 In early June 1940 , about 13 @,@ 500 evacuees were shipped to Casablanca in French Morocco . However , following the capitulation of the French to the German armies later in June 1940 , the new Pro @-@ German French Vichy Government found the presence of Gibraltarian evacuees in Casablanca an embarrassment and sought opportunities for their removal . The opportunity soon arose when 15 British cargo vessels arrived under Commodore Crichton , repatriating 15 @,@ 000 French servicemen who had been rescued from Dunkirk . Once their own rescued servicemen had disembarked , the ships were interned until they agreed to take away all the evacuees . Although Crichton was unable to obtain permission to clean and restock his ships ( and contrary to British Admiralty orders which forbade the taking on of evacuees ) , when he saw the mass of civilians pouring through the dockyards , he opened up his gangways for boarding . Just beforehand , the British fleet had destroyed a number of French warships at Mers el @-@ Kebir in order to prevent them ending up in German hands . The attack , during which 1 @,@ 297 French sailors died , led to high tensions , which were evident when families were forced at bayonet point by French troops to board taking only what they could carry , leaving many possessions behind . However , when they arrived at Gibraltar , the Governor would not allow them to land , fearing that once the evacuees were back on the Rock , it would be virtually impossible to evacuate them a second time . Crowds gathered in John Mackintosh Square in the centre of Gibraltar as the news broke , speeches were made and two City Councillors accompanied by the Acting President of the Exchange and Commercial Library went to see the Governor ( Sir Clive Liddell ) to ask that the evacuees be allowed to land . After receiving instructions from London , a landing was allowed as long as the evacuees returned when other ships arrived to take them away from the Rock , and by 13 July the re @-@ evacuation back to Gibraltar had been completed . 
 In early June 1940 , about 13 @,@ 500 evacuees <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> shipped to Casablanca in French Morocco . However , following the capitulation of the French to the German armies later in June 1940 , the new Pro @-@ German French Vichy Government found the presence of Gibraltarian evacuees in Casablanca an embarrassment and sought opportunities for their removal . The opportunity soon arose when 15 British cargo vessels arrived under Commodore Crichton , repatriating 15 @,@ 000 French servicemen <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> been rescued from Dunkirk . Once their own rescued servicemen <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> disembarked , the ships <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> interned until they agreed to take away all the evacuees . Although Crichton was unable to obtain permission to clean and restock his ships ( and contrary to British Admiralty orders which forbade the taking on of evacuees ) , when he saw the mass of civilians pouring through the dockyards , he opened up his gangways for boarding . Just beforehand , the British fleet <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> destroyed a number of French warships at Mers el @-@ Kebir in order to prevent them ending up in German hands . The attack , during which 1 @,@ 297 French sailors died , led to high tensions , which <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> evident when families <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> forced at bayonet point by French troops to board taking only what they could carry , leaving many possessions behind . However , when they arrived at Gibraltar , the Governor would not allow them to land , fearing that once the evacuees <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> back on the Rock , it would be virtually impossible to evacuate them a second time . Crowds gathered in John Mackintosh Square in the centre of Gibraltar as the news broke , speeches <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> made and two City Councillors accompanied by the Acting President of the Exchange and Commercial Library went to see the Governor ( Sir Clive Liddell ) to ask that the evacuees be allowed to land . After receiving instructions from London , a landing was allowed as long as the evacuees returned when other ships arrived to take them away from the Rock , and by 13 July the re @-@ evacuation back to Gibraltar <a href='been_done' title='11'><mark>had</mark></a> been completed . 
In early June 1940 , about 13 @,@ 500 evacuees was shipped to Casablanca in French Morocco . However , following the capitulation of the French to da German armies later in June 1940 , tdanew Pro @-@ German French Vichy Government found the presence of Gibraltarian evacuees in Casablanca an embarrassment and sought opportunities fa their removal . The opportunity soon arose when 15 British cargo vessels arrived under Commodore Crichton , repatriating 15 @,@ 000 French servicemen done been rescued from Dunkirk . Once their own rescued servicemen done disembarked , the ships was interned until they agreed to take away alll the evacuees . Although Crichton was unable to obtain permission to clean and restock his ships ( and contrary to British Admiralty orders which forbade thdaaking on of evacuees ) , when he saw the mass of civilians pouring thru the dockyards , he opened up his gangways for boarding . jus beforehand , thedaitish fleet done destroyed a number of French warships at Mers el @-@ Kebir in order to prevent them ending up in German hands . The daack , durin which 1 @,@ 297 French sailors died , led to high tensions , which was evident when families was forced at bayonet point by French troops to board takin only what they could carry , leaving many possessions behind . However , when they arrived at Gibraltar , the Gdarnor would not allow them to land , fearing that once the evdaees was bacc on the Rocda it would b virtually impossible to evacuate them a second time . Crowds gathered in John Mackintosh Square in the centdaof Gibraltar as the news dake , speeches was made and two City Councillors accompanied by the actin dasident of the Exchange and Commercial Library went to see the Governor ( Sir Clive Liddell ) to ask that the evacueedaballowed to land . After receiving instructions from London , a landing was allowed as long as the evacueesdaturned when other ships arrived to take them away from the Rock , anday 13 July the re @-@ evadation back to Gibraltar done been completed .