Dunkirk and France 1940 Campaign Books

Discussion in '1940' started by Drew5233, Dec 26, 2009.

  1. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    I found 12 days in May very good for ref.
     
  2. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    Just finished ' Keep the Memory Green' by Butler/Bradford and enjoyed it , not full of facts and figures but written in a conversational style by two people who were there, although they don't cover their own experiences but feature many others.
    Almost half the book is devoted to what the RAF and the BEF were doing in the eight months before the May 10th invasion and is the better for it.

    Craig
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    Two new 1940 titles from Pen and Sword due soon.

    Oct 2013

    [​IMG]
    http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Silent-Attack/p/4177/

    Due Nov 2013 :

    [​IMG]

    http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Road-to-Dunkirk/p/6018/
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks for the notification above. I've pre-ordered '5 Div on the Ypres-Comines canal'. - Looking forward to it.
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Seconded it - going to order both :)
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Halfway through the Road to Dunkirk. Very readable but a bit light on details regarding action. I liken this to a more general overview of what was happening at Divisional and Brigade level. Every time it mentions a Private, Corporal or Sergeants act of bravery and really grabs my attention it moves on. I suspect it's just me but I like the detail and want to be with Tommy Blogs in his trench not with Rupert Blogs looking at a map.

    The other one isn't published now until Feb 2014

    http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Silent-Attack/p/4177/
     
  7. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    One Young Soldier by Tim Bishop.

    Author served in the 12th Lancers in France 1940 so interesting look at armoured cars in the BEF.
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers - Just ordered a copy :)
     
  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Has this been mentioned yet?
    http://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/shop/books---regimental/private-walker/view

     
  10. Rusty Buckle

    Rusty Buckle Junior Member

    All,

    Infantry Officer, a personal account by Anthony Irwin was I believe mentioned earlier in the thread, does anyone have a copy and if so how useful is it to get ground truth on Dunkirk? Similarly with One Young Soldier: The Memoirs of a Cavalryman.

    Having just completed Rex King Clarks superb book Free for a Blast, I was curious to know if he had written anymore. I believe he wrote two more books, The Battle for Kohima and Forward From Kohima, one of which may cover his time during the Dunkirk campaign yet the titles would suggest a Burma theme. Can anyone shed any light?

    Thanks

    Rusty Buckle
     
  11. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

  12. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  14. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    I'd be interested to know your opinion on the BEF in France title when it arrives. My understanding of the series is that it is a collection of primary documents compiled together which could be hit or miss. So I'll hold off buying it until you give it a thumbs up!
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    There's a review on Arrse which is how I found out about the book
     
  16. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Owen likes this.
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Oh I hope I've not ordered it twice !
     
  18. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Anyone ever read this? L`enfer de la Dyle by Robert Pied 225 photographs suggests its a big book?


    Kyle
     
  19. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  20. Hawaiimike1

    Hawaiimike1 Member

    Having gone through all the last 6 pages, it seems that there is loads of books out there, along with the War Diaries from the National Archives, which are sparse in information. I t seems the only way to "fight" your way though it all is to spend s lot of money or time in the library. I would like to throw another book into the mix "A History of the 7th Field Company RE 1939 - 1946" By Thomas M J Riordan MM, (Only 600 copies were printed) A personal account from a Sapper's role, from landing in Cherbourg 1st Oct 1939 to 4th June 1940, also including their involvement in "The Battle of The Ypres Comines Canal" 27th May 1940, where the 4th Division Engineers 7, 59 and 225 Field Companies along with A Coy 6th Bn Black Watch, A, B and a dismounted C Sqn's 13th/18th Hussars, prior the the counter attack by 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards, 2nd Bn North Staff's and 2nd Bn Sherwood Forester's.

    I have read through the War Diaries of most of the units in the first attack, but there is very little info indicating the efforts of each other, but have managed to get an indication of who was where and who did what and their casualties. It's interesting, that there is a commemoration every year at the memorial, yet I'm unable to find out who runs it. I have emailed the committee for the museum, no reply. The REA have no idea who the RE Standard bearer this year was, even the British Legion has failed to come up with an answer, so will just have to go out there next year and see
     

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