It is Day Five of the Dunkirk Evacuation. Poor weather over Dunkirk allowed the British to conduct the day’s evacuations with reduced fear of German air attacks. Poor weather clouded over Dunkirk, France and gave the British a chance to bring in the modern destroyers into the area to assist the evacuation with less fear of German air attacks. In the air over Dunkirk the RAF loses 28 fighters, and claims 28 German fighters. This day was the high point of the evacuation, with a total of 68,014 rescued.
UK Prime Minister Churchill traveled to Paris, France, for a contentious and emotional Supreme Allied War Council meeting. The Anglo-French Supreme War Council had another meeting in Paris. Reynaud argued with Churchill over the disparity in numbers between the British and French troops being evacuated at Dunkirk. French Marshal Philippe Pétain announces he is willing to make a separate peace with Germany.
The Siege of Lille ended. The III Corps of the First Army had managed to retreat to the Lys river with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) divisions nearby. The two surrounded French corps resisted German attacks until, with food and ammunition dwindling, they were forced to surrender at midnight on 31 May/1 June. The German commander, General Alfred Wäger, allowed the French the honours of war; the garrison paraded through the Grand Place, as German troops stood to attention, a compliment for which Wäger was reprimanded. The defence of the Lille Pocket enabled more Allied troops to retreat into the Dunkirk perimeter and take part in the Battle of Dunkirk. In The Second World War (1949), Winston Churchill described the Allied defence of Lille as a “splendid contribution” that delayed the German advance for four days and allowed the escape of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. William L. Shirer wrote in 1969 that the “gallant” defence of Lille “helped the beleaguered Anglo-French forces around the port to hold out for an additional two to three days and thus save at least 100,000 more troops.”
The Germans make progress against the British perimeter at Nieuport. There are many individual instances of heroism, such as two British battalion commanders personally manning a Bren gun to stop the penetration.
The 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards has to move in quickly at Fumes to stop British troops from retreating. In a manner reminiscent of NKVD blocking forces, they set up positions behind the British forces and fire on those retreating, shooting some. The British soldiers return to their positions and hold the line against the Germans.
Operations are cool and orderly — but enforced with iron discipline. Any solder not obeying orders is shot as necessary and left on the beach or in the water.
During the afternoon, the Germans make a penetration at the canal near Bulskamp, but the Durham Light Infantry stops them.
The Germans are throwing everything into the effort to stop the evacuations, and having some effect. E-boats torpedo French destroyers Sirocco and Cyclone, and the Luftwaffe damages 6 British destroyers (RN destroyers Express, Harvester, Icarus, Impulsive, Malcolm, and Scimitar and minesweeper Hebe). Both sides lose dozens of planes.
Charles Lightoller, the 66-year-old retired officer from the Titanic, owns a large motor yacht named Sundowner. Lightoller has done some work before for the Royal Navy in surveying the coast of the Continent. The Admiralty requisitions the Sundowner on the 31st, and Lightoller volunteers to sail it with his eldest son Roger (his youngest son perished on an RAF bombing raid on the first night of the war) to Dunkirk on the 1st of June.
There are 39 Dutch ships in the Allied cause assisting the evacuation.
A second British expeditionary force, following up the one whose remnants still are fleeing Flanders, was being organized in France last night behind the Somme front.
General Alphonse Joseph Georges (Commander North-Eastern Front [including the BEF, though that is largely out of his hands]) orders a pause in Seventh Army actions against the German positions along the Somme. So far, the attacks, such as those by General de Gaulle with 4th Armoured Division, have been piecemeal and in some ways promising. Georges intends to make a major effort against the German bridgeheads to the south of the river in a few days.
There is some repositioning of Wehrmacht forces for the conquest of the rest of France. German forces continue moving into positions along the Somme River for a renewed offensive to the south.
British Major General Bernard Montgomery leaves Dunkirk.
General Harold Alexander takes command of British I Corps in the Dunkirk perimeter.
General von Kuechler assumes command of all Wehrmacht forces at Dunkirk. He plans to launch a major offensive on 1 June.
Reynaud asks the U.S. government to transfer the U.S. Atlantic Fleet to the Mediterranean to protect French North Africa.
Another British Member of Parliament dies at Dunkirk, Arnold Wilson, in a plane crash.
The focus in the air remains on the Dunkirk perimeter, where poor flying weather continues to aid the evacuation. German General Halder notes that “Bad weather has grounded the Luftwaffe – now we must watch countless thousands of enemy getting away to England under our noses.”
Eighteen RAF bombers attack the German at Nieuport during the night, inflicting major damage and spoiling plans for an attack there in the morning. Overall, 93 RAF planes attack the Germans around the perimeter during the night.
Operations slightly to the south continue as the French begin to worry more and more about a Wehrmacht breakthrough to the heart of France. The French send 20 LeO-451s against the German bridgeheads at Amiens and Abbeville. The attacks accomplish little — the panzers are at Dunkirk and Lille — and they lose 9 planes.
