ENEMY AT HARBOUR

A rendezvous was given at St Valery railway station, and embarkation was to begin at 2am on June 12. The withdrawal was successfully made, and the men arrived near their rendezvous, where news was received that the embarkation could not be proceeded with.

It appeared that the previous day, while our two brigades had successfully held their positions, the French Ninth Corps had been forced back permitting the enemy to get round behind the British positions and occupy the port.

Harbour and beaches were already occupied by the enemy, with tanks, mortars and machine-guns commanding every point of embarkation.

At 8am the French capitulated and handed over the town to the Germans. There was therefore no further hope of escape and the remnant of the division totaling about 150 to 200 officers and between 4000 and 5000 men, was taken prisoner by the enemy, together with the French Ninth Corps.

One of the unhappiest aspects of this tragic event was the fact that at Veules les Roses, a little port a few miles eastward of St Valery, a large number of other British troops were at that moment being embarked. Had the 31st Division but known of this, undoubtedly a great many of the men could have marched there without difficulty and got away.

STILL FULL OF FIGHT

When captured the British troops while exhausted, short of food, and worn out by continuous marching and fighting in hot weather, were in high spirits and full of fight.

They were not inconsiderately treated by their captors, though it was clear that the Germans had never expected such a large bag. Rations at first were scanty, a loaf of rye bread being divided among six and water was short.

The first day they were marched twelve miles to a camp near by, but after that conditions improved, and their subsequent movements were by motor-lorry.

Major-General Fortune, G.O.C. of the division was treated with special attention, and was permitted to keep his motor-car, his A.D.C. and his servant. Similar courtesies were shown to the two brigadiers who were captured with him.

General Fortune’s final order to his division, dated St Valery June 11 was to the effect that the Navy would probably make an effort to take the division off by boat, perhaps that night, or in two nights.

All ranks must realize that the operation could only be achieved by the full co-operation of everyone, and that the utmost discipline must prevail. Men would board boats with equipment and armed vehicles would be rendered useless.

Finally, if the enemy should attack before the whole force was evacuated, all ranks must realize that it would be up to them to defeat them.

The enemy might attack with tanks, but we had anti-tank guns. If the infantry could stop the enemy’s infantry that was all that was required, while our anti-tank guns and rifles could inflict casualties on the enemy’s armoured fighting vehicles.

Names of Prisoners

Sorely distressed people, anxious about the unknown fate of their own, are encouraged to listen in because now and then names of prisoners in Nazi hands are doled out in driblets – half-a-dozen or so at a time. The method is designed to secure an audience in this country. But relatives of men need not allow their natural anxiety to be thus exploited. All such broadcasts are checked in Britain. Names are noted and if the information given is sufficient, the next of kin is immediately informed and otherwise made public through the Press. It is not to allay anxiety that names are thus broadcast; it is with no such humane or kindly thought that it is done. Were it so, it would not be done in driblets but day by day, in lists some of which alas might, in the light of recent events, be very long indeed. Besides, through the International Red Cross agency, there is a ready, swift and humane way of conveying fully the name and description of every prisoner in enemy hands, a way open to all belligerents.