Walking in the Footsteps of the British Expeditionary Force 2008 to 2009

Dunkirk Memorial at De Panne Beach

 

The last few shots of De Panne before we moved with the shrinking perimeter nearly 70 years ago to Bray Dunes.

King Leopold I Memorial seen in a earlier post from the beach.

 

Having reflected for some time on Peter Carroll's Grave and Andrea's relatives who had fought with him in the 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. We often wondered if her Grandad and Great Uncle had walked in the very areas we were walking in. We left Belgium and headed for the first of the two French evacuation areas.

On the Way to Bray Dunes I decided to stop and try and get a look at the dunes themselves to see how big an area they actually cover - They were far bigger than I had ever imagined.



Looking East towards the Belgium border.


Looking West towards Dunkirk.

 

Driving along the coast road towards the centre of Bray Dunes to check out the beach I had a quick eyes right as I noticed this little gem of a church set back off the road.

Not being a very religious person I did happen to pray twice in my life, both occasions whilst serving in Iraq and could easily relate to the saying 'desperate times require desperate measures'

Without doubt members of the BEF were in a far more dangerous predicament than I have ever been in and this got me wondering if any of the BEF paid this little church a visit with thoughts of home?


Lets hope the big fella upstairs answered their prays and got them home safely.

 

First stop at Bray Dunes was the French 12th Division Memorial on the promenade dedicated to the fallen and those that stayed behind and surrendered.





Not a very good translation I'm affraid:
The City De Bray Dunes and the old ones of the submarines of Dunkirk in homage have L crew of the submarine ' doris' run on May 8, 1940 with the course d' operations in wall of north

 

The second of the three main extraction beaches we visited was Bray-Dunes as we head towards our own extraction area. This beach was allocated (Eventually) to Major General Alexander and the men of I Corps.

Looking East


Looking West

 

After leaving Bray-Dunes and travelled the short distance to Zuydcoote for a big 'Then and Now' which proved to be the most tiring to get of all the photo's.

First a few shots of the out buildings that clearly show how fierce some of the fighting in the area must have been.









Looking down the long lane towards the main hospital. There appeared to be defence in depth posistions in the woods on either side of this lane but we had started to attract attention before I could confirm this and decided to head for the beach !



Not an ideal then and now -due to not being able to piece the picture together but I'm sure you get the idea

Then



Now

The hospital has been modernised since 1940

 

As you can see no troops today waiting to go home.

Looking East towards Bray Dunes.


Looking West towards Dunkirk which can just be seen on the horizon.

 

The last few beach shots taken on Dunkirk Beach. This was III Corps beach and what was left of the French Army under the command of Lt. Gen. Sir Ronald Adam.

Looking East


Looking West


Two of Dunkirks more well known landmarks:

The Lighthouse.


The Eastern Mole.

More shots of the mole later.

 

With Drews permission ;-




Verrieres

 

Now at the Western end of the beaches we visited the Dunkirk Memorial

 

... The scene of much devastation in mid 1940.

 

When we first arrived in France the mole was the first location on our list of visits. However I thought it was apt to save it to last.

Taken from the far end of the Eastern Mole.


As the sun came up and we retreated back down the Mole we noticed dots in the sea????








The New Mole

The Old Mole



As the sunlight broke over the beach we could tell they were fishermen. I think this gives a good example of how shallow the waters are off the beach and shows just how far soldiers would have had to wade out to be extracted off the beach.

As mentioned earlier it is now impossible to get to the top of the Dunkirk Lighthouse due to H+S so I was disappointed to find I would not be able to get one of my favourite 'Then and Nows' from Dunkirk. However there is a older version available.

Then


Now

 

...possibly a similiar view to what some of the 300,000+ may have seen in 1940.


On the 4th June Operation Dynamo officially ended and no men were left on the beach. Although many were still defending the perimeter. A few days later Dunkirk officially surrendered to the Germans in the Hotel De Ville. Dunkirk's Townhall.


Dunkirk had been heavily bombed and shelled by artillery whilst the evacuation was taking place. The Belfry and church can be clearly seen in this aerial shot.

 

....To the forgotten few that help make Operation Dynamo possible !


Taken as Dunkirk disappeared.

 

Hello Drew


excellent photos very fitting

thank you

regards
Clive

 

..... Almost home and safe.

I remember the emotion as I flew home from Iraq and the first thing I saw of 'Home' was the infamous 'White Cliffs'. The sense of relief must have been overwhelming as sailors nudged an exhausted soldiers saying, 'There you go matey -Blighty, dead ahead!'

 

Operation Dynamo was the brain child of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey. The operation got it's name from where Ramsey initially planned the operation. Near his office was the big dynamo that powered the complex at Dover Castle and thus the operation got its name.




Also Captain William Tennant deserves a mention at this point. When he arrived at Dunkirk with 12 officers and 160 men from the destroyer HMS Wolfhound the whole area was unorganised and in chaos. He immediately took overall control of the beaches and signalled Dover to send all available ships.

Vice Admiral Ramsey was to declare: "Without Tennant and his men, the troops would have been lost like sheep."

Captain Tennant addresses his crew. I would like to think onboard Wolfhound before the trip across the channel.

 

Ramsey had a birds eye view of the comings and goings at Dover. Either from Admiralty Look-Out.

On the Observation Roof.




Or the safety of the shelter below.

 

Ramsey took him to his own quarters via the tunnels in the cliff to watch the Operation. (Sadly Ramsey's balcony is not open to the public)

Then


Now

My Dad was pleased as punch when he found out he was going to stand in for one of his childhood heroes.

As the troops arrived at Dover they handed over what little kit they had to be re-distributed.

(Thanks to Derek for this picture)