Trapped in France: A Dunkirk Soldier's Untold Story (WW2 Documentary)
On 26th May 1940 next to a key road on the approaches to Dunkirk, a group of just 14 men, holding a half-built blockhouse, isolated and surrounded, fought for their lives. Over the course of four days, the might of the German Blitzkrieg would unleash relentless assaults on the defenders who knew that every moment they continued to hold, more men at Dunkirk could live to fight another day. This is the extraordinary story of the defence of the Le Peckel Blockhouse.
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Sources:
• The Soldiers of Gloucester Museum
• National Library of Scotland Image Archive
• War Diaries of the Battalions (Naval and Military Press)
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission Archive (CWGC)
• US National Archives (NARA)
• The National Archives, Kew (TNA)
• Google Earth Pro & Web Versions
• Memory Maps, Trench Maps of the First World War
• Maptiler Pro (Desktop Version)
Credits:
• Research: Dan Hill
• Script & Narration: Dan Hill
• Editing: Shane Greer
• Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
• Music & Sound Effects: Epidemic Sounds/Shane Greer
• Voiceovers: Hugo Salter
My Grandpa was one of the lucky ones who was evacuated from Dunkirk in early June 1940. I remember him telling me about him filling the petrol tank of his motorbike with sugar rations, before throwing the bike in the canal behind Dunkirk, to stop the Germans from using it. He was always furious that the French never received recognition for their heroics in holding the Germans back. Much like the British did in this video. Really enjoyed this - thank you.
Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!
51st Highland division held them back to never got home my Grand Fathers old regiment who would been killed or captured if they let him serve another world war
As a French, I thank your grandpa for his service and his comradeship ❤
Same mine was clutching a loaf of bread. Thought was captured till a cockney voice offered him rum n ciggarettes. One of the thames little boats.
Again same mine was a R.E Pioneer. So was blowing up bridges on retreat to Dunkirk .. his company used all explosives on bridges n transport n comss in retreat to Dunkirk.
Two Scottish soldiers were trapped after Dunkirk but didn’t surrender to the Germans. They changed clothes into civilian and were eventually picked up by the Gestapo. Interrogated but eventually let go. Why were they let go? Well throughout their time they spoke Scottish Gaelic to each other and to the Gestapo who could not decipher where they came from in Europe. Eventually got back to Britain via Spain. Great quirky story from WW2
Amazing story!
They were from Ballachulish and there were actually three of them, eventually escaping through Spain.
That would make a great movie.
@@johndilday1846 there are certainly worse themes that have no been made into films. Wonder why this has never been picked up.
@@ArthurShelby481 politics, and I'm not joking. A close, extremely talented, Canadian screen play writing friend did exactly that and sent it to all major American and UK studios and production companies. There was too much story for the Americans and no Americans involved and the London based companies wouldn't look at it. One Scottish employ of one London company stated, "We won't get funding for anything involving Gaelic (language) because it's just too political". Gaelic is strongly associated with the Scottish Independence and Irish nationalist movements, so is an extremely hot potato in a fractious UK. It has become so bad that BBC Scotland no longer broadcasts the international Hurling-Shinty matches between Ireland and Scotland.
This story is told at the Royal Gloucestershire Museum in Gloucester, not in so much detail but tells the story of the brave men from my home county who held up the Germans at Dunkirk . Thank you for telling it online.
We are glad you enjoyed the video!
My father, Percy Edgar John Brereton known to all as Jack, was with the Royal Engineers on the Belgium border attached to Montgomery's troops. After the collapse of the Belgium army exposed their flank the RE blew all the Bridges to delay the German advance. Jack was lucky enough to escape aboard a RN destroyer from Bray Dunes near Dunkirk on the 29th May. He went on to fight in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Austria before the Germans surrendered to General Sir Harold Alexander in 1945. The Italians had already surrendered in 1943, so it was a very successful, but overlooked and underappreciated campaign that could have ended the war earlier if it hadnt been starved of troops and supplies for the Normandy landings. After surving all that he died in 1966 of cancer, aged just 47.
The guys and bravery of these men is incredible, the British fighting spirit is unbelievable.
