Questions For Second Dunkirk Area Trip This Year !

Discussion in '1940' started by Drew5233, Sep 19, 2009.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Yes....I'm slowly getting addicted to 1940. (I never thought it would happen)

    Ok first of many questions to come I'm sure before I go over for a couple of days next month (Subject to getting annual leave).

    First Question: Whilst planning where to go and looking at the beaches on Google Earth I noticed there is a rather large Maritime Hospital just north west of Zuydcoote on the beach. Does anyone know if this is post war or did it have some significance during 1940?

    Second Question: Can you drive right upto the eastern mole at the port or is it a rather long walk?

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Third Question: Is there a lighthouse at Dunkirk overlooking the eastern mole and is it open to the public (For a then and now shot)
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers Owen.

    Ref Q1 I found these and thought they may be the Hospital but they are identified as Dunkirk which I thought wasn't accurately correct :

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Ref Q3 There's a great shot in Blitzkreig in the West that I want to get looking over Dunkirk port and beaches that was taken from a lighthouse according to the book.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Ah, I know the pic you mean, try Google strret view for the light house, it's in
    Route de l'Ecluse Watier
     
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  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Found it cheers Owen...I wonder if they will let me up there :lol:
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    lighthouse only open in summer.


    Go to the lighthouse
    In July and August, visiting the lighthouse takes place every Wednesday at 16:45 and every Sunday afternoon at 15h, 16h and 17h. The appointment is at the lighthouse. For security reasons, the number of visitors to the lighthouse is limited to 18. In case of strong wind, the visit may be canceled. It is best to check with the Port Museum.

    le Phare de Dunkerque

    Lighthouse Home :
    Port Museum
    9, Quai de la Citadelle
    59140 Dunkerque
    Tel. 03 28 63 33 39
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Arrgggggghhhhhhh ! This may be my last trip for over two years !
     
  12. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    The maritime hospital was not entirely destroyed in 1944/45. The 'wings' were but the main building was damaged and repaired. A lot of the outbuildings and walls show battle damage. Shot of the hospital from the beach.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    The hospital and grounds are private, but you can get to the front of it by going over the dunes.

    One of the man outbuildings showing battle damage.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers All on the first 3 Q's...I'm really chuffed about that lighthouse being open to the public ! :D
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Question Four:

    Looking in Dunkirk- From Disaster to Deliverance I have read on page 153 that Germans had infiltrated into the center of the town and several hundred guardsmen took matters into their own hands by fixing bayonets and charged through the town launching a surprise attack on the Germans. The charge was around a 1/4 mile long and ended in the towns main square, Place De Jean Bart.

    There is a brief account given by Edgar Rabbets of the 5th Northants.

    Does anyone know of anymore detailed info: The who's, what's, why's and when's?

    I've searched the web briefly with zero results.

    Cheers for any additional info
    Andy
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Question Five:

    Does anyone know what battalions were defending Bergues at the end of May 1940? I've been trying to do some digging in my books and the net but what is spoken about as an important strong hold appears to have very little written about it in detail?

    I've got some now photo's to find of the area/town but it's the details I'm missing. I'd ideally like some individual acts of bravery if there was any and there must be some British stiff upper lip stories.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Bergues, check out this map, 1st Loyals & some French units.

    http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/maps/UK-NWE-Flanders-10.jpg

    the 1st Loyals on their right withdrew from Bergues itself to the canal on the northern outskirts of the town.

    HyperWar: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940 [Chapter XVI]

    Have read of this.

    BBC - WW2 People's War - Retreat to Dunkirk

    A few hours later the Commanding Officer, now promoted Lt Colonel Sandie, came to the company and said "I'm very sorry, boys, but you've got to go back into a counter attack. You're going into Bergues...................

    and so on

    EDIT , Read pages 84/85 of the Battleground Europe bok on Dunkirk.
     
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  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I must be going mad in my old age or the memory is failing....I read page 84/85 on Thursday. Cheers Owen esp for the map as I'm going to go along some of the perimeter.

    Anymore for anymore on question 4?
     
  19. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Question 6

    In battleground Europe Dunkirk there is a rather nice picture of some British Soldiers waiting to be evacuated off the beach with a Union Flag flying where they are stood. (Page 130). I think I can roughly pinpoint the location as there is a similiar shot in ATB's Blitzkrieg in the West taken to the left of this location showing some land marks. Does anyone have a better quality picture of these chaps on the beach with the Union Flag?

    This is the picture I'm refering too.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Andy,
    THEY ARE GERMANS !!!!!

    [​IMG]
     

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