Supplement 38017 — Dunkirk evacuation despatch

17 JULY, 1947 3297 the one thought to be present penetrated further were subjected to a murderous hail of bombs than the northern Route Y. It may well be and machine gun bullets. that this U-Boat laid moored mines, which are Required by their duty to remain offshore thought to have caused the loss of two A/S waiting for the troops, who themselves were trawlers. unable to move down to the water for the same reason, it required the greatest determina- 8. AIR CO-OPERATION* tion and sense of duty, amounting in fact to It is unnecessary to stress the vital necessity crews, to on heroism, the part of the ships' and boa…

17 JULY, 1947 3303 GRAFTON she was in danger of being tor- the French minefields hi the Ruytingen and pedoed. At that moment, 0250, GRAFTON Dyck channels. It appears that the enemy was torpedoed, COMFORT was lifted in the M.T.B. command failed to appreciate the with- air, and Captain of WAKEFUL washed over- drawal of traffic to the S.W. and did not follow board. COMFORT was going full speed and as up. she came round in a circle "LYDD and In the evening it was reported that there was GRAFTON opened fire on her, evidently think- no congestion anywhere on the coast, except at ing she was an enemy ship. It is believe…

17 JULY, 1947 3305 41. Meantime the Vice Admiral, Dover, had 45. The attempt to maintain an adequate rate been much exercised regarding the possibility of lift using only the older destroyers was by of the continued use of Dunkirk Harbour for now shown to be impracticable. The destroyers personnel vessels and" was anxiously awaiting were lifting about 17,000, personnel vessels the report from VANQUISHER, who had been about 9,500 in the 24 hours. Remaining vessels sent to investigate the reported obstruction. were estimated to be worth about 15,000 per VANQUISHER'S report was received at 0610 day. This gave a tota…

17 JULY, 1947 3307 would attempt to beach ship to form a lee to the beach between Bray and one mile East of try to improve conditions. La Panne and also advancing the commence- Simultaneously with this bad news the Vice- ment of the operation by one hour. The risk Admiral received a signal from S.N.O. Dunkirk of this change of plan was obvious as the boat to the effect that Dunkirk was being continu- tows were not in communication with the Vice ously and heavily bombarded and that the Admiral, and reliance had to be placed on the enemy artillery were gradually finding the range Minesweepers to inform and see that…

17 JULY, 1947 3309 a number of flotillas under Commodore A. H. Remarks. Taylor and Captain the Hon. G. Frazer were 75. The outstanding feature of the day was reorganised for the night's effort. the series of events leading to the abandonment 69. General Alexander was informed at of daylight evacuation. Increasing enemy air 0951 that on the likely assumption that com- attack, which the R.A.F. were unable to plete evacuation would be ordered that night, smother with the means at their disposal, caused the problem of transport made it essential to serious loss of ships, and continual interruption use the beach adjac…

33io SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947 79. The Rear Admiral, Dover, arrived back 81. At 1700 movement towards Dunkirk from the coast in a M.T.B. and during the fore- commenced. The Annada consisted of 13 noon a joint Naval and Military conference was personnel vessels, 2 large store carriers, n held to devise a plan for the forthcoming night's destroyers, 5 paddle minesweepers 9 fleet evacuation. The fact that evacuation traffic sweepers I special service vessel 9 drifters 6 was suspended in daylight hours ena/b'led all skoots, 2 armed yachts, I guniboat, a large transport resources to accumulate du…

17 JULY, 1947 33" executing a series of round trips without inter- enemy and though the fog made navigation mission tor several days under navigation con- extremely difficult it undoubtedly served to ditions of extreme difficulty and in the face shield the Armada from enemy aircraft. of unparalleled air attack. The Vice Admiral accordingly represented to 91. When the count was taken later in the the Admiralty that the continuance of the de- day it was ascertained that 27,000 troops had mands made by evacuation would subject a been evacuated as a result of the night's opera- number of officers and men to a test wh…

17 JULY, 1947 33^3 keepers to swim or to wade out to the drifting Throughout the operation all engines con- boats which, had been cast away by the soldiers tinued to give trouble. Many engines were old on disembarkation. and almost all were of different types. Several 101. By -the night of the 30/3ist a consider- boats could not be used as they had diesel able number of collapsible boats and pontoons engines and no stokers or civilians trained in had been received from the Royal Engineers .these were available. Each engine, especially of the B.E.F. These were of great assistance the older ones, required careful n…

3298 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947 embarkation staff or organisation a strong naval 14. CO-OPERATION OF THE FRENCH NAVY. party was required to form up and embark the French warships and other vessels were troops. Later, no difficulty was experienced employed evacuating French troops from when troops of fighting formations were en- Dunkirk Harbour, and on the last three nights countered. Difficulty was experienced in con-- from the beach i£ miles eastward from Dunkirk. trolling some French 'troops, whilst others were Details are given in Appendix IV. so rigidly bound by discipline and tradition t…

3300 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947 for inshore work off the beaches. Very few the S.N.O., on arrival, decided that conditions of such inshore craft could be available during at Dunkirk made this impossible. the day and the main effort was concentrated on 8. At 2025 -the Vice Admiral, Dover, re- maintaining the flow of Personnel Vessels to ceived a Most Immediate message from the Dunkirk at the rate of 2 every 3^ hours. After S.N.O., Dunkirk, who had just reached his a good start during the night 26th/27th the station, as follows: '' Port consistently 'bombed effect of enemy action against these…

3302 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947 uncertain, 2 power boats, at least 2 skoots, every prospect of the weather improving and CALCUTTA, GALLANT, WAKEFUL, the surf reducing as the tide rose. Nevertheless, VERITY, and GRAFTON, using what survived an increased number of H.M. Ships was' of their own whalers and motor boats. This ordered to Dunkirk to augment the personnel force was reinforced by 2 minesweepers at vessels, though it was feared that an accumula- 2115. Later reports of concentrations of troops tion of ships alongside the East Pier at Dunkirk on the beaches were received, particularly at…

3304 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947 outside of the entrance. She remained in sole 35. Rear Admiral Wake-Walker proceeded occupation of the harbour until shortly after from Dover in ESK at about 1900 for passage midnight 2Qth/30th, when her Captain rightly to HEBE off the coast where he was to carry decided to take the ship out of harbour before out the duties of S.N.O. Dunkirk in charge she also was sunk, thus freeing the berth and of all embarkation arrangements, taking over safeguarding the channel from 'being blocked. from Captain Bush who had been working in Little information of these disast…

3306 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947 Friday, ^ist May. final evacuation plan during the night of 48. The Admiralty informed the Vice Admiral 31/5-1/6. Accordingly, instructions were that the policy of H.M. Government was that issued for the special tows to leave Ramsgate both British and French troops be given an at 1300/31 for Dunkirk via Route X, and the equal opportunity of being evacuated in British Commander-dn-Chief, Nore and Flag Officer in ships and boats. Charge, Harwich, were requested to provide all available M.T.B.s to escort this convoy 49. Personnel ships had been sailed the pre- for…

3312 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947 95. The initial despatch of requisitioned and day, probably none of them had been under 1 volunteer small craft was controlled from— gun fire before and certainly none of them had ever been under Naval discipline. These boats Naval Control Service, London, were Thames Estuary fishing boats which never Westminster Pier, Ramsgate, left the estuary and only one of their crews ihad Gravesend, Dover, been further afield than Ramsgate before. In " Southend, Newhaven, spite of this fact perfect formation was main- Sheerness, Portsmouth, tained throughout the day and n…