@thomasgillespie1029 From the beaches of Dunkirk yes, extraordinary and praise-worthy efforts were made to get as many of the BEF back as possible. The attempts to evacuate the men of the 51st (Operation Cycle) was not sucessful in rescuing the 50,000 that surrendered at St. Valery-en-Caux, but did manage to rescue of 15,000 men from Upper Normandy. Certainly many of those who were captured and spent the war in captivity felt abandoned. The 51st was far from a Scotish only Division although I am aware that there is a politiicised mythology that they were abandoned because it was a Scotish Division and expendible. Without a sucessful Dunkirk evacuation the war would have been lost and in war leaders need to make tough decisions.
That’s actually my Grandfather. I live in the United states. This was my mums father and unfortunately I only got to meet him once.
I came across a radio interview recording of him talking about his time during the war, if you would like me send a link let me know.
Bagpipe, hahaha
"Abandoned by Churchill"? That is a foul canard. Churchill did everything he could to get as many troops home as possible from that debacle.
@thomasgillespie1029 From the beaches of Dunkirk yes, extraordinary and praise-worthy efforts were made to get as many of the BEF back as possible. The attempts to evacuate the men of the 51st (Operation Cycle) was not sucessful in rescuing the 50,000 that surrendered at St. Valery-en-Caux, but did manage to rescue of 15,000 men from Upper Normandy. Certainly many of those who were captured and spent the war in captivity felt abandoned. The 51st was far from a Scotish only Division although I am aware that there is a politiicised mythology that they were abandoned because it was a Scotish Division and expendible. Without a sucessful Dunkirk evacuation the war would have been lost and in war leaders need to make tough decisions.