The story of the British infantry battalions that kept the corridor open to Dunkirk, thus permitting the bulk of the BEF to withdraw, has never really been told. They fought intense battles with great tenacity. The German intelligence appraisal on the performance of the BEF post battle was highly complimentary. I've read an extract of it, and you would think it had been written by an ally, nor an opponent. It heaped praise on the physical toughness, tenacity and sheer doggedness of the British soldiers- who are described as, "High quality." The appraisal references that the British were philosophical about any loses they incurred and that they bore injury/wounds with stoicism. The report also highlights that the German's took far fewer British POW's than they did when fighting the French or Belgian forces. The report even refers to the Territorial units, citing, "That although inferior in training to the regular forces, that is compensated for by their high morale." German intelligence personnel who interviewed British POW's were quietly very impressed by the defiance of the British prisoners, the consensus amongst them can be paraphrased as follows:- "You've really gone and done it now Fritz! You WILL lose this war, because now we are angry!" This sort of remark came out repeatedly in interviews with British POW's. Interesting. The battalions involved in the battle to hold open the escape route fought tooth and nail to do so- it should never be forgotten how good those BEF soldiers were. The German's knew it only too well........
Great comment👏🏻💯
Wife’s grandpa was one of them , a WO3 Hell of a long story but lots of twists and turn over 8 decades for it all to come out , her father ended up working with a Dunkirk veteran many years ago who came up and told him about his dads last hours and said he should have got a medal, he went back to face what he already knew would be his death , telling the others to fall back , And then many many decades later this week the news reports have come to light from 1940 Confirming that story word for word almost, the news report ends with the words “never to be seen again”
There is a hint here of what happened the generation before, the massive german forces that encountered the BEF at Mons and Le Cateau and all the small places that the British army held its ground. The Germans were impressed that a relatively small force could engage them, then disengage them to move away with relative ease, no wonder a german general at the time called them very exceptional soldiers.
Thanks lads , RIP L/pl Ruddy . Lest we forget 🇬🇧
We all so so much to that generation. All so brave
Thankyou for your work sir my grandfather was at Dunkirk. Its reassuring to know that people are still putting out content about such an important part of history.
Do you know who he was attached too? My great grandad was a captain leading men off the beach - I'm always trying to figure the whole picture with people's help
I really appreciate the use of present day maps and photographs to illustrate the narrative. It gives a great sense of scale for these stories and how places we might encounter today were so very different then and sometimes, not so different.
Thank you for your comment!
My great uncle Sandy escaped Dunkirk thanks to the brave men who fought as the last line of defence. God bless them all. Sandy went on to fight in North Africa, then parachuted into Arhnem. He survived the war. To me as a small child in the 60s he was just a normal old man that loved gardening. I wish I had the opportunity to discuss his war.
Wife’s GRANDPA was IN C company PSM WO class 3 NF , He died fighting on at the rear Dunkirk . The news report says “ went forward and never seen again “ He said to his men fall back , I no my son will be looked after. And went forward with his machine gun
Brave Men, the Best of British, from Glasgow 👍🇬🇧😎
Respect to those men and the French soldiers etc, who remained behind to give others the time to escape Dunkirk. Great vid.
Thank you for your comment!
51st Highland division
Brave lads. God bless them.
Never forget.
my grand father died in Dunkirk 26TH MAY 1940
my grandfather made it back, we use that title 'grandfather' yet were very young men;
My great grandfather made it back by the skin of his teeth whilst saving another soldier, he had to swim out catch a boat , I never met him, but I am so proud of his actions to this day
the nightmares my mother told me of, that grandad was a corporal, he and his section were in the mix, the horrors, and lighter moments to milk herd of cows, plant bully beef tins where dug up potatoes, he was 30yrs old , before he passed in the early ninties , he said he took no medal for running away, he ditched a siver ss dagger and luger over board , such the threats to having spoils of war, he still felt deeply to the ones that did not return, he went back in 44 , on to berlin, a proud and strong man; @@richiec9077
My grandfather fought a rear guard Action and was captured and spent the rest of the war as a POW. He was in the Buffs. RIP Grandad. I joined up and completed my 24-year service in the Parachute Regiment, then Pioneers.
Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!
Please see my comment. My uncle was also in the Buffs, captured at Dunkirk.
What years did your serve in paras
same as my grandad he was in the buffs wounded then taken prisoner and spending the rest of the war in a pow camp in poland before being forced onto the long march which took the lives of so many
@GrantWaller.-hf6jn 94 until 96 with the 10th V, then joined the Regular Army ,RPC, 22 years Logistics total.
Fantastic. Please, more tales of ‘the men they left behind’ who valiantly fought to allow the others to leave. Thank you.
This specific story would make a great movie, holy cow.... well done lads.