US-built DB-7 medium bombers of the French Air Force saw combat for the first time against German columns near Saint-Quentin in the Picardy Region of northeastern France.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 93 aircraft to attack German positions around Dunkirk during the day.
RAF Bomber Command dispatches 33 aircraft to attack German positions around Dunkirk overnight.
No. 829 Squadron FAA took their newly issued Fairey Albacore aircraft into action for the first time with attacks on German E-boats off Zeebrugge, Belgium and road and rail targets at Westende, Belgium.
There are reports of Luftwaffe aircraft machine-gunning hospital ships at Dunkirk, which are clearly marked. It is very difficult to prove such attacks, and some or all may be accidental.
Destroyer HMS Vivacious was hit by German shore guns off Bray at Dunkirk. Three ratings were killed and twelve wounded, including LtF. P. Baker, on the destroyer Vivacious. Destroyer Vivacious departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth for repair.
Destroyer HMS Express was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb at Dunkirk. Destroyer Express departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth and was repaired in one week.
Destroyers HMS Basilisk and HMS Impulsive damaged their propellers on debris in Dunkirk Harbor. Destroyer Impulsive damaged both propellers on debris at 1554. Destroyer Impulsive departed Dover at 1735 on 1 June for Blackwall and was repaired completing on 4 July. Destroyer Basilisk was lost before any repairs were made.
Destroyers HMS Icarus and HMS Scimitar collided at 1147 off Dunkirk. Destroyer Icarus was slightly damaged. Destroyer Scimitar was considerably damaged and was forced to return to Dover. Destroyer Scimitar departed Dover at 0630 on 2 June for repairs at Sheerness.
Destroyer HMS Scimitar was also involved in a collision with a drifter (either British flare burning drifter Gervais Rentoul (100grt) or armed patrol drifter Eileen Emma (102grt) which both returned to Dover with collision damage.)
Destroyer HMS Wolfhound brought a large party of naval signalmen to Dunkirk. Destroyer HMS Wolsey arrived at Dunkirk to serve as a communications link with Dover.
Destroyers HMS Icarus, HMS Keith, and HMS Winchelsea were damaged at Dunkirk by German bombing attack. Destroyer Icarus departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June with destroyers HMS Vivacious, HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Windsor, HMS Winchelsea, and HMS Whitshed for Portsmouth. Destroyer Icarus was repaired at Portsmouth completing on 13 June. Destroyer Winchelsea was returned to service after repairs at Dover. Destroyer Winchelsea departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth. Destroyer Keith was able to continue off Dunkirk and was lost the next day.
Destroyer HMS Malcolm sustained damage to her bow when she collided with the pier at Dunkirk.
Destroyer HMS Whitehall damaged her propellers on debris and had one engine out of service.
Destroyer HMS Worcester damaged her propellers when she grounded in Dunkirk Roads.
Destroyer HMS Vanquisher sustained propeller damage when she struck debris at Dunkirk.
French large destroyer Leopard was damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk.
French destroyer Sirocco was sunk in the North Sea by German S-boats and aircraft. Between 0000 and 0200 hours, the French destroyer Sirocco was torpedoed and badly damaged by German schnellboote S.23 and S.26 near West Hinder, in 51-18N, 2-15E. Attempting to effect emergency repairs, destroyer Sirocco was sunk by German bombing. Destroyer Sirocco had been credited with sinking three German submarines in the war. She went down with the colors of the 92nd French Infantry Regiment which its Colonel had smuggled out of the outskirts of Lille where the unit was encircled by German troops. Destroyer Sirocco had on board 180 crew and 700 French troops. Fifty nine crew and over six hundred troops were lost. On patrol nearby, destroyer ORP Blyskawica picked up fifteen survivors, patrol sloop HMS Widgeon picked up 166 survivors, Stella Dorado (416grt) picked up twenty one survivors, Wolves (422grt) picked up fifty survivors.
French destroyer Cyclone was torpedoed and badly damaged when her bow was blown off by the German S-24 off Dunkirk. Destroyer Cyclone was able to return to Dover at four knots escorted by two French ships. After emergency repairs, she was taken to Brest.
Minesweeper HMS Leda was slightly damaged in a collision at Dunkirk.
French torpedo boats Bouclier (among her passengers were French General Blanchard, General Langlois, Commander of the French Cavalry Corps, and their staffs), Branlebas, Flore, and Incomprise and sloop Impeteuese, which lifted 649 troops, evacuated troops from Dunkirk.
Auxiliary minesweeper HMS Devonia (622grt, Temporary Lt J. Brotchie RNVR) of the 7th Minesweeping Flotilla was beached and abandoned after damage from German bombing near La Panne at Dunkirk.
Anti-submarine trawler HMS St Achilleus (484grt, Temporary Lt H.A. Gellet RNVR) of the 11th Anti-Submarine Striking Force was sunk on a mine off Dunkirk. Gellet was lost with the trawler. Probationary Temporary LtF. W. Cundiff RNVR, Skipper C. Hodson RNR, were wounded.
