Dunkirk pocket and surroundings area 1944-1945

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Robbie59, Nov 19, 2020.

  1. Robbie59

    Robbie59 New Member

    Hello everyone, I'm researching archives, info etc the Dunkirk pocket and especially the western part of the pocket!

    like: Gravelines, Loon-Plage, Bourbourg-Ville, Grand-Fort-Philippe, St-Folquin, Spycker, Mardyck etc

    During period: 6 September 1944 to 9 May 1945

    I found these units stationed at these locations:

    Oye-Plage: 17th Duke of Yorks, Toronto Scottish, 6th A/T RCA, maybe Queen's Own Rifle and Cameron of Ottawa.

    Gravelines but im not sur of that: 8th RECCE, 12th Manitoba Dragoons, Black Watch of Canada (RHC)

    Loon-Plage and Bourbourg-Ville: Régiment de Maisonneuve, Black Watch (RHC), Calgary Highlanders in first time. Then: 1st Black Watch (51th Highland) and maybe part of 4th Special Service Brigade? and then 7th RTR, 2 HAA RCA, French FFI and???

    all help is welcome!

    Nicolas!
     
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Nicolas,

    I am sure there are posts, even threads here. Small snag the search function is rather limited and I would suggest you use each subject e.g. Gravelines ww2talk.com site:ww2talk.com ; that will show you a large number of threads, albeit nearly all about 1940.
    We do have Canadian members who may add their expertise, standby!
     
  3. Aeronut

    Aeronut Junior Member

    The following is Col J Hopwood, the 1 BW CO's own account of the battalion's operations holding the Dunkirk pocket.

    On 25th September, the Brigade left Le Havre for Dunkirk where it was to relieve the 4th Special Service Brigade who were surrounding the enemy garrison there. The move up took two days, staying outside Foret de Crecy en route. The Battalion arrived in a concentration area North of St Omer by mid-day 26th September, and the necessary recce's were immediately carried out, so that the relief could be carried out that night. The relief started at 2000 hours, and was duly completed by 0100 hours without incident. The dispositions of the Battalion were three companies up, “C” right, “A” centre and “B” left, with Battalion Headquarters and Support Company in the village of Loon Plage, which was approximately 2000 yards behind the forward company’s. This distance was perhaps not so excessive as it sounds, when it is realised that the three forward company’s covered a frontage of approximately 3 miles. Our sojourn in the Dunkirk area was comparatively uneventful except that “C” and “A” Companies, who were living in farmhouses, were fairly heavily shelled on one or two occasions. As a result, some changes were made, which deceived the Boche, who more than once continued to shell the old areas. Up to 2nd October, when a truce was made to evacuate the civilian population, one deserter came into our lines. It was hoped that by an increase in artillery action the rate of desertion might be stepped up. This however, was exceedingly difficult, as we had only one battery of 25-pounders, one battery of Bofors and some heavy anti aircraft guns in support, and the 25-pounders were limited to 20 rounds per gun per day. It was therefore decided to run an improvised ammunition echelon between Dieppe and Loon Plage, a distance of 120 miles, found from our own “B” Echelon 3-tonners which were offloaded for the purpose. This system worked well and the 25-pounder battery was able to fire 100 rounds per gun per day, while the mortar platoon fired up to 2000 bombs per day. Needless to say, most of this ammunition was accumulated during the quite period between 3rd and 6th October, when the truce was in operation. As a result of our increase in artillery and mortar fire, two Boche deserters came in, stating that they “Couldn’t stand it”, and they even went so far as to pin-point a platoon area, and also gave the location of their own company Headquarters. The increase in deserters was not perhaps in proportion to the increased rate of ammunition expenditure, but it was felt that the increase in Boche discomfiture probably was. During the battalion's tour of duty at Loon Plage, Lieut. J C Soulsby and 12 men were wounded, 2 other ranks killed and 1 other rank missing (POW).

    In addition this is a short part of one of my fathers' letters to my mother,. He was the Battalion's Signals Officer. In it he describes the 2nd October truce.

    We have had a rather amusing incident in our little war these last few days _ we’ve had a truce which officially ended at 10 o’clock this morning. This truce was for the purpose of evacuating civilians, and both sides provided guards at the exit. On one side were the jocks laden with cigarettes and on the other side were Germans laden with French Francs. It is easy to see what happened and if you are at all interested the market price of 10 Players Medium fluctuated between 200 & 500 Francs (NB. there are 200 Frs to the £) One wit was said to have tried to arrange a football match with them, but I wouldn’t believe that if I were you. Still that’s all passed now, and once again we are sending the shells and the bombers over _ just to cheer them up like.


     
    51highland and Owen like this.
  4. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    "On 22nd September, most of 1st Battalion Camerons of Ottawa were moved to Gravelines, where once more they had to simulate the presence of a large force". They were then involved in Operation 'UNDERGO' (Calais) on 25th September.
     
  5. Robbie59

    Robbie59 New Member

    Thank you very much for this information, it helps me a lot.

    Do not hesitate if you have further information.

    ROBBIE
     

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