I think it was 1995 or 96, one summer's day, when, driving across the Belgian border into France, I had a few hours to kill before catching the night boat to Ramsgate. I saw a small town on a hill. I had no GPS, no tourism guide, but I just drove up towards it, wondering what I would find. It was a delightful place. I think I had a coffee with my daughter and looked around, over the landscape. I must have looked at that blockhouse, because I was in Cassel. I had no idea of its history. I went back a year later, probably had another coffee, I forget exactly. I even wrote to a colleague, who worked in London, whose name was Mike Cassell, and told him about his namesake village/small town. Thanks for history.
Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!
I've been to Cassel several times as my son lived near there, but I'd not heard this story before. There is so much military history in France's north east that doesn't get noticed as we race down the motorway.
who was it that said something like "the best castle walls in the world are worthless without good men manning them"
Verdun
Someone had to hold line. 325 thousand made it to fight another day. Showing the discipline of the Tommy even in retreat.
My wife’s grandpa was warrant officer class 3 At Dunkirk , and lost , i understand he was last know operating a machine gun
Thanks. His and his men's bravery is an example of how your forefathers held out til we Yanks showed up to give those lads a hand.
Amazing story of bravery and duty many stories like this can never be told.
The world is in need of such Men now. Thank you for bringing their story to light.
Thank you for your comment!
I’ve just spent literally all day listening to your WW1 podcast at work and now I come home to a new video too! I cant get enough! Brilliant work :)
My grandfather was there too. His boat to UK was sunken by a plane and he swom back to France. Got POW, after food deprivation and working in metal industry became color blind. Could escape and joined the resistance in Italy. Lived in a hole in the forest. After the war went back to his village near Antwerp. All his friends were dead. Listening the German national hymmn. Deutschland uber alles till this day still used mainstream made him angry.... I respect him and all people fought for us so we don't have to live in an oppression dictatorship.... Just... Nowadays... We give it all away... Like it s not worth anything.
yeah,all for nothing
Three generations later we are being invaded across the channel with the help of the RNLI & Border Farce.
Excellent, well told and researched story of one of many of what a battle like Dunkirk is like. Providing scares still to be seen to this day of bulletholes in remembrence of the physicle and mental scares sufferd by those standing up holding their ground for others to finish the job.
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it!
My father in law from Ireland joined up January 1940, part of the BEF as an engineer RE, working on a Airfield at Grévillers. March, they got rifle training five rounds then the rifles were taken away. 10th May retreat off to Boulogne. Two Officers and ten men ordered to Calais to get Trenching materials, thinking of the great war? Ha Ha the Germans on their with Tanks. While they were away the remaining company escaped from Boulogne by ship. Located at various points in the Pas-de-Calais and told to go to Dunkirk as they were not fighting troops. They stopped and regrouped at Cassel, and then moved on. The Town Major at Dunkirk was asked where they could build the trenches. LOL, they escaped on a fishing skip on 25th May 1940. Back in 1944 with the Mulberry harbour.
Amazing story, Thank you. Please continue keeping the memory of these great men alive. What were the names of the other soldiers? It would have been nice to give them an honourable mention.
My dear uncle Fred, East Kent Rgt. (attached to the Royal Military Police) was a rearguard soldier, captured at Dunkirk. Being a big man, he was noted for his skills with a Bren Gun and no nonsense temperament. On capture, the Germans marched him and his fellow POW's all the way to Poland, existing on roadside turnips and starvation rations. He spent the remainder of the war in a POW camp. Suffice to say he wasn't a friend of the Germans, nor did he want to say much about his experience. His wife was a Bletchley Wren.
a distant relation Lesley Rollinson from Leeds was also in the MP, captured at Dunkirk. He walked from country to country as a prisoner,ending up at Odessa ! Wonder if they knew each other? He also didn't say much about his war
@@rodneyhull9764 My uncle was Fred Nicholls, from Kent. They may well have known each other. Just wish I'd had more opportunity to talk to him about this.
Thank you for this post. They will be remembered.
I would like to keep alive the memory of the 51st Highland Division at St Valery who were there after Dunkirk. Guy Martins channel has videos about it titled Dunkirk: The Forgotten Heroes.
Yes indeed. Still fighting 10 days after the Dunkirk evacuation, forced to surrender on 12th June 1940 and marched into captivity.
@@anguscameron819 yes. My uncle (Sgt A G White RAMC) was one of the few who managed to escape. His story is in the comments section of the Guy Martin video mentioned above, if you have the time and inclination 😉.
My great-uncle on my mum's side died at St Valery during that action. RIP L. SJT Albert Percival, Gordon Highlanders. I visited the graveyard where his remains lay in 2022.