French steamers Ain El Turk (2008grt) and Cote D’azur (3047grt) and trawlers Puissant (200grt), Costaud (140grt), and Adjader (414grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk. Steamer Cote D’azur was later salved and renamed Elsass for German service.
During the night of 31 May/1 June, French large destroyer Epervier patrolled seven miles from North Goodwin Light. French large destroyer Leopard patrolled fourteen miles from North Goodwin Light. Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Cairo patrolled twenty three miles from North Goodwin Light.
A third group of British forces is evacuated by sea from Bodø to Harstad, including General Colin M. Gubbins. Colonel Gubbins comes off on the last destroyer during the night. The Norwegian 1st battalion, 15th Regiment is taken off by small boats and sent to the Lofoten Islands in the north.
General Auchinleck ultimately awards Gubbins the DSO. Gubbins goes next to organize the Auxiliary Units, a Home Guard force to defend against a German invasion of Britain.
Lieutenant Colonel Stockwell, who successfully led the ground troops during the retreat, also is awarded a DSO. His next command is to run the Commando Training Center at Lochailort.
The British Army Independent Companies are disbanded. However, some of their troops become the embryo for the commandos.
The Allies are still pressing General Dietl’s mountain troops near Narvik as he slowly retreats toward the border. He is patiently awaiting the arrival of 2d Mountain Division troops. Elements of German 2nd Mountain Division reach Sorfold north of Bodø, Norway.
Transported by train via Sweden, 80 German troops arrive in the Narvik area to reinforce Dietl.
Aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal and HMS Glorious departed Scapa Flow at 0830 with destroyers HMS Highlander, HMS Acasta, HMS Ardent, HMS Diana, and HMS Acheron for operations off Vestfjord.
British troopships Oronsay (20043grt), Ulster Monarch (3791grt), Arandora Star (15501grt), Ulster Prince (3791grt), and Vandyck (13241grt) departed the Clyde at 2030 for Harstad escorted by destroyers HMS Witherington and HMS Viscount. The destroyers were detached in 63N and arrived back at Scapa Flow on 3 June.
The Norwegian cargo liner Jadarland struck a mine laid by the French submarine Rubis and sank off Slettå, Førlandsvågen, with the loss of 19 lives.
Over half of the British Expeditionary Force thus far has been evacuated from Dunkirk and brought to England, it was estimated unofficially in well-informed quarters late tonight. Ragged and battle-weary British and French soldiers who fought their way out of the shambles of Northern France and Belgium continued to stream into port during the day, still dazed but happy as they hurried inland for brief leaves at home. They were greeted with almost delirious enthusiasm by the populace as they disembarked from the motley collection of large and small boats which had ferried them across the Channel and by cheering crowds all along the railway lines. They were welcomed not sadly as a beaten army but proudly as the heroes in one of the bravest chapters in Great Britain’s military annals. Earlier this week high army officers had expressed the fear that almost the entire British Expeditionary Force would be lost. To date a far larger number has been returned safely to England than any one had dared to hope.
General John Vereker Lord Gort returned to Britain after handing over command of the remnant of the British Expeditionary Force to Lt. General Harold Alexander as ordered. General Alexander takes command of British I Corps in the Dunkirk perimeter.
British precautions against invasion are proceeding. Among other things, all street signs at crossroads are removed as a precaution against paratroopers.
Major Alexander P. De Seversky, American aircraft builder and speed flier, said last night that a German invasion of England could not be accomplished in the next few months and might be staved off long enough to permit the Allies to erect impregnable defenses.
U.S. Army Air Corps General Spaatz arrives in London to take up his position as Military Air Observer.
All the members of the Belgian Parliament present in France — eighty-nine Deputies and fifty-four Senators, less than half the total number of Parliamentarians — met in Limoges today and unanimously voted approval of Premier Hubert Pierlot’s denunciation of King Leopold and pledged the Cabinet full support in its further work to fight for the restitution of Belgian independence. Premier Pierlot’s declaration called for stripping the King of his power and continuance of the war until freedom was won. It was not an official session with power to vote on constitutional acts, As fewer than the necessary quorum were present. Premier Pierlot, Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak and other Cabinet members gave detailed information on the events preceding the King’s action.
Events seem to be approaching the grand and terrible climax for Italy. For the first time since the tension started here, the feeling is that it is a question of days, rather than weeks; and one sign of it is that Premier Mussolini would not. accept in person a message that United States Ambassador William. Phillips tried yesterday to deliver to him on behalf of President Roosevelt. The refusal was in no sense a rebuff to the United States or to Mr. Roosevelt. If it were only that there would be less anxiety about the immediate future. The reason Signor Mussolini did not receive Mr. Phillips is that there is no longer any time for such audiences.
Private cars are banned in Italy to conserve gasoline — for the coming offensive against France.
