Dunkirk 1940. Inland. France & Belgium. Photos, some never seen before

Discussion in '1940' started by morrisc8, Jan 23, 2018.

  1. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    Have "walked" around it using Google maps. Well, the church does not look like the one in the image.
     
  2. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Yes that is what I thought.The image taken in 1940 does not agree with the many shown in research.The 1940 image structure does not appear to be damaged which would account for a change in profile if that was so.
     
  3. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    The location looks good but the church was destroyed during the war and rebuilt: Google Translate
     
  4. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    94% destruction explains a lot then. So, it could be the old Saint Vincent Church.
     
  5. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    It's better to see once...
    Have found old prewar images of the St. Vincent church. The new edifice is a very similar to the old one. Very good restoration!
    And this rises the question once again, if it's the church we're looking for?

    1939  -  2.jpg
     
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  6. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    The transepts must rule it out.
     
  7. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Close up of the church area, that might help to ID the church. Update. Thank you misterxxx59140 for the ID of the area. Hello the church is Saint Zephyrin 39 rue paul Bert in 59240 dunkerque /Rosendael , what is in the circle is the entry of the old brick factory , still present on the boulevard de la république francois Mitterrand, so according to that the gun is in the vicinity of the avenue Kléber in malo les bains.
    dunkirk church id close up..jpg dunkirk church id close up 1.jpg dunkirk church id mot mount.jpg dunkirk church id.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2021
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  8. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Original photo from my collection. abandoned scammell pioneers
    Keith
    scammell1940 bef.jpg
     
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  9. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Original photo from my collection. abandoned scammell pioneer on the road to Dunkirk
    Keith
    scammell1940 bef.on road to Dunkirk 1 .jpg
     
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  10. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Original photo from my collection.
    Keith
    dunkirk morris trucks.jpg
     
  11. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Original photo from my collection. Anyone ID the area, could be a railway line in the background.
    Keith
    bef 1940 trucks on the road.jpg
     
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  12. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    What is the truck bottom left ? French maybe.
    The truck bottom right is an impressed civvy Bedford van of the 'butchers and bakers type vehicles ' which post Dunkirk Monty said he was glad to get rid of !
     
  13. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    I think it is a French truck
     
  14. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    Definitely in French service and I think that it is a Renault. The patch on the left mudguard would contain a geometric symbol indicating branch – too indistinct to tell which. The half-tilt and what looks like the base of a derrick are interesting – perhaps comes from the French equivalent of a LAD.
     
  15. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    Could it be a Renault Type AGC truck?
     
  16. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    Would finally vote for Renault Type ADK1.
     

    Attached Files:

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  17. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    They’ve almost formed a barrier.

    Sad to see the Morris Quad in such a sorry state. From what he told the family, it’s what Grandad drove. His regiment was usually with 5th Division but they were transferred to 50th for most of the campaign and back “home” to the 5th afterwards. Be nice to think this was his vehicle, which he told my Dad he had disabled, but of course it is not.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2020
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  18. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    I think it is from 3 Corps
     
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  19. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    Ah, thanks, I think he would have been under II Corps.
     
  20. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Photo taken at Cherbourg. Original photo from my collection.
    Keith
    ch docks 1940 ships train.jpg
     

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