@@bobbluesbarker thanks for sharing my friend, I think it's important these stories are known.
My grandfather was 51st Highland A Company (Black Watch).
I'm related to Sir Richard Whittaker Porritt, who was the first Member of Parliament to be killed in action during WW2. He was a captain in the Royal Lancashire Fusiliers and died at Seclin in a similar rear action defense near Dunkirk.
Great Story relating to the Evacuation of Dunkirk. Thanks for sharing.
My father said they ran out of ammo, and had to surrender. He was sent to pow camp in Poland. He escaped a year towards the end of the war, made it back to England. Then he got sent to Burma to fight the Japanese.
Burma, one of the toughest theaters of all
Was he Northumberland?
@@KKTR3 I think it was called the Bucks and Berkshire.
Brilliant. Great story. Good narration mixed in with actual accounts. Nice graphics with then and now views mixed in. What's not to like. Just subbed
Loved the automated subtitle spelling of “Glosters”... 🇬🇧
Why am I just now discovering this channel?! Great videos.
Amazing short documentary!! Thanks as always!!
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The quality of these videos are incredibly well done👏🏼
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Fantastic thanks for sharing with us 👍
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My father was in the 51st Highland division (Black Watch) captured at St VALLERIE he was wounded seen by General Rommel who ordered the German medics to treat all wounded soldiers no matter who they were the same father spent the rest of the war as a POW with his comrades in Poznan in Poland.
Thank you Men of Courage!
Wonderful presentation
Thanks a lot
Wow. Great freakin' work. Subscribed!
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Excellent video once more!
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The name Gloucester coupled with a rearguard action brings to mind the Imjin River. It would be great to see you tell that story.
You are doing great honor in covering this part of war. Many know about the Dunkirk but not much is know about the rear guard. These events are mostly overshadowed by bigger operations. I'd like to see more of those forgotten parts of history in future.
My wife’s grandpa was warrant officer class 3 At Dunkirk , and lost , i understand he was last know operating a machine gun
Very professional content.
Well done ruddy lad, you live on
I'm 63 year's old my grandad served with the Lancashire fusiliers as infantry ? lorry driver he was also army boxing champion , told me about the journey to the beach on foot, with all the road signs removed ,but they made it , i remember he could'nt swim and was terrified, but he made it home, nothing seemed to rattle him he was a quiet man but could sort any situation out i have his medal's in my posession , the good lord was on our side for that one
Did enjoy this thanks 👍
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Another great video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Great work!
Thank you! Cheers!
A very moving story very well told.
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I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
Thank you very much!
Nice vid max, those fuji cameras colours are very vibrant, they tried to replicate the colours from their superia extra film and not a bad job, like the photos.
My Grandfathers rearguard action was the destruction of vehicles. Sugar or sand the petrol, drain the oil, run until the engine seized, three rounds through the block and then set it on fire. Move to the next one. They were machine gunned in the water, but he managed to get off on a destroyer. At 39 years old he was called up from the reserves into the Royal Army Ordinance Corps forerunner of the REME as he was a talented mechanic. Thomas Heath 1901 - 1989. Great video BTW.
🙏✊️ very well made, thankyou.
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Glosters always getting left behind to hold the line
My grandad was in the glosters. Im trying to find info on his service. He was demobbed, then reenlisted volonteer and was sent to burma.
My grandad was one of them, 2 bn.
yes korea springs to mind
@@hachimaru295 yep 1/Gloster Mons 10/Gloster Burma
@@hachimaru295 Military blunder for the ages attacking 1/Gloster with only 28 thousand men
Brilliant story of the utmost bravery.
All those men should have received gallantry awards, what a fight they put up, not called the glorious gloucesters for nothing.🇬🇧
Brave boys. God Bless them .🇬🇧
Absolute heros mu grandad was there LEST WE FORGET ❤❤
Swift & bold!
Brave men, never forgotten.
My father (RWK) was evacuated off the mole on 1st June, so those like this rearguard made it posible, afyet which he was able to return to France on Gold Beach on 6th June 1944, with Essex Regt., which he helped to train.
Wife’s GRANDPA was IN C company PSM WO class 3 NF , He died fighting on at the rear Dunkirk . The news report says “ went forward and never seen again “
My Grandfather said he’d wished Germany won the War and that he hated going to war against his German brothers. He felt betrayed at what England has become and said now looks like we lost the war. He was from Luton.
Heroes in every true sense of the word.
Wife’s GRANDPA was IN C company PSM WO class 3 NF , He died fighting on at the rear Dunkirk . The news report says “ went forward and never seen again “
Our forebears. 💪🏻 Make me feel ten feet tall.
