Evacuated from beaches: 622
Evacuated Dunkirk harbour: 25,553
Daily total: 26,175
Accumulated total: 338,226
Source: Thompson, Julian. Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory. New York: Arcade, 2011.
Tag Archives: British Expeditionary Force
Men of the British Expeditionary Force arrive in London after evacuation from Dunkirk 1940
BBC archive: Bernard Stubbs reports on troops returning from Dunkirk (1940)
“There was every kind of ship I that saw coming in this morning, and every one of them was crammed full of tired battle-stained and blood-stained British soldiers.”
Reporting from Dover, Bernard Stubbs describes the scene as the ships return from Dunkirk and the troops disembark. He then follows the soldiers onto trains as they head home and also boards a ship to see what the conditions were like. Stubbs notes that, regardless of the strife, the port was well organised and the troops in good spirits.
Recorded: 31 May 1940
Duration: 4 minutes, 23 seconds
Dunkirk evacuation 3 June 1940
Evacuated from beaches: 1,870
Evacuated Dunkirk harbour: 24,876
Daily total: 26,746
Accumulated total: 312,051
Source: Thompson, Julian. Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory. New York: Arcade, 2011.
War Walks: Dunkirk
Documentary by the late military historian Richard Holmes, one of the greats, on the miracle of Dunkirk.
HMS Malcolm, one of the Royal Navy destroyers that gave sterling service during Operation Dynamo
HMS Malcolm, a Scott-class flotilla leader, one of the Royal Navy destroyers that gave sterling service during Operation Dynamo.
NORTH AFRICAN OPERATIONS. NOVEMBER 1942.© IWM (A 12780)
Massey Shaw fireboat approaching Dunkirk, 2 June 1940 – painting by Rudolf Haybrook
London fireboat ‘Massey Shaw‘ approaching Dunkirk at 11PM on 2 June 1940. Painting by Rudolf Haybrook. With a volunteer crew from the London Fire Brigade, Massey Shaw made three trips to Dunkirk and evacuated over 500 troops.
The London Fire-Boat ‘Massey Shaw’ approaching Dunkirk at 11 pm on the 2nd June 1940© IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 248)
Dunkirk evacuation 2nd June 1940
Evacuated from beaches: 6,695
Evacuated Dunkirk harbour: 19,561
Daily total: 26,256
Accumulated total: 285,305
Source: Thompson, Julian. Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory. New York: Arcade, 2011.
British naval losses at Dunkirk, 1 June 1940
Another day of heavy British and French losses off the port of Dunkirk and the beaches at Bray-Dunes and La Panne. Losses were due to air attack (particularly Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers), torpedo-carrying E-boats, and German army artillery sited as shore batteries.
HMS Keith (Capt E. Berthon, RN) came under sustained German air attack off La Panne. Badly damaged and with her steering disabled, Keith fought on until her ammunition was expended. A German bomb entered No. 2 boiler room and started internal fires. The order to abandon ship was given and survivors were taken off by HMS Salamander, HMS Abbs, and the “little ships.”
HMS Havant (Lt Cdr A. Burnell-Nugent, RN) carrying 500+ troops received 3 direct hits from German aircraft. The record notes: “some survivors were machine-gunned” while in the water.
HMS Havant off Dunkirk. Painting by Rex Phillips.
HMS Basilisk (Cdr M. Richmond, RN) bombed and heavily damaged by Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers. Survivors taken off by HMS Whitehall. Basilisk was scuttled by gunfire from Whitehall.
HMS Skipjack (Lr Cdr F. Proudfoot, RN) sunk by 5 direct hits from German aircraft. Skipjack had 275 evacuated troops onboard, most of whom were lost during the attack and sinking.
French Adroit-class destroyer ‘Foudroyant’ bombed & sunk by German aircraft. 137 crew and 83 soldiers rescued.
HMS Mosquito (Lt H. Gardiner, RN) bombed & sunk by German aircraft.
French auxiliary minesweeper ‘Denis Papin’ bombed and sunk by Ju-87 dive bombers.
French auxiliary minesweeper ‘La Mousaillon’ bombed & sunk by Ju-87 dive bombers.
Passenger ship SS Scotia carrying 2500 French troops sunk by German aircraft. Over 300 lost. Survivors rescued by destroyer HMS Esk and “little ships.”
HMT Argyllshire (Lt S/Lt J. Weddle, RNR) torpedoed and sunk by German E-boat S.34.
HMT Stella Dorado (Skr W. Burgess, RNR) torpedoed & sunk by German E-boat S.34 with loss of all hands.
HMT Lord Cavan (Cdr A. Cubison, Rtd) sunk by German artillery.
HMS St Abbs, carrying 120+ survivors from HMS Keith, sunk by German aircraft.
HMS St Fagan (Lt Cdr G. Warren, RN) bombed and sunk by German aircraft.
Dunkirk evacuation 1st June 1940
Evacuated from beaches: 17,348
Evacuated Dunkirk harbour: 47,081
Daily total: 64,429
Accumulated total: 259,049
Source: Thompson, Julian. Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory. New York: Arcade, 2011.
Naval Matters 