Words of peace — based on an early German victory — were spoken today by Hungary’s Premier Pál Teleki, who expressed optimism that the war would not spread to Southeastern Europe simply because in the near future there would be no war to spread. Count Stephen Csáky, Hungarian Foreign Minister, in an article in the Government party weekly, took the same line, but added the warning that emergencies might arise, and the country should be prepared to meet them. “There is no reason for excitement, because Hungary’s position is safe,” said the Premier. “Hungary with her discipline and calm. did her best to help her German and Italian friends in their endeavors to maintain peace in the Balkans and the Danube basin. The whole world has been preparing for a long war. However, the great victories of the Germans in modern warfare have brought peace nearer and the war may end before expected. It would be hard for small nations to struggle through a long one, either as non-belligerents or as neutrals. This is the case of Hungary, too.”
Accompanied by a whirlwind of rumor, Arkedy Lavrentiev, Russian Minister to Bulgaria, came to Belgrade today to exchange ratifications of the new Russian-Yugoslav economic treaties. He was the first Soviet diplomat ever received there.
Minelayers HMS Teviotbank and HMS Plover and destroyers HMS Atherstone and HMS Encounter departed Rosyth at 1500 on minelaying mission BS.10. The minelaying was carried out from 1302 to 1348 on 1 June. After the operation, the minelayers returned to the Humber and the destroyers returned to Rosyth.
The German U-boat U-101, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim, attacked Convoy HG.31 and sank British steamer Orangemoor (5775grt) at position 49 53N, 03 23W, before being slightly damaged and driven away from the convoy by escorting British corvette Arabis. At 1402 hours on 31 May 1940 the Orangemoor (Master Robert Edward Richardson) was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-101 and sank within a short time in the English Channel south of Start Point, Devon. Eighteen crew of the steamer Orangemoor were missing. The survivors were rescued by British steamer Brandenburg (1473grt). The Orangemoor was carrying iron ore and was bound for Tyne, England. Canadian destroyer HMCS Restigouche was ordered to hunt for the submarine. New destroyer HMS Fernie was ordered to join corvette HMS Arabis. The convoy’s escorts attacked U-101 with 41 depth charges over the course of 8 hours; the submarine survived the attack with minor damage.
The German U-boat U-13, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Max-Martin Schulte, was depth charged and sunk in the North Sea. The Royal Navy Sloop HMS Weston (L 72) (Lt.Cdr. Seymour Charles Tuke) attacked the German Type IIB submarine U-13 ahead of convoy FN.184 fourteen miles southeast of Lowestoft in 52 27N, 02 02E. Destroyer HMS Foresight approaching from the north during the hunt was unable to assist due to being en route to meet northbound liners. The U-boat, which had departed Germany on the 26th on patrol, was sunk. All the crew, three officers and twenty three ratings, of the submarine were rescued and taken prisoner. On 23 June, minesweeper HMS Tedworth, escorted by patrol sloop HMS Puffin, carried out diving operations on the submarine in Operation ROBIN. During its career under three commanders the U-13 sank 9 merchant ships for a total of 28,056 tons and damaged 3 merchant ships for a total of 26,218 tons.
Convoy FN.185 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer HMS Wallace. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on 2 June.
Convoy MT.78 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer HMS Walpole. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FN.184 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer HMS Walpole. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 June.
Convoy BC.38 with steamers Baltraffic, Baron Kinnaird, David Livingstone (Commodore), and Kerma departed Loire escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HMS Huddersfield Town and HMS York City and armed yacht HMS Zaza. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on 2 June.
Convoy HG.32 with twenty four ships departed Gibraltar escorted by destroyer HMS Wishart from 31 May to 1 June. Destroyer HMS Vortigern escorted the convoy from 1 to 4 June. Destroyer HMS Watchman came from convoy HG.32F and escorted the convoy from 1 to 2 June. The destroyer was then detached to convoy OG.31. Sloop HMS Wellington from convoy OG.31 escorted the convoy from 2 to 10 June. Sloop HMS Folkestone from convoy OG.32 escorted the convoy from 7 to 10 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 10 June.
Convoy AXF.7 departed Southampton for St Malo.
Convoy SL.34 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle to 14 June. Sloop HMS Leith and corvette HMS Hibiscus joined the convoy on 14 June and escorted it to arrival on 15 June.
Australian-NZ troop convoy US 3 departs Cape Town for UK.
The War at Sea, Friday, 31 May 1940 (naval-history.net)
Aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS departed Scapa Flow at 0830 with destroyers HIGHLANDER, ACASTA, ARDENT, DIANA, and ACHERON for operations off Vestfjord.
Lt R. L. Strange and Petty Officer N. Reid and Probationary Temporary S/Lt (A) J. B. Marsh RNVR, Naval Airman G.R. Nicholson were lost in the crashes of Skuas from 801 Squadron shot down off Nieuport.
Sgt Pilot L.W. C. Sturgess was killed when his Gladiator of 804 Squadron crashed at Hatston.
British troopships ORONSAY (20043grt), ULSTER MONARCH (3791grt), ARANDORA STAR (15501grt), ULSTER PRINCE (3791grt), and VANDYCK (13241grt) departed the Clyde at 2030 for Harstad escorted by destroyers WITHERINGTON and VISCOUNT.