Very hard to find much information on this online, as the algorithms keep directing me to irrelevant material. So I'm grateful for this video. Has anyone any information on the casualties of both sides from this battle?
My uncle Tom was with the Northumberland Fusiliers, he spent the rest of the war as a POW, and was later bayoneted by a German guard and suffered ill health for the rest of his life.
Wife’s GRANDPA was IN C company PSM WO class 3 NF , He died fighting on at the rear Dunkirk . The news report says “ went forward and never seen again “
Thank you for this video of really great quality I’m glad you tell the tales of the fighters in Nord Pas De Calais in 1940, there are so much stories untold yet ! One great battle took place at Loos (in 1940 called Loos-lez-Lille) and Haubourdin during the pocket of Lille. Check it out !
what about the 51st highland div left behind
What happened to the injured officer who approached the blockhouse?
My grandfather & his brother managed to escape from Dunkirk but his brother got shot in the leg but still got away but lost his leg at 18 .
This needs to be a movie ❤ let’s crowdfund it 🙈
Absolutely 💯👍🏻
Between the 10th of may & the 22 june 2,400 Dutch, 6,000 Belgian, 12,500 British and 92,000 French service personnel were killed in action fighting the German invasion. Thats over 100,000 allied soldiers,sailors and airmen losing their lives in a little over six weeks of combat. 😢 RIP to all of them
wow .
Rip😢
My wife’s grandpa was warrant officer class 3 At Dunkirk , and lost , i understand he was last know operating a machine gun .
Lt Cresswell received a good decoration for his command of the bunker but should have received the accelerated wartime promotion of Major upon his release, which he probably would have had if he survived to 1945 on wartime service, desk jobs and training jobs.
My maternal grandfather was a Gloster in the First war, and my father was one in the Second. 28th, remember Egypt!
Surprised the foundation of the block house didn’t collapse due to the weight of these men’s balls.
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤ respet éternelle of the BRITiSH ARMY thank you
Christ that took some guts ❤
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Such a great channel. As a vet, I urge you to keep up the great work you are doing to remind everyone and inspire the next generation of armed service personel to continue the defence of this great nation. @BattleGuideVT
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00:55 - 00:56 The name is Guderian. General Heinz Guderian.
Indeed.
It seems that the blockhouse was positioned to control movement on that road. Why couldn't the Germans quickly build a spur around the blockhouse's range of fire?
Thank you for this post , because of it I’ve tried looking on the net for something from 2017 , that I’d given up on trying to find again. Right now I’m tingling and my heart is beating like mad , (not good) This is the 3rd time technology/ the internet as done that to me other the years , it a long story but last week ON The Day that was the 20th anniversary of my brother’s death a series none connected events cumulated in a photograph of my brother I’d never seen before suddenly appearing in front of my eyes ,it was from 1960 him dressed as a shepherd from a school play , he was 17 years old than me . If you read some of my other comments on here you will see the family legend was that John James was last seen going at the Germans at Dunkirk with a machine Gun , this story came about when at some point in the 70s John James McCance son found him self working with an old guy who said he was at Dunkirk with a McCance , he then told him the story of his father. Well as I said at the start because of this I’ve gone looking for that conversation from 2017 and somehow this time I found my way back to it , But since last time it’s been updated with a news report Confirming that story my wife’s father was told about his father all them years ago . Thank you
Heroes
Nice narration video about that bravery Tableau was written by British soldiers during Dankerk rescued mission..
So what happened with the wounded British officer? Where did he come from, where did he go? What was his mission?
He was a POW sent by the Germans to get the men in the blockhouse to surrender
My Uncle Joe was in the rear guard Wiltshire regt. He was captured
In Remembrance.
My father was there and was bayoneted his mates got him back to England they left a lot of the injured on the beaches only wanting the ones that were able to fight .
I knew quite a number of Highlanders who were still fighting at St Valery, at least 10 days after the last men were evacuated from Dunkirk. They eventually ran out of ammo and were captured by Rommel who was disgusted by the resistance those men put up. The 51st were marched across to Poland and Germany, with a good number dying en route from wounds. One man managed to slip out of the prisoners' column and was taken in by a French family who protected him for the rest of the war. He worked on their farm and returned to the Highlands, a fluent French speaker, and ended up working with my father. Some say the French were cowards; that is a damned lie.
George M.. DLI. Durham light infantry
REspect
Rip ruddy
Anyone heard of the The sacrifice of the 51st Highland Division?