"Ever since May 20, the gathering of shipping and small craft had been proceeding under the control of Admiral Ramsay, who commanded at Dover. After the loss of Boulogne and Calais only the remains of the port of Dunkirk and the open beaches next to the Belgian Frontier were in our hands. On the evening of the 26th an Admiralty signal put Operation Dynamo into play, and the first troops were brought home that night.

Early the next morning, May 27, emergency measures were taken to find additional small craft. The various boatyards, from Teddington to Brightlingsea, were searched by Admiralty officers, and yielded upwards of forty serviceable motor-boats or launches, which were assembled at Sheerness on the following day. At the same time lifeboats from liners in the London docks, tugs from the Thames, yachts, fishing-craft, lighters, barges and pleasure-boats - anything that could be the use along the beaches - were called into service."

"We were all flying around up and down the coast near Dunkirk looking for enemy aircraft which seemed also to be milling around with no particular cohesion. The sea from Dunkirk to Dover during these days of the evacuation looked like any coastal road in England on a bank holiday. It was solid with shipping.

One felt one could walk across without getting one's feet wet, or that's what it looked like from the air. There were naval escort vessels, sailing dinghies, rowing boats, paddle-steamers, indeed every floating device known in this country. They were all taking British soldiers from Dunkirk back home. The oil-tanks just inside the harbour were ablaze, and you could identify Dunkirk from the Thames estuary by the huge pall of black smoke rising straight up in a windless sky.

Our ships were being bombed by enemy areoplanes up to about half-way across the Channel and the troops on the beaches were suffering the same attention. There were also German aircraft inland strafing the remnants of the British Expeditionary Force fighting their way out to the port."

Issued to Thames Conservancy Officers:-

1.30 p.m. Thursday,
30th May, 1940

MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM:-

SENIOR NAVAL CONTROL OFFICER, LONDON.

(Telephone No. Royal 7641 - Ext. 25).

Requisition all motor yachts 30 ft. overall and upwards, not drawing more than 3' 6" to proceed to SOUTHEND PIER forthwith, with volunteer crew, and there obtain orders to go to Sheerness with 3 days' food and full complement of fuel. Tanks to be replenished at SOUTHEND. Fuel may be commandeered in the name of NAVAL CONTROL SERVICE.

Issued to Skippers of Small Craft leaving Sheerness, May 1940:-

SPECIAL ROUTE FOR SMALL CRAFT. THAMES TO DUNKIRK.

You are to proceed at your utmost speed direct to the beaches eastward of Dunkirk.

From the NORE proceed by Cant, Four Fathoms, Horse Gore and South Channels, or by any other route with which you are familiar, to ???? close round North Foreland and thence to North Goodwin Light Vessel.

From NORTH GOODWIN LIGHT VESSEL proceed direct to DUNKIRK ROADS and close the beaches to the eastward. Approximate course and distance from North Goodwin L.V. S 53 E 37 miles.

NOTE: The tideset about N.E. and S.W. during the time of ebb and flood at Dover respectively. H.W. Dover 29th May is 6.30. a.m. and 6 p.m. B.S.T. On the 30th, about 6.45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Maximum strength of tide about 1 to 1 1/2 knots.

Titanic survivor CH Lightoller describes taking part in the Dunkirk evacuation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/titanic/5061_titanic.shtml