TNA CAB 103 191

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 12.

SECRET
WAR OFFICE NOTE ON DUNKIRK EVACUATION
a
29-F
Up to 30th May, 1940, the arrangement was that British
troops were to be taken off in British ships and French troops in
French ships. Notwithstanding this arrangement up to noon 31st
May 14,811 French troops in addition to 149,642 British had arrived
in this country in British ships. The number taken off in French
ships is not known but the Admiralty had the impression that the
VEIDA LOLID
French Navy made very little effort and that no en rective steps had
been taken to collect French coastal shipping.
girls
On the night 30/31 May Lord Gort received orders that
equal numbers of French and British troops were to be taken off in
British ships. It was decided that the final night of evacuation
was to be 1/2 June. Evacuation by daylight was no longer possible
as the only channel was covered by enemy guns and his air action was
incessant. On the morning 1st June alone we lost six ships by enemy
bombing.
.on (tood?
Notwithstanding the former decision the evacuation was
continued up to and including the night 3/4 June.
Major General
Alexander and the last of the British troops left Dunkirk in the
amp COULOR
early morning of 3rd June. This withdrawal was made in full
agreement with Admiral Abrial who said he had sufficient French
troops to hold the perimeter and asked only for British naval and
air assistance during night 3/4 June. At considerable risk to - our
shipping taking part this assistance was given.
During the period after the decision to take off equal
numbers of French and British troops the numbers brought off in
British ships were
ОИ
British
74,943
French
97,735.
The total numbers including wounded during the whole period
of evacuation were
British
224,585
French
112,546.
The two main reasons for the disparity in total numbers
are
(a) Failure of French Navy to make an effort
to assist in evacuation.
bolf of
(b) Failure of French High Command to issue any
orders as to evacuation.
(c) French Commanders insistence that his troops
were too tired to continue withdrawal to the
coast, had resulted in their failure to reach
гньыие VDAICE ФЕГІЛЕКА
Dunkirk while evacuation was still possible.
The War Office.
3rd May, 1941.
noti
шолетов!
Constanor
of
TO clobori