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.

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.

Dunkirk evacuation 31 May 1940

Evacuated from beaches: 22,942

Evacuated Dunkirk harbour: 45,072

Daily total: 68,014

Accumulated total: 194,620

Source: Thompson, Julian. Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory. New York: Arcade, 2011.

Pier constructed of British Army lorries on beach at La Panne, 1940

Ad hoc pier constructed of British Army lorries topped with decking at La Panne, 1940. Construction of piers was suggested by Cdr Richardson, RN on the morning of 30 May. The piers – built by British sappers from 1st Division – were constructed at Bray-Dunes and La Panne. They enabled Dunkirk’s “little ships” to continue the evacuation regardless of tides.

Bridge constructed of British army lorries topped with decking, La Panne, 1940.

Dunkirk evacuation 30 May 1940

Evacuated from beaches: 29,512

Evacuated Dunkirk harbour: 24,311

Daily total: 53,823

Accumulated total: 126,606

Source: Thompson, Julian. Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory. New York: Arcade, 2011.