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The
Kings Speech Declaring War on Germany 3rd of September 1939
War was declared (by Britain on Germany) on Sept. 3, 1939. Immediately, the air raid sirens sounded. It was a false alarm. For the next six months, nothing happened. Britain and France had declared war to support Poland, but the only way to Poland was through Germany. Until the Nazis had finished with Poland and attacked France, there was a frustrating period during which the countries were at war, but not actually fighting.
FRANCE 1940
My father was attached to the 10th Army Field Work shop as an Electric Welder Class A III.
Under the Command of Lt Col C.R. Caffyn the 10th AFW road party sailed from Southampton on the 2nd of April 1940 , disembarking at Cherbourg.
Traveling through La Hutte on the 5th April 1940 and were billeted at Tye'. The Rail party , who my father was with , sailed from Southampton arriving at Cherbourg on the 5th of April and proceeded to La Hutte on the 7th April 1940 and were also billeted in Tye' . The complete unit then travelled to Danville on the 15th April and then onto Nampsauval on the 18th of April .They then arrived at Pissy on the 17th of April were they were given the luxury of a field bath !
The 10th AFW set up a Recovery Section at Mancy on the 24th May , the main workshop proceed to Metz 0n the 28th of April 1940.
Below is a map of the route the 10th AFW took through France to Metz.
The 10th AFW were attached to the 51st Highland Division and were collectively named the Saar Force.
Saar Force Order of Battle
Around late April early May , my Father a Lance Corporal by now, was transferred out of the Saar Force , the Saar force was used as a training Division that is why it was placed behind the Maginot Line , I cannot find any reference to why he left the 10th AFW but the Records show that the 10th AFW had a surplus of Electric Welders . He would have been caught up in the general retreat to Dunkirk . The evacuation of troops from Dunkirk began on the 26th of May until the 4th of June .My Father would have been evacuated , probably on the 30th or 31st of May , his records show that he arrived back in England on the 31st of May ,
The Germans Attacked France and the low countries on the 10th May 1940 , The main thrust Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), German armored units pushed through the Ardennes to cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium , but this attack also separated the Saar Force from the rest of the BEF and they were forced to make for more westerly ports.
The British high command decided to send a second BEF to the Cherbourg region to link up with remaining French forces and continue the fight against the Germans. The 51st Highland Division was ordered to retreat and link up with this force , but with the French govement deciding to negotiate a cease fire the British decided to withdraw all its forces from France .The 51st Highlanders were cut of from the west of France so it was decided to evacuate them from the Le Harve area .The 10th AFW , who were not cut off , made for Brest via the routes shown below.
The 1st Recovery Sections route :-
Metz to Dritaumont 22nd May , (1)
Vitry 24th May , (2)
Montmirail 26th May , (3)
Meru 27th May , (4)
Londinieres 5th June (5)
Criquetot 6th June . (6)
The 2nd Recovery Sections route :-
Mancy to Metz 24th May ,
Vitry 25th May , (2)
Montmirail 27th May , (3)
Hautforet D Eu 2nd June ,
Londinieres 5th June , (5)
Le Bois Robert 7th June
Criquetot 8th June (6)
The Main Workshop and the 3rd Recovery Sections Route :-
Metz to Londinieres 1st of June , (5)
Criquetot 6th June (6)
Tye 8th June until 12th June
Brest with all vehicles 17th June . (7)
The Map below also shows the German advance through the Ardennes :-
10th of May Germans attack France through the Ardennes (A)
12th of May Germans reach the river Meuse near Sedan (B)
13th Germans cross the river (C)
14th Bridgehead established on left bank of the Meuse (C)
15th Germans begin the advance towards the Channel (D)
16th - 19th Germans close in on the Channel (E)
19th Germans reach the Channel (F)
20th Boulogne Falls into German hands (G)
At Brest they were evacuated on the Ship Strathaird , leaving the vehicles behind , They arrived in Plymouth on the 18th of June 1940 , On the 19th the boarded a train at 17;00 hrs and arrived at Glasgow on the 20th at 11;00 hrs and marched to Bellahouston Camp nearby .The evacuation of the last remaining troops in France was known as Operation Ariel .
Adolf Hitler and his Staff looking across the English Channel
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