Second BEF Breton Redoubt mid June 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by Roy Martin, Mar 13, 2019.

  1. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    I attach four pages about the Breton Redoubt, which may be of interest. They are an Appendix from Basil Karslake's book The Last Act.
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Re-reading Appendix D (above) it rather looks as if the Breton Redoubt plan was not put into force. Extracts from chapter VII of the book show that this was not so:

    Page 193 (12 to 14 June), ‘Under the arrangements agreed to by the French and British governments to organise a Redoubt in Brittany, the following decisions were taken:

    1. That the British troops now disembarking (the Brooke Corps, the last of the 52nd Division and the Canadian Division) should be concentrated at Rennes.

    2. That the British troops with the Tenth Army (Evans Division, Beauman Division and the 52nd Division, less those elements not yet disembarked) should continue in their present task under the orders of the general commanding the Tenth Army.

    Their employment in the overall operations of this army should bring them, as far as possible, into action in the Le Mans area, so as to facilitate their eventual re-grouping with general Brooke’s forces’

    On Page 197: As soon as general Brooke was informed that he was no longer under French Command, he relates how he immediately gave instructions for the following moves:

    The elements of the Canadian Division which had landed to leave at once through Brest. The Corps troops from St Malo. 52nd Division, less 157th Brigade with the French, from Cherbourg. [By then this Division had concentrated near Le Mans.] All the rest of the troops and material from St Malo, Brest St Nazaire, Nantes and La Pallice.

    Between the 15th and the 19th a fleet of merchant ships repatriated these troops: with the exception of one trainload, who were attacked well before they reached the port, and the 3,000, or so, troops lost on the Lancastria. Many of the ships were attacked by the Luftwaffe.
     
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  3. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    I remember reading about the Brittany Redoubt.....it was a mere mention regarding the BEF when the situation became critical.... an option and not taken up.

    I have never seen it referenced in detail in a publication.The Last Act is no doubt worth reading as it sheds further light on the BEF withdrawal from France.

    Thanks for the information.
     
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  4. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks Harry,
    Working back from the number of troops evacuated during Operation Aerial it would appear that about 128,000 British troops remained in France after Operation Dynamo was over. The arithmetic:
    Operation Cycle 4,359 saved; Abbeville 51st Highland Division ordered to surrender, say, 10,000; Second BEF three Divisions landed in France, say, 30,000; 'Lost train, say,1,200; RMS Lancastria losses, 3,000; Official figure for British troop rescued during Operation Aerial 139,612.
    Can anyone offer more precise figures, please?
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2019
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Attached Files:

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  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Roy maybe best to edit your typo ?
    You've mixed 51st Highland & 52nd Lowland together . :)
     
  7. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks Owen, My excuse is that I had just been reading about the 52nd Lowland in the book!
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2019
  8. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks TD, yes I have seen them. If you look at the top of Operation Aerial, June 1940, you will see that I transcribed the file; and Operation Aerial.pdf is from one of my books.
     
  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Ha ha reading small print has always been my Achilles heel :whistle::huh:

    TD
     
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  10. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    I have the same problem!
     
  11. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    I can send you my copy if you pay the postage? (my wife says I have to get rid of some of my books!)
     
  12. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Thanks Roy for your offer.

    You are in the same position as me.I have curtailed my book buying of late.It's a pity as there are an abundant amount of decent books at cheap prices on offer....very tempting but the policy I am following is library loans which cover my interest.My recent one being Dunkirk by Sean Longden which I have found it to be a very informative account of the BEF withdrawal and the personal accounts from those involved.
     

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