Supplement 35305 — Gort’s France and Belgium despatch

17 OCTOBER, 1941 59<>5 as instructors to assist in the training of new I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the formations, while an equal number have been chief of the Mission, General de Division Voruz, attached to the Force, for instruction, from and to all his staff for their ever ready help to units at home. the-British Army on all occasions. Despite the almost complete absence of battle Thanks to their efforts, matters relating to casualties the supply of officers has caused me billeting, hire of land, and local purchase of concern. Over four hundred candidates have material have been handled without f…

' SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941 Carvin, and on the following day isgth Infantry near Maulde on the front of ist Division a Brigade of the same division joined the force. number of enemy had crossed the river dis- On 2ist May I27th Infantry-Brigade rejoined the guised as refugees, but had been detected and 42nd Division and the sector from Millonfosse driven out with the bayonet. The Corps Com- to St. Amand was handed over to the French. manders all felt that they could hot how hold Already on 2oth May, I had ordered Major- on for more than .twenty-four hours. We General Curtis, Commanding 46t…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5927 beaches were organised at La Panne, Bray Dunes While at the Bastion, General Koeltz asked and Malo-les-Bains, one being allotted to each me, shortly after n p.m. whether I had yet Corps ; and military beach parties were impro- heard that H.M. the King of the Belgians had vised on each Corps beach. They carried on asked for an armistice from midnight that without naval assistance for two days, but were night. This was. the first intimation I had hampered by a.shortage of small boats and by a received of this intention, although I had lack of experience in their use. The troops were already fo…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5929 I communicated the gist of this report to the The arrival of these troops, though welcome C.I.G.S. and I asked that H.M. Government from-so many points of view, raised the question should consider the policy to be followed in the of embarkation in an acute form. Admiral Abrial event of a crisis arising, as well it might. had apparently received no orders from his In reply, I received two telegrams which Government that the whole of the British troops .read:— were to be embarked, and he professed great ". . . . H.M. Government fully approve surprise when he heard of my intentions. He ypur wit…

5906 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941 SECOND DESPATCH f (Covering the period from ist February, 1940, to 3ist May, 1940, with an Appendix covering operations of ist Corps from 6 p.m. 3ist May, to midnight 2nd/3rd June). | i. The narrative portions of this despatch have been compiled from the war diaries and other records of the General Staff at G.H.Q. These have been supplemented by war diaries, including those of the Swayne Mission, and by diaries, notes and records made by various commanders and staff officers at the time, or within a few days of their arrival in England. The records of the Ge…

5924 SUPPLEMENT TO .THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941 some sectors were held jointly with the French. I replied that a plan for withdrawal north- The virtual closing of Dunkirk as a port of westward had been agreed with the French entry was making the supply situation ever tha't morning; I added that the news from the more difficult, and the ammunition situation Belgian front was disquieting,' and concluded permitted only of very restricted expenditure. by saying:— . . . " I must not conceal from you that The Plan for Withdrawal. a great part of the B.E.F. and its equipment will'inevitably be lost even in best…

5934 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941 of my three Corps. Lieut.-Generals Sir Alan Honours and Awards. Brooke, M. G. H. Barker and Sir Ronald Adam, 73. I am submitting separately the names of Bart. The sudden turn of events on iyth May officers and other ranks whom I wish to recom- threw a violent and unexpected strain on the mend for reward or to bring to your notice for Commander, Lines of Communication Area (the gallant or distinguished service. late Major-General P. de Fonblanque), and I wish to record my sincere appreciation of his I have the honour to be good and devoted work during the tim…