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

Boulogne.
Photo from my collection.
Keith

 

The round sign on the side of the vehicle reads "Autopelle". "-pelle", in this case, stands for "an ecxcavator", so "autopelle" can be interpreted as "an excavator based on a truck". Taking into consideration the type of a bucket, this machinery can be identified as a "clamshell mechanical grab bucket crane".

 

The truck [ Front part is a ww1 US Liberty B chassis truck.]

 

I added some colour. You can see a large amount of British Vehicles [ Bedfords Ect ] and a few French.
Original photo from my collection.
Keith

 

Some photos of some French villages and church from my collection.
Keith

 

I wonder if this could have been a HQ as it has trenches near it, you can see the smoke from Dunkirk in the background and some BEF trucks. info on the back of photo in German.
German Positions of Infantry Reg. 11 in the combat area near Dunkirk, France
Photo from my collection. I added colour.
Keith

 

Photo of spiked British anti-aircraft artillery guns in Hondschoote France.
Photo from my collection.

 

Readings:
Nach Dünkirchen
am 4 Juni 40
(To[wards] Dunkirk
on the 4th of June 40)

Zertrummerte engl.[ische] Flak
Hondschoote am 2./3. Juni 4?
(Shettered/wrecked English anti-aircraft guns
Hondshoote on the 2-nd/3-rd of June 4?)

Not sure of the year of the second text. It should be 40, but it looks like 41.

 

This mistake probably goes back to the author of these lines.
Nevertheless, one can note that most English (mea culpa: BRITISH) trucks and especially the heavy 3.7-inch flak were held in the highest esteem by the German operators.

 

25/18Pdr dump. Photos from my collection.
Keith

 

Jus a few i have put up here before from my collection, all Ex BEF. I have a large amount of photos of stuff left by the BEF in 1940
Keith

 

Re AA 3,7-inch guns left at Hondshoote ( #227). Could they belong to 174 Bty of 85th HAA Rgt? There are about 15 km between Hondshoote and Teteghem, where 174 Bty was deployed in the end of May 1940.

85th (Tees) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Wikipedia

 

Agree! As an example of such an esteem - this propaganda image of 9,4 cm Flak M39 (e) (that is QF AA 3,7-inch gun) with the "Sharp shooting" caption! A clear sign of recognition!

 

Nice to see a Norton thwarting the German war effort in that last picture, Keith. There is another one in the ditch too.

Is that a respirator case hanging over the left handlebar ?

 

Hi Rich, Yes that looks like a British gas mask case.

 

More from my collection. Morris has aos 15 or 13
Keith
View attachment 306209

 

My first impression was a 5.

 

It looks more like a '5' to me, as well....but the arm of services '3' was generally with a flat top too..I'm inclined to think more likely 2nd Hampshires than 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards of 1 Div.

 

Thats what i think too info from Andrews book

 

What can you see is British on the bike. Photo taken from my original neg. Dunkirk.
Keith