The destroyers were detached in 63N and arrived back at Scapa Flow on 3 June.
Destroyer ASHANTI proceeded to Rosyth to rendezvous with troopships ORAMA (19,840grt) and ORMONDE (14,982grt) at 1800 and escort them to Scapa Flow.
The three ships arrived at Scapa Flow at 0515 on 1 June. However, on arrival, troopship ORAMA grounded south of Cava Island. The troopship was refloated during the afternoon with no apparent damage. The three departed Scapa Flow at 2050 on 1 June.
Destroyers BEDOUIN and MASHONA at 1600 exercising at sea was ordered to proceed to the east of the Orkneys to establish a patrol line.
Destroyers BEDOUIN and MASHONA arrived at Scapa Flow at 1105 on 1 June after being sent to investigate five Dutch trawlers in Holm Sound.
Destroyers MAORI and KELVIN departed Scapa Flow at 1745 to carry out a patrol east and northeast of the Orkneys.
Destroyers ZULU and ELECTRA departed Scapa Flow at 1815 to carry out a patrol as destroyers MAORI and KELVIN.
Destroyer ELECTRA arrived at Scapa Flow at 0650 on 1 June.
Destroyers MAORI, ZULU, and KELVIN arrived at Scapa Flow at 0800 on 1 June after patrol. Firing practices were cancelled due to weather.
Destroyer MASHONA departed Scapa Flow at 0530 escorting Minesweepers BRAMBLE and SPEEDY to Scrabster.
The destroyer then carried out gunnery and torpedo exercises.
Anti-submarine trawlers JUNIPER and WHITETHORN departed Scapa Flow escorting oiler CONCH to Harstad.
Destroyer FORESTER departed the Humber at 1900 after refitting for Scapa Flow.
Minelayers TEVIOTBANK and PLOVER and destroyers ATHERSTONE and ENCOUNTER departed Rosyth at 1500 on minelaying mission BS.10.
The minelay was carried out from 1302 to 1348 on 1 June.
After the operation, the minelayers returned to the Humber and the destroyers returned to Rosyth.
Sloop WESTON attacked U-13 ahead of convoy FN.184 fourteen miles southeast of Lowestoft in 52 27N, 02 02E.
Destroyer FORESIGHT approaching from the north during the hunt was unable to assist due to being en route to meet northbound liners.
The submarine, which had departed Germany on the 26th on patrol, was sunk. All the crew, three officers and twenty-three ratings, of the submarine were rescued and taken prisoner.
On 23 June, minesweeper TEDWORTH, escorted by patrol sloop PUFFIN, carried out diving operations on the submarine in Operation ROBIN.
Convoy FN.185 departed Southend, escorted by destroyer WALLACE. The convoy arrived at the Tyne on 2 June.
Convoy MT.78 departed Methil, escorted by destroyer WALPOLE. The convoy arrived in the Tyne later that day.
Convoy FN.184 departed the Tyne, escorted by destroyer WALPOLE. The convoy arrived at Southend on 2 June.
Destroyer VIVACIOUS was hit by German shore guns off Bray at Dunkirk.
Three ratings were killed and twelve wounded, including LtF. P. Baker, on the destroyer VIVACIOUS.
Destroyer VIVACIOUS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth for repair.
Destroyer EXPRESS was damaged by the near miss of a German air bomb at Dunkirk.
Destroyer EXPRESS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth and was repaired in one week.
Destroyers BASILISK and IMPULSIVE damaged their propellers on debris in Dunkirk Harbour.
Destroyer IMPULSIVE damaged both propellers on debris at 1554. Destroyer IMPULSIVE departed Dover at 1735 on 1 June for Blackwall and was repaired completing on 4 July.
Destroyer BASILISK was lost before any repairs were made.
Destroyers ICARUS and SCIMITAR collided at 1147 off Dunkirk.
Destroyer ICARUS was slightly damaged. Destroyer SCIMITAR was considerably damaged and was forced to return to Dover. Destroyer SCIMITAR departed Dover at 0630 on 2 June for repairs at Sheerness.
Destroyer SCIMITAR was also involved in a collision with a drifter (either British flare burning drifter GERVAIS RENTOUL (100grt) or Armed patrol drifter EILEEN EMMA (102grt) which both returned to Dover with collision damage.)
Destroyer WOLFHOUND brought a large party of naval signalmen to Dunkirk.
Destroyer WOLSEY arrived at Dunkirk to serve as a communications link with Dover.
Destroyers ICARUS, KEITH, and WINCHELSEA were damaged at Dunkirk by German bombing attack.
Destroyer ICARUS departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June with destroyers VIVACIOUS, EXPRESS, ESK, WINDSOR, WINCHELSEA, and WHITSHED for Portsmouth. Destroyer ICARUS was repaired at Portsmouth completing on 13 June.
