2.
364
342
Greatly to the Waster's disappointment, X 213's machinery was not in a good enough condition for her to be used.
78. Owing to a misunderstending, not here, which I have been unable to trace, the motor boats which should have hours later. Suspecting that the fifth column was at work reached Sheerness from the Thames Adid not arrive until 24 Lou 30ᵗʰ hi
I informed your Chief of Staff, D.S.V.P., V.A. Dover,
N.O.I.C.s Ramsgate and Margate of the circumstances, and of my intention to ignore any such messages. No possible harm could have been done by sending boats on, at any rate as far as Ramsgate. Had these boats not been delayed, they would have been available on the last day on which evacuation from the beaches was still going on. Some of them were employed on the last two days in the vicinity of Dunkirk.
8. The type of machinery fitted in many of the boats and its defective state, presented F.E.O. and Sheerness Dockyard with some difficult problems and a great deal of hard work, which was tackled, night and day, with great zeal and energy.
Some of the boats broke down later on, much to the disappointment of their crews, who had done their best. Most of them, I think succeeded in joining other boats and making at least one trip to the French coast.
9. The total number of craft prepared for service and sent out from Sheerness was as follows:-
100 Motor Boats
10 Lighters
7 Schuits
1 Oil tanker
6 Paddle Steamers
10. On Sunday June 2nd, having got away all the personnel and everything afloat that was sufficiently in good condition to do useful service, I went to Ramsgate with Commander Troup, arriving about 1600, in order to help N.O.I.C. and to endeavour to assist in the cooperation of motor boats with larger vessels.
I went in with a group of Schuits and slow motor boats to the beach at St. Malo les Bains, where a British Officer who had just got back reported that there were British troops who had been unable to get into Dunkirk. None were found. I
have no doubt however from later enquiries that they had got into the town. A volunteer whose name I have not yet been able to get, landed from one of the Schuits and walked along the beach to make sure there were none left. We brought him off and his boat's crew, and a number of French soldiers who were pulling for England in a small boat.
Commander Troup took the fast Army motor boats into
Dunkirk alongside the centre pier and brought off 79 French troops when his boat was rammed by a French tug and had to be abandoned.
11.
On Monday night I took a group of slow otor boats up to the Quay Felix Faure, at the top of Dunkirk harbour.
I went on ahead in the fast boat "Marlborough" to identify the quay. The motor boats were led in by the "Mermaiden",
Sub Lieut who did very well to find the place in the dark. 300 French Marines were embarked in the motor boats and a French Trawler. Their bearing was excellent.
As the quay was now clear, and machine gun fire was getting a little near, I decided not to get the motor boats back on the chance of another load of troops. At had the misfortune to scrape over some masonry that had fallen this period through no fault of the Officer at the wheel, we from the quay, losing our propellers and rudder.
Sidmonth- willing (Sea cader lical
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