Calais Sunday 26 May 1940

I have just read the diary of a Royal Marine who was taken POW on Sunday 26 May 1940. He said he was a Vickers machine gunner and had landed to destroy the harbour instillations. He was caught up in the defence of Calais, became a POW and was liberated on 2 May 1945.

Is there any other information available/source about this action? I would like to go back and interview him from a better knowledge base.

 

Thanks there, great leads.

The Coleraine Battery Home Page

Belgium WW2

 

Guderian was of the view that the defence of Calais did not slow or interfere with their plans .

 

Thanks for the response. I've finished the research on that project but I think that the bravery of young Bill Balmer and all those other brave comrades in arms of the 'Sacrifice Army' has to be recognised. They slowed the German forces down just enough to evacuate 338,000 troops off the Dunkirk beaches.

I had a limited edition of 750 books published last year on Bill Balmer. As it was fully funded the book was given away for free.

Thanks to all at WW2Talk for your help in front of and behind the scenes.

The Bill Balmer Story

 

I had a limited edition of 750 books published last year on Bill Balmer. As it was fully funded the book was given away for free.


Any copies left?

 

My father-in-law who is in his 91st year was also captured on the 26th May 1940 in Calais and was a POW for the rest of the war in Poland where my late mother-in-law helped him escape and retuned home with him in 1945.

I know he would really enjoy the Bill Balmer story, could you advise how I can get copy of it .

Cheers

Gordon Johnston

 

Hi Gordon,

Click on 'The Bill Balmer Story' in post No.5

Regards
Andy

 

Hi...
I'm fairly new to the site, but I am in the process of completing a book on the battle for Calais based on individual soldiers accounts. To-date I have collected something like 127 many of which are private diaries.

I am keen to add more before I close the accounts and begin the final draft so if there is anything else I would love to see them as there are still holes in the story.

Regards

Tom

 

I came across this forum (& the name Tom Bucks) earlier today. The reason I visited this forum is contained in the message below that I sent to the email address listed in this forum for Tom Bucks. It bounced back.
------------------------------
I am in the midst of re-writing the story of my family's escape from Belgium during WWII. We (I was 2 years old) hid in a basement in Calais around May 23-4-5.
In an attempt to determine the exact days my family was there, I came across your narrative.
To read an early draft of the story you can visit my web site: henry(at)henryandjacqui.com.
----------------------------------
I am not sure precisely what information I can acquire from members of this forum -- but I thought some of you might be interested in my story (a civilian's view of the events), and I do sense that some of you might be able to lead me to more information on the rich tapestry of events that occurred those fateful few days in Calais. Thank you. Respectfully, Henry Morgenstein

 

Hi Henry and welcome to the forum.

I think Tom checks in every now and then although he only posted once on every thread to do with Calais. Have you tried sending him a Private message?

We have posted quite a bit on Calais recently so feel free to add anything where you can, a civilians perspective is not always considered in the big scheme of things so I'd be interested in reading it.

Feel free to start a new thread or just add to it here and one of the Mods or myself will move it for you.

Ps I've edited your address slightly to stop you getting spam etc

Cheers
Andy