Destroyer WINCHELSEA was returned to service after repairs at Dover. Destroyer WINCHELSEA departed Dover at 1300 on 4 June for Portsmouth.
Destroyer KEITH was able to continue off Dunkirk and was lost the next day.
Destroyer MALCOLM sustained damage to her bow when she collided with the pier at Dunkirk.
Destroyer WHITEHALL damaged her propellers on debris and had one engine out of service.
Destroyer WORCESTER damaged her propellers when she grounded in Dunkirk Roads.
Destroyer VANQUISHER sustained propeller damage when she struck debris at Dunkirk.
French large destroyer LEOPARD was damaged by German bombing off Dunkirk.
Between 0000 and 0200, French destroyer SIROCCO was torpedoed and badly damaged by German schnellboote S.23 and S.26 near West Hinder, in 51-18N, 2-15E.
Attempting to effect emergency repairs, destroyer SIROCCO was sunk by German bombing.
Destroyer SIROCCO had been credited with sinking three German submarines in the war. She went down with the colours of the 92nd French Infantry Regiment which its Colonel had smuggled out of the outskirts of Lille where the unit was encircled by German troops.
Destroyer SIROCCO had on board 180 crew and 700 French troops. Fifty-nine crew and over six hundred troops were lost.
On patrol nearby, destroyer BŁYSKAWICA picked up fifteen survivors, patrol sloop WIDGEON picked up 166 survivors, STELLA DORADO (416grt) picked up twenty-one survivors, WOLVES (422grt) picked up fifty survivors.
French destroyer CYCLONE was torpedoed and badly damaged when her bow was blown off by German S.24 off Dunkirk.
Destroyer CYCLONE was able to return to Dover at four knots escorted by two French ships. After emergency repairs, she was taken to Brest.
Minesweeper LEDA was slightly damaged in a collision at Dunkirk.
French torpedo boats BOUCLIER, which among her passengers were French General Blanchard, General Langlois, Commander of the French Cavalry Corps, their staffs, BRANLEBAS, FLORE, INCOMPRISE and sloop IMPETEUESE, which lifted 649 troops, evacuated troops from Dunkirk.
Auxiliary minesweeper DEVONIA (622grt, Temporary Lt J. Brotchie RNVR) of the 7th Minesweeping Flotilla was beached and abandoned after damage from German bombing near La Panne at Dunkirk.
Anti-submarine trawler ST ACHILLEUS (484grt, Temporary Lt H.A. Gellet RNVR) of the 11th Anti-Submarine Striking Force was sunk on a mine off Dunkirk.
Gellet was lost with the trawler. Probationary Temporary Lt F. W. Cundiff RNVR, Skipper C. Hodson RNR, were wounded.
French steamers AIN EL TURK (2008grt) and COTE D’AZUR (3047grt) and trawlers PUISSANT (200grt), COSTAUD (140grt), and ADJADER (414grt) were sunk by German bombing at Dunkirk.
Steamer COTE D’AZUR was later salved and renamed ELSASS for German service.
Lt D H King RNVR of LUCIFER, was killed at Dunkirk. He was posted missing until the summer of 1945.
During the night of 31 May/1 June, French large destroyer EPERVIER patrolled seven miles from North Goodwin Light.
French large destroyer LEOPARD patrolled fourteen miles from North Goodwin Light.
Anti-aircraft cruiser CAIRO patrolled twenty-three miles from North Goodwin Light.
On the 31st, 68,014 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk.
In air combat over Dunkirk, a Skua of 801 Squadron was shot down. Midshipman (A) R. M. S. Martin RNVR, Naval Airman R. Hedger were injured, but both returned to the UK.
Submarine NARWHAL departed Blyth for Immingham.
Submarine H.33 arrived at Campbeltown.
Dutch submarine O 9 arrived at Portland.
Submarines H.43, after Dingle Bay patrol was abandoned, OTWAY arrived at Plymouth.
Submarines L.23 and L.26 arrived at Harwich.
Reallocations were made in Home Waters within the Submarine Command.
At Portsmouth, submarine OTWAY and OBERON were assigned to submarine training.
At Portland, Dutch submarines O 9 and O 10 were assigned to anti-submarine training. After refitting, submarine H.32 joined this unit.
At Plymouth, submarine H.43 was assigned to anti-submarine training.
At Harwich, submarines H.34, H.44, H.49, and H.50 were involved in operational duties.
At Blyth, submarines H.28 and H.31 were involved in operational duties.
At Dundee, submarines L.23 and L.26 and the remaining Dutch submarines were involved in operational duties.
Convoy BC.38 with steamers BALTRAFFIC, BARON KINNAIRD, and DAVID LIVINGSTONE (Commodore), KERMA departed Loire escorted by anti-submarine trawlers HUDDERSFIELD TOWN and YORK CITY and armed yacht ZAZA. The convoy arrived in Bristol Channel on 2 June.
Convoy HG.32 with twenty-four ships departed Gibraltar escorted by destroyer WISHART from 31 May to 1 June.
