports on conditions), 62 (makes two trips on 30th May), 64n, 83 (in collision).
Wolves, 69.
Worcester, 20n, 27, 54n, 55, 58 (hoists flag of R.A. Dover), 60, 74, 76n, 79 (takes out beach parties), 87-9, (damaged), 92.
Worthing, 17, 22n, 24, 104 (attacked).
Wounded, see Casualties.
Wrecks, growing number, 94: at Dunkirk, 115.
Wynne-Edwards, Lt. Cdr. C.J., 67, 71, 75.
X.95, 72m.
X.149, sunk, 72.
X.209, 72n.
X.213, sunk, 72.
X.217, 72.
Yarmouth base, drifters, 71n.
Y.C.63, 72n.
Yewdale, 19, 28, 47.
Yorkshire Lass, 23n, 62, 63, 107n.
Young Mun, 23n.
Yser, 27, 31.
Yvonne, 73.
Zuydcoote, see Beaches.
208