Northumbrian Gunner: Dunkirk

Sunday 11 March 2018

Dunkirk - Beaches

On 26th May 1940 Operation Dynamo was ordered, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from the Beaches East of Dunkirk.

Bray Dunes looking along the beaches to Dunkirk

The British Expeditionary Force would retreat along a defended corridor towards three beaches, La Panne, Bray Dunes and Malo.

The first troops were evacuated form the beaches on 28th May when 5,930 men were rescued. The process was slow, using only ships lifeboats this restricted the numbers that could be picked up from the beaches. On the same day the Royal Navy began requesting small ships for use in ferrying troops from the beaches to ships awaiting offshore. The "Little Ships" of Dunkirk made their way across the Channel and began their task.

Dunkirk Beaches
Awaiting Evacuation

Dunkirk little ships

To reach the ships offshore men would wade out to the ships often waiting in the water for hours to be rescued.

Dunkirk Beaches
Men wading to ships off shore

Dunkirk Beach Head

At La Panne and Bray Dunes improvised jetties were constructed from lorries driven into position and planks placed on the top.

Dunkirk Beaches
Improvised lorry jetty

Dunkirk Beaches
Awaiting Evacuation

Dunkirk Beaches
Looking along towards Malo and Bray Dunes

Dunkirk Beaches May / June 1940

Dunkirk Beaches
Looking towards Dunkirk East Mole

By the 28th May 1940 the BEF had withdrawn into the defensive perimeter established to protect Dunkirk and the Beaches. Over the next three days the use of the little ships and improvised jetties meant that 89,484 troops had been evacuated by the night of 1st June 1940.

Sit Rep 30th May 1940

The 50th (Northumbrian) Division had fought back from a blocking position between Poperinge and the River Yser, near Ypres. On the eve of the 30th May 151 (Durham Light Infantry) Brigade from the Division were defending part of the Dunkirk Perimeter near Bulscamp. 150 Brigade were to their rear. Remnants from the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division reinforced the 50th.

On the night of 1st June the Division withdrew to the beaches at Bray Dunes for evacuation.

Sit Rep 1st June 1940

On the evening of 1st June 1940 150 Brigade, RASC and the Gunners of the Division were lifted from the beaches. The Gunners of the 72nd and 74th Field Regiment would return with their gun sites intact, their guns destroyed before they entered the Dunkirk Perimeter. The men of 151 (DLI) Brigade had been ordered to Dunkirk and would be evacuated from the Mole.

Not all of the Division were evacuated on the 1st. It was discovered some of 150 Brigade remained. They marched to Dunkirk to be evacuated from the Mole on the night of 2nd June.

Bray Dunes

Bray Dunes 1940

Bray Dunes
Looking towards Dunkirk

Bray Dunes
Looking towards La Panne

Bray Dunes
March 2018

Bray Dunes
1940

Bray Dunes 1940
Soldiers of 1/6 Battalion Staffordshire Regiment
Source: http://59div.morssweb.com/?1-6_1940

Bray Dunes March 2018
DM & IJ

The evacuation from the beaches reached it's peak on the 30th May when 29,512 men were rescued from the beaches. The last troops were evacuated on 4th June when Operation Dynamo was terminated. The Little Ships, the improvised jetties and the men standing for hours in the water had resulted in 98,780 men being taken from the beaches to England.

One trace of the evacuation that remains is the wreck of the Devonia. Prior to WW2, the paddle steamer was based in Bristol. In 1939 it was converted into a minesweeper and carried out a number of operations before it became involved in the evacuation. The ship came under heavy air attack on 30th May 1940. As a result of the damage sustained it was thought it would be unable to make the crossing to England. Consequently the decision was made to beach the ship. The remains of the wreck are still visible.