Destroyer VORTIGERN escorted the convoy from 1 to 4 June.
Destroyer WATCHMAN came from convoy HG.32F and escorted the convoy from 1 to 2 June. The destroyer was then detached to convoy OG.31.
Sloop WELLINGTON from convoy OG.31 escorted the convoy from 2 to 10 June.
Sloop FOLKESTONE from convoy OG.32 escorted the convoy from 7 to 10 June. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 10 June.
Convoy AXF.7 departed Southampton for St Malo.
Convoy SL.34 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE to 14 June.
Sloop LEITH and corvette HIBISCUS joined the convoy on 14 June and escorted it to arrival on 15 June.
Light cruiser DUNEDIN arrived at Bermuda.
French submarines IRIS, PALLAS, VENUS, and CERES passed Gibraltar en route from the Antilles to Toulon, where they arrived on 3 June.
The submarines left the Antilles command on the 1st. They had been in the command since 22 February.
Operator MEDOR – in late May, the four cruisers and destroyers of French Amiral Rene Godfroy’s Mediterranean Fleet French detachment departed Alexandria for Beirut to embark troops for the proposed occupation of Crete and Milos. Also, British troops were to have embarked on British cruisers at Port Said. This operation, after several postponements, was finally cancelled on 8 June unless Italy invaded Greece.
In Washington today, President Roosevelt, requesting more than a billion dollars for the Army, Navy and civilian training program, warned Congress that the war might spread to all continents.
The Senate amended and approved the resolution to advance the effective date of the fifth reorganization order as committees considered naval building and appropriation bills and recessed at 6:45 PM until Monday noon.
The House passed a bill expanding the operation of Federal Home Loan Banks, as an Appropriations subcommittee queried Army officials on further defense needs and the Ways and Means Committee opened hearings on tax bills, and adjourned at 5:42 PM until Monday noon.
President Roosevelt sent a written message to Congress asking for an additional $1.3 billion to accelerate military production and training. He also requested that Congress pass a law before it adjourned granting the president authority to “call into active service such portion of the National Guard as may deemed necessary to maintain our position of neutrality and to safeguard the national defense, this to include authority to call into active service the necessary Reserve personnel.” In a joint address to the U.S. Congress U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that the recent extensive use of tanks and planes in war made it imperative that more should be spent for U.S. national defense. President Roosevelt asked Congress for “acceleration and development of our military and naval needs as measured in both machines and men.” He also asked for authority to call out the National Guard and all reserve forces if necessary.
War Department plans, which were not described by the President, call for placing immediate orders for 2,800 bomber and pursuit planes, 1,700 tanks, about 500 heavy artillery units and larger quantities of anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns and other weapons perfected in War and Navy Department laboratories but not yet in actual production. The airplane cannon is an example of the latter.
Meanwhile, it was apparent that President Roosevelt had continued until today his correspondence with Premier Mussolini in an effort to forestall Italy’s entry into the war. White House aides refused to say whether the President sent another appeal to the Italian dictator yesterday, but said such correspondence had been on a continuing basis.
Congressional reaction to the President’s message was generally favorable, but two Republican Senators attacked his request for authority to call out the National Guard and the Army Reserves. Senator Vandenberg described the proposal as “shocking,” and suggested that if an emergency was imminent Congress should remain in session.
While the Senate put off consideration of two big Navy bills to debate the proposed transfer of the Immigration and Naturalization Bureau of the Labor Department to the Department of Justice, the Ways and Means Committee of the House took up the taxation bill by which it is hoped to raise $656,000,000 a year to finance the unprecedented peacetime defense program.
The Senate adopted today by a vote of 55 to 4 the resolution already passed by the House to put into effect within a few days the changes provided in President Roosevelt’s third, fourth and fifth reorganization orders. Because of technical differences in the two texts the resolution will be sent to conference, but it is expected there will be little delay on that score.
Of greatest immediate interest is the fifth order, which would transfer the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization from the Labor Department to the Justice Department. Adoption of the resolution has been delayed for two days in order to give Senators Norris and Wheeler full opportunity to attack J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for alleged violations of civil liberties in conducting investigations. These two Senators were joined by Senators Lundeen and Murray in voting against the resolution today and Senator Shipstead announced that he would likewise have voted against the proposal had he not been barred from recording his vote by his general pair with Senator Glass, who was not present.
Senator Vandenberg interrupted the debate at one point to demand that Congress stay in session all Summer, pointing to that part of President Roosevelt’s supplemental defense message which asked for authority to call out the National Guard. “As I read that paragraph it is shocking to me,” Mr. Vandenberg told the Senate, “because it sounds to me like a request for power to order at least partial mobilization on the strength of Executive authority alone. I submit that if we are that close to emergency, this Congress had better stay in session continuously and exercise its own constitutional authority with respect to mobilization.”
Senator Wheeler had the floor and was warning against the “hysteria” which he said he saw mounting daily in the country. “My sympathies are with the Allies,” he said in acknowledgment of Senator Vandenberg’s interpolation, “but I have repeatedly said that I am not in favor of getting this country into war or to send American boys across the waters.”
