Nantes - BEF 2nd Base Sub Area 1939-40

Bob Chandler · 13-06-2008, 09:01 PM

Looking for any information/photos of Nantes during this time, prior to a visit there next week. Didn't really know much about the part played by the town until we decided to go there, but now very interested to learn about its BEF connections, e.g. the post-Dunkirk evacuations etc.

Anyone been there?

Cheers

Bob

MalcolmII · 13-06-2008, 10:13 PM

No but:

HQ South District

1st Sub Area (Cherbourg)

2nd Sub Area (Le Mans)

Rennes Sub area

Rouen Sub Area

1st Medical Base Sub area (Dieppe)

2nd Base Sub Area (Nantes)

3rd Base Sub Area (Havre)

4th Base Sub Area (Boulogne)

5th Base Sub Area (Marseilles)

In April 1940 the following Divisions were sent to France as labour troops on the L of C. 18,347 Officers and men in 12th, 23rd and 46th Divisions.
In May 1940 these three untrained Divisions were thrown in against the advancing German Army to help extricate Lord Gort's first-line Divisions.
In the process these three despised Divisions, without their AA and artillery, delayed the Panzers but were destroyed in the process.
The vast majority were killed, wounded or captured. Lord Gort's 1st line Divisions for the most part escaped, the 12th, 23rd and 46th for the most part did not.
A good book about these three Divisions is
The Day of Reckoning by Donald Edgar ISBN 0 906549 35 3

Aye
MalcolmII

13-06-2008, 09:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bob Chandler Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Horley, Surrey Posts: 21	Nantes - BEF 2nd Base Sub Area 1939-40 Looking for any information/photos of Nantes during this time, prior to a visit there next week. Didn't really know much about the part played by the town until we decided to go there, but now very interested to learn about its BEF connections, e.g. the post-Dunkirk evacuations etc. Anyone been there? Cheers Bob

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13-06-2008, 10:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
MalcolmII Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 209	No but: HQ South District 1st Sub Area (Cherbourg) 2nd Sub Area (Le Mans) Rennes Sub area Rouen Sub Area 1st Medical Base Sub area (Dieppe) 2nd Base Sub Area (Nantes) 3rd Base Sub Area (Havre) 4th Base Sub Area (Boulogne) 5th Base Sub Area (Marseilles) In April 1940 the following Divisions were sent to France as labour troops on the L of C. 18,347 Officers and men in 12th, 23rd and 46th Divisions. In May 1940 these three untrained Divisions were thrown in against the advancing German Army to help extricate Lord Gort's first-line Divisions. In the process these three despised Divisions, without their AA and artillery, delayed the Panzers but were destroyed in the process. The vast majority were killed, wounded or captured. Lord Gort's 1st line Divisions for the most part escaped, the 12th, 23rd and 46th for the most part did not. A good book about these three Divisions is The Day of Reckoning by Donald Edgar ISBN 0 906549 35 3 Aye MalcolmII

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