St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
St Margaret's ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Log. Volume 1. 1 September 1939 - 24 July 1940. Pages 91-100
This item covers pages 91-100, 19th May 1939 to 1st June 1939.
For the rest of Volume 1 see also items 5447 – 5455 and 5457 – 5460.
See also item 5447 for explanation of the colour coded air raid warnings.
The start of the evacuation of British and Allied troops from Dunkerque started during this period of the ARP log and was a particularly tense time for St Margaret’s given its proximity to the French coast. ARP Warden, Charles Groves, noted the progress of events in the margin of the log book. They were made in pencil and are difficult to read but some may be deciphered:-
Page 91 (May 20th) 2000 evacuation for day ……………. Bombing of Dunkerque fires everywhere Ordered to assemble smaller craft to discuss evac from beaches Air bombardment of Dunkerque and adjoining areas
Page 92 (May 22nd) Enemy within 7 miles of Calais
Page 94 (May 23rd) Lord Gort places troops on half rations Calais isolated
Page 95 (May 25th) Boulogne isolated
Page 96 (May 26th) Collapse of Belgian army feared Sec of State states French will be unable to function B Army told to fight their way back and plans for withdrawal agreed Fear BEF will be lost Calais fell Army ordered to fight to last
Page 97 (May 27th and 28th) Order given to BEF to carry out Operation Dynamo (evacuation) We may get out 50,000 and leave 300,000 Sunday evening 26th, Ramsay said imperative for Dynamo with utmost vigour Report of Master of ship. …long route through minefield……short route through battery fire. Germans laid magnetic mines but only 2 ships were mined Lord Gort uncertain if he can get troops back, uninterrupted air bombardment of Dunkerque 5.25pm. Port bombed all day all craft to beaches east of Dunkerque Troops bombed on beaches (28th) Most critical day. RAF to make continuous efforts 28th Bombing Dunkerque………….. 26-28 4000 evacuated 29th 15103 evacuated 28th King of Belgium surrendered
Page 98 (May 28th and 29th) 28th 20,000 men on beaches waiting 28th to 29th 39716 troops evacuated In Dover – Dynamo Room staff exhausted All small boats now coming onto the job 60ft sloop brought over 200 in one trip Dive bombing at Dunkerque rafs scoring theirs Germans pressing troops falling back Heavy bombardment heard at sea close by May 31st Evacuation of B + Fr troops goes on 31st 59432 evacuated 1st (June) 63,322 evacuated British trains cancelled through Kent Redhill etc All trains required 5 o’clock on Sunday.Train services now begun. Redhill was main key station
Page 99 (May 29th and 30th) Troops had 1st stop for food Women worked 9 days & nights cutting sandwiches, 5000 in 1 day. Done in an old barn 2nd June Steps taken by Germans to prevent British troops contacting English people
Page 100 (May 30th, 31st and June 1st) May 31st 6pm HQ closed Lord Gort left on1st June 2nd June 1130pm Signal BEF evacuated 27000 French troops evacuated in one night June 4 2.23 am Dynamo finished
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