TNA Unclassified 1

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 506.

2. 419
boats alongside neighbourhood mole on the last trip. One or two shells the burst
WILKINSON informed the me that shells had burst very close to 395
mis-directed. in the of the tugs, but I think these were probably
I had decided and round to leave at 0300 2nd. June in order to be clear of the
time before 0300, I heard a good deal of shouting from the direct-
been shelling the channel from the shore on the day before. A short
channel No.7 W buoy before daylight, since the enemy had
ion of the harbour entrance; the tug TANGA left about 0245 and I
understand from later conversation with other officers that all
ships were ordered to clear off then. I left at about 0315 having
secured the boats, and having then some 175 English and French troops
on board, besides 28 naval officers and ratings and the tug's crew.
The Tug was very full.
(a) The return passage was uneventful; I posted an English soldier
with a Bren gun, as anti-aircraft armament, the tug having no
protection otherwise. One pulling boat was swamped on the return
passage.
(b) I understand that some orders were issued for this operation,
but these did not reach me before sailing. Fortunately the tugs un-
der my orders went to the right place in the event.
On arrival at Ramsgate about 0815 (2nd. June), the troops were dis-
embarked, and I went ashore for further orders. Finding that no
decision had yet been made, I made contact with various officers
who had been working on the beaches on the night of 1st./2nd. June,
and prepared a short appreciation which I was about to telephone to
Captain DENNY at Dover, when orders were received thatbeach parties
were not required that Sunday night. This tallied with the informat-
ion that I had been able to glean, so I decided not to telephone
to Captain DENNY.
The following is a summary of the information gleaned from various
officers named as to events on the nights of 1st./2nd. June.
(a) Lieut. Commander Miller. DSOJ R.N./R.J
Had been working on the beaches about 1 mile East of Dunkirk,
just to the Westward of a wrecked French destroyer. Left at about
1900 on Saturday 1st. June. At this time, the 2nd. line of defence
was about 1 mile further to the East of this position and the 1st.
line of defence 1 mile still further to the East i.e. about 3 miles
East of Dunkirk. Troops would not come off from this position at
this time.
(b) Lieut. Commander Sherwood. R.N.IRJ
In tug TANGA. Left at about 0245 (2nd. June), at this time
sniping was going on on the Eastern mole, and also on the beaches to
the Eastward of the barges by the wrecked French destroyer 1 mile
East of Dunkirk. TANGA's motor boat was left stranded on the beach
at about 0215.
(c) Commander Le Mesurier. Lieutenants Wilkinson and Lloyd.
Proceedings reported above. At 0315 there were still a few
Soldiers at the sea end of the East mole, and some further up.
Lieutenant LLOYD said that there appeared to be a few people on
the beach up to 1 mile East of Dunkirk at 0230.
(a) Lieutenant Walker R.N.V.R.)
This Officer was in charge of the London Fire Brigade fire
float LADY MASSEY (?). He had been working from two barges by the
wrecked Frency destroyer 1 mile East of Dunkirk and had done good