New York District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey characterized yesterday as “progress in the right direction” President Roosevelt’s announcement that the seven members of the Civilian National Defense Commission henceforth would be responsible directly to the President and not “subordinate” to New Deal Cabinet officers.
Removal from power of the Roosevelt Administration was described by Wendell L. Willkie today as the “only way we can present a nation united” against the threats of totalitarian powers.
A strike labelled “100 percent complete” by a union spokesman tied up construction today on six U.S. warships in the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock company yards in Kearney, New Jersey, as federal officials expressed hopes of early settlement.
The U.S. Marine Corps 14th Naval District dispatched Captain Samuel G. Taxis to survey Midway Atoll with a small reconnaissance party for the planning of building a US Marine Corps presence there.
Major League Baseball:
No games played today. The only scheduled game, with the Red Sox visiting the Yankees in New York, is rained out.
In a reply to U.S. Minister in Uruguay Wilson’s telegram of the previous day, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull informed the envoy in Montevideo that U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had ordered the heavy cruiser Quincy (CA 39) to proceed immediately to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and thence directly to Montevideo for “friendly visits of courtesy.”
The Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Laurence Duggan) of the U.S. State Department suggested to Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles that U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s decision “to detach two or three cruisers to go down the east coast [of South America]” be made public “in order to put a little iron in the veins of our friends in those countries.”
Battle of Tsaoyang-Ichang: Japanese 11th Army attacks across Han River at Yicheng and Ouchiamiao.
The Japanese announce plans to launch a terror bombing campaign against Chiang Kai-shek’s capital Chungking “until the spirit of Chinese resistance is broken.”
Plans for closer official control of Japanese news and opinion, under consideration in Tokyo, has made considerable headway, it was indicated today. According to some rumors, a propaganda department may be created, but the authorities in the meantime are aiming rather at the formation of a supervisory organ coordinating and controlling the news. The Domei Agency, which now exercises a virtual monopoly of home and foreign news agency services, is reported to be drafting a plan. Domei apparently wants to retain its dominant position with changes that would give it greater official standing, but the authorities are said to prefer control through the publications section of the Home Office.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 116.22 (+0.98)
Born:
(August) “Augie” Meyers, American rock and Tex-Mex keyboardist, accordion player, singer-songwriter, producer (Sir Douglas Quintet; Texas Tornados), and record label owner, in San Antonio, Texas.
Elfi Mikesch, Austrian cinematographer (“Erotique”, “Out of America”, “Malina”), in Judenburg, Austria.
Gilbert Shelton, American cartoonist and key member of the underground comix movement (“Fat Freddy’s Cat”, “Wonder Wart-Hog”), in Dallas, Texas.
Died:
Arnold Wilson, 55, third British MP killed in World War II (plane crash near Dunkirk).
Victor Neuberg, 57, English poet and publisher (discovered Dylan Thomas).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Brigand-class rescue tug HMS Freebooter (W 01) is laid down by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd. (Paisley, Scotland).
The U.S. Navy 70-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-18 is laid down by the Electric Launch Company Ltd. (Elco), (Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A.).
The Вое́нно-морско́й флот СССР (ВМФ) (Soviet Navy) “M” (Malyutka)-class (3rd group, Type XII) submarine M-103 is laid down by Sudomekh (Leningrad, U.S.S.R.) / Yard 196.
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Spiraea (K 08) is laid down by A & J Inglis Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland); completed by Kincaid.
The U.S. Navy Gleaves-class destroyers USS Wilkes (DD-441) and USS Nicholson (DD-442) are launched by the Boston Navy Yard (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.).
The Royal Navy Bar-class boom defense vessel HMS Barbain (Z 01) is commissioned.
The Royal Navy 63-foot British Power Boat motor anti-submarine boat HMS MA/SB 46 is commissioned.
The Royal Navy Tree-class minesweeping trawler HMS Blackthorn (T 100) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander John George Hilliard, RNZNVR.
The Nihon Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy) Katori-class light cruiser HIJMS Kashima (鹿島) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain Nabeshima Shunsaku.
In the Battle of the Atlantic, U-boats start returning to the Western Approaches. With the closure of the Mediterranean to Allied shipping, the trade routes around Africa and the ports to sustain them take on a new importance. Particularly vital is the West African base at Freetown Sierra Leone.
For the month of May 1940, German U-boats sank 16 Allied ships (63,476 tons) and damaged 1 ship (9,494 tons). However, total losses due to all causes in the Atalntic are much higher: 100 ships, totalling 285,893 tons. One more ship (2,568 tons) is lost to a raider in the Pacific.
The Kriegsmarine has lost 1 U-boat (U-13, today).
The Kriegsmarine will soon begin to use ports in France and Norway to support her U-boat armada.
The Battle of the Atlantic is about to begin in earnest. For the next two years it will rage, with the fate of Britain hanging in the balance…
History Diaries 