Supplement 38017 — Dunkirk evacuation despatch

38017 329.5 SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the i$th of JULY, 1947 published by ?listi)0rftp Registered as a newspaper THURSDAY, 17 JULY, 1947 THE EVACUATION OF THE ALLIED to synchronise with the ebb. and- flow of the ARMIES FROM DUNKIRK AND troop concentrations. • NEIGHBOURING BEACHES. Broadly speaking, for the first 5 days of the The following despatch was submitted to the movement, had more beaching craft ibeen avail- (Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on able to ferry from the beach to offshore vessels, the i8th June, 1940, by Vice-Admiral Sir it would have been possible to have evacuated Bert…

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…

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…

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…