Dunkirk 1940 photos. Some never seen before .

Discussion in '1940' started by morrisc8, Jan 22, 2018.

?

What would you like to see in the photos i put up.

Poll closed Jan 20, 2024.
  1. more

    6 vote(s)
    100.0%
  2. less

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. What sort of photos, Ships, boats, trucks ,Town

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Do you also collect photos of the Arika Corps at Cap Bon Tunisia. The 67th Field Regt guys said with satisfaction that it was their Dunkirk.
    I'm afraid that I have no copies of photos of the beach. Just some of captured motorcycles and a car, after the event.
    The high ground above Cap Bon was apparently a massive vehicle park as the 8th and 1st Armies lined up to watch the last of them leave.
    The RSM of the Regt was killed in an RTA when driving a captured half track which I think collided with a Sherman Tank at a crossroads.
    After which all enemy captured vehicles were withdrawn for safety reasons.
    Below Photo by Maj DCL Shepherd BC 266 Bty. and on a Motorcycle, is this the same one without the sidecar?
    Courtesy Shepherd Family collection .Capt. Ruston and Roberts returning from Cap Bon in a captured car.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 4, 2021
    Wobbler and morrisc8 like this.
  2. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Hi Target, I do have some of the Desert war, but all so have this book by After the Battle [ Desert War ]
    ww2 Desert war book.JPG
     
    Chris C, Nido, Wobbler and 2 others like this.
  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Dont have that one but the Desert War was the 8th Army. Tunisia was, despite a last minute snatch by Monte's hero's, hill or mountain warfare, featuring the British 1st Army.
    The 8th being motorised, raced round the flat lands on the coast to take Tunis while the 1st battled in the mountains in places like Gueriat el Atach and Longstop.
    Thanks for the response though, my collection of ATB goes from issue 1 to 79.
    Sadly I sold "Panzers in Normandy" when we hit a bad spell some years ago.
     
    morrisc8 likes this.
  4. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Dunkirk beach. photo from my collection. I added colour.
    Keith
    dunkirk beach tug bw colour kb.jpg dunkirk ship tug.jpg dunkirk beach ship french.kb colour.jpg dunkirk beach ship french.kb.jpg
     
    Nido, 4jonboy and Recce_Mitch like this.
  5. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Uncle Target. Beg pardon. I agree that 1st Army had a hard time flogging through the hills of northern Tunisia (two battalions of my father's old regiment were there), but 8th Army did also have quite a hard time at Mareth, crossing the Wadi Akazou, and the New Zealand Division (OK, from memory) did a famous left flanking manoeuvre round the end of it, through or over some more hills too. Not only that, but 8th sent one armoured division up to 1st as well. Not entirely my cousin Bernard's swan up the flat lands!
    Chris
     
    Nido and Uncle Target like this.
  6. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Thanks Mr Grove for your honest and unbiased opinion.
    Have you seen my posting about Captain Bert Webster
    He was in anti tank at Mareth stopping by in Tunisia to see his old friend Lt Beadle in the 67th FR.
    He was suffering from Desert Eye and told some good stories, making them feel like beginners.
    (even he was into the 8th Publicity machine!)
    He earned an MC in Italy..
    So many did so much, I dont know whether I would prefer to ride across that "hostile coastal plain" or climb and walk through the hills.
    Nice to get your positive response. And like Bert Webster you make me feel young again.
    Its a long time since I read of the 8th in the Western Desert and watched those documentaries about Monty on Television. (Also watched War in the Air).
    Who do you think had the bright idea of setting up Monty in the east against Anderson in the west, on a race for Tunis.
    Might make a worthwhile new thread.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2021
  7. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Hi Uncle
    I have not seen your post about Capt Bert Webster, but I'll look for it.
    Have you read 'The plain cook and the great showman'? I have it and have read it, but have forgotten much of what it contains. I must read it again. But it is by Gregory Blaxland, a former Buffs officer who sadly caught polio in Kenya chasing the Mau Mau, and a respected and prolific historian. The book does compare Anderson (the former) and Monty (who else) and the progress of their respective armies up Tunisia.
    Chris
     
  8. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Have it on my shelf and read it in lockdown earlier in the year. Also have Alexander and his Generals not read it yet.
    Anderson was Commanding 1st Div on the east coast of the UK in 1940. I found his orders to the men deeply uninspiring.
    They did however, only have one rifle between three men in the 67th.
    Monty would have raised an insurrection about that.
    Lets face it Monty really was a showman in the right place at the right time.
    He knew all about sales presentations, handling objections and when to close the sale.
    I honestly think Churchill and Alan Brooke set Anderson up as bait to spur him on.
    They knew that if they changed places the Americans would probably have gone home.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2021
  9. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    My wife put the two photos together + a little photo shop.
    Keith
    dunkirk beach two photos kb.jpg
     
    Nido, 4jonboy, Wobbler and 2 others like this.
  10. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Burnt out houses Dunkirk.
    Photos from my collection.
    Keith
    Burnt out houses Dunkirk. wire colour.jpg Burnt out houses Dunkirk. wire.kb.jpg Dunkirk burnt out trucks BEF.kb.jpg Burnt out houses Dunkirk kb.jpg
     
  11. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Just came in the post today, original Negs of the beach. Not the best but worth a look. Had to take a photo of them with my phone.
    Keith
    Dunkirk beach kb.JPG Dunkirk beack neg 2 kb.JPG Dunkirk beach from the sea.JPG
     
  12. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Beach area.
    Photos from my collection.
    Keith
    beach dunkirk bef kb.jpg Dunkirk beach BEF veh.jpg
     
  13. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    BEF Veh left by the side of the road. Photo from my collection.
    Keith
    Captured bef trucks 1940 kb.jpg
     
    Nido, Wobbler and Recce_Mitch like this.
  14. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Beach. New boat i have not seen before Photo from my collection.
    Keith
    Dunkirk pier cutter kb.jpg dunkirk cutter.jpg
     
    Wobbler, Nido and Recce_Mitch like this.
  15. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

  16. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    Great finding and one more very valuable link!
     
    morrisc8 likes this.
  17. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Apparently Coastal Command put five Seaplane Tenders into action, and two were lost.

    Coastal Command
     
    Nido and morrisc8 like this.
  18. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Added some colour
    Dunkirk beach cutter colour kb.jpg
     
    Wobbler, Nido and Recce_Mitch like this.
  19. I wonder if it's possible to make out a number on that seaplane tender. There were two that left Dover during the afternoon of 2 June, ST 243 and ST 276. They were attacked by Stukas off the coast of France near Gravelines, resulting in the loss of 243 and most of its crew, including Commander Campbell Clouston, who was returning to Dunkirk for a final night as pier master of the east mole. ST 276 was damaged but made it to the mole, where it was abandoned. It would be interesting to know if that's where she landed.
     
  20. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    The photo is not good enough to read the number. Could be ST 254 that was abandoned.
    One never made it out so 5 went , AMC 3 and Seaplane tenders 243,254, 276 and 291
    Links to more info. Dunkirk: Nine Days That Saved An Army

    The RAF Air Sea Rescue Service, 1918–1986
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2021

Share This Page