Just thought I would say hello and introduce myself. I am fast approaching 58 and until recently I was contributing only to a medieval/Living History forum. I still intend to continue that, although my Living History days are sadly over. A chance purchase in a local (Canterbury, Kent) bookshop, plus an old black and white film on television reminded me of a particular interest I had much earlier in my life in the early stages of World War 2 and in particular the amazing story of the BEF in France and Belgium in 1939-40. The book was "Dunkirk, Fight to the Last Man" by Sebag-Montefiore and the film was also "Dunkirk" - the one with John Mills. These have greatly rekindled my interest and I thought it would be worthwhile to see if anyone else shares it. In researching the role of the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in that period I have been astonished at the inadequacies of their communications, AFVs and A/T capability, yet they were still able to repulse enemy attacks and inflict heavy losses until forced to retire. A fascinating period and a credit to the British fighting spirit - even when outgunned, outnumbered and outmanoeuvred.
Hi Welcome to the forum. You might be interested in the book Pillar of Fire too. I thought it provided an excellent perspective on the story.
Welcome to the forum BEF. Am sure we can introduce you to many other equally fascinating episodes in the war too. Then hate us forever more a your book purchases get out of control
BEF...Without them and Gorts decision to do his own thing...There would probably not have been the ultimate victory there was. Or at least not in the way it panned out over the years. My favourite, period of ww2 1940. The John Mills movie....tremendous theme music. The scene where the boat owners at Ramsgate realised the army needed be be brought home....still sends shivers down my spine.
Hi BEF and welcome Don't know about the book and the movie .... but I was touched by this photo the first time I saw it - for some reason !! ..... Their job done - the 'little boats' are towed up the Thames
Welcome to the forum. I, too, am interested in the Battle for France, but my interest is in the air war - the fact that the whole of RAF doctorine was turned on its head, and the valuable lessons learnt were so timely for the BoB.
I recently met a Dunkirk veteran - Colin Ashmore, the well-known aviation artist. He says that he went to war with a spade - the BEF were trained in trench warfare; they very much expected the war to be a re-run of WW1. I suspect that the British had forgotten that they won WW1, during the last 100 days after the breakout from Amiens in August 1918, by using mobile tactics that co-ordinated all elements - infantry, artillery, tanks, aircraft. The abiding memory of WW1 was the static trench warfare, of the Somme era. When the Allies in 1940 did try aggressive mobile warfare they had some successes, such as De Gaulle's tank force that penetrated that German lines, but they had neither the resources nor the imagination to follow these up. That said, even the French fought far more bravely than they are often given credit for.
Thanks to everyone for your warm welcome. Mathsmal, thanks for the suggested reading, it's one I had intended to look out for but you have prompted me to head straight for Amazon (the bookstore, not the river :mosking Adrian, interesting comment about the BEF veteran who "went to war with a spade". In Sebag-Montefiore's book there is a definite distinction between the trained fighting battalions and the numerous "labour battalions" who accompanied them to France (including the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps)- these were never intended to go into action but nevertheless found themselves holding front line positions. One unit (Pioneer's 5 Group under Lt Col Dean, VC) thrown into the defence of Boulogne and having no anti-tank guns, improvised an extremely effective anti-tank drill using a series of roadblocks built of furniture and vehicles, backed by petrol bombs. My research so far does not indicate that spades were part of the standard kit for fighting battalions in the BEF - there was no provision at that time in the 1937 webbing for such a thing (unless anyone knows different . . .). Numerous references to roadside ditches being deepened using the bayonet would support this. Pioneers would have access to both spades and picks, so I wonder if your man served in that branch? Thanks again for all your comments.
The Pioneers have a checquered history in BEF days. Some as you say were the epitomy of the soldier, be he the oft badly worded in my view, useless mouths or the front line infantry soldier. They like many other units found themselves in precarious positons fighting in rearguards as did many other none fighting units. Macforce as well as others found a use for anyone with a rifle at times. Mobile bath units as well as others. There were many territorial divisions in the BEF that were filled with not much more than labour battalions, that spent the previous winter fortifying, or building aerodromes and roads. Only to watch the Dyle plan move the occupiers into Belgium. The pioneers you speak of may have fought bravely, but there are also the stories of the pioneers at Calais that were the total opposite, same as any units though I would suggest.
Entrenching tools were part of the full kit. Osprey's British Infantry Equipments (2) makes mention of it several times for the 1939/1940 BEF though doesn't give a very clear photo. Until I can find a better picture this wil have to do: WWII Figures: Private, 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, BEF, France, 1940
One of my great uncles was at Dunkirk. I understand his one abiding complaint to the day he died was that he had to leave behind the silver tea service he'd filched for his mother. But the lessons learnt at Dunkirk for all of the services were valuable. They saved us.
I'm the last one to recommend any books on Dunkirk and the BEF BEFfan, I have so many one of my favourites being Mr.Lords book. I also have one that I would steer clear of and throw at the cat everytime I open it. So unless you particularly want any books reccomending I'll keep quiet. Although if your looking on net, I will always recomend Hyper wars web sites. Very informative they are too.
HyperWar: The War in France and Flanders, 1939-1940 (UK Military Series) Best to include a link though....sorry..
I think you should recoomend some, urgh - and there's nowt wrong with naming and shaming books. We've all done it here, depending upon our particular interests
I can see I will have to build another bookshelf . . . Kyt, regarding the entrenching tool, I had discounted it as a "spade" since I thought it was more mattock-shaped - http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr1576.html Perhaps there was more than one type in use during 1940?
