Supplement 35305 — Gort’s France and Belgium despatch

IRumb. 35305 SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of FRIDAY, the 10th of OCTOBER, 1941 by Registered as a newspaper FRIDAY, 17 OCTOBER, 1941 . March* 1941. -. . The following Despatches have been received by the Secretary of State for // War from General the Viscount GORT, V.C., K.C.B., C.B.E./D.S.O., M.V.O., M.C., * Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force. (France and Belgium 1939-40.) FIRST DESPATCH (Covering the period from 3rd September, 1939, to 3ist January, 1940). General Headquarters,- 3. The plans for the despatch of the Force British Expeditionary Force, differed in two important respects from those…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5903 the weight of modern aircraft, has made it neces- requisite selective censorship on the abnormally sary to construct concrete runways, often of large number of letters now despatched daily. considerable extent, on the principal aero- Extremely useful reports on the outlook of the dromes in use. A number of special units of British Expeditionary Force as a whole and on the Royal Engineers had consequently to be its relations with the local French inhabitants raised, and a large amount of plant, grass seed are produced periodically. These are based and materials had to be provided. largely on…

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…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 declared an open town and that British troop Air Force to impede the enemy advance; but movements would prejudice its safety, but no such opportunities were of a fleeting character, adequate alternative routes to the Dyle were since the enemy established strong anti-aircraft available and I was therefore compelled to defences soon after his arrival, particularly in adhere to the original plan of using the outskirts towns at which roads converged. Tactical of the city. reconnaissance became virtually impossible The 3rd Division, on arrival, reported that a without fighter support, and the demands…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 59*3 vulnerable points, were ordered to relieve units 23rd Division moved to their positions during of ist and 2nd Corps on protection and traffic I7th May; they were provided with about forty control of main routes in Belgium. Railheads, field, anti-tank, and anti-aircraft guns from which had been advanced on i3th May to the ordnance reserves. general line Enghien—Ninove, were now moved The enemy break-through was now offering back across the frontier. an imminent threat to rear G.H.Q., to the During the night i6/i7th May the withdrawal communications over the Somme at Amiens to the Senne positi…

-SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON~GAZETTE; 17 OCTOBER, 1941 south-west was' entirely impossible until the •covered" had -already far e'xceeded the estimated situation had been retrieved on the front of the life of the tracks which were now beginning to French ist Army. break through wear. It v/as clear therefore that the attack of 33. 5th Division was therefore "ordered .to Frankforce would not maintain its momentum join 5oth Division in the Vimy area, and its .unless it was reinforced and supported by the commander, Major-General Franklyn, was placed French on its left. • During 22nd May, therefore, in command of all th…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5919 On return from the meeting, orders were issued evacuation was carrie.d out under the orders of to implement these decisions, and that evening the War Office, being completed on the night I moved my command post to the Chateau de of 23/24th May. Premesques, midway between Armenti&res and Lille. The Administrative Situation. 37. During the whole of this period I had The final severance of the L. of C. and the invest- been kept in the closest touch with the adminis- ment of Boulogne. trative situation by the Quarter-Master-General 36. During the gist May the enemy penetra- (Lieutenant-General W…

17 OCTOBER, 1941 5931 SOME LESSONS OF THE CAMPAIGN Our anti-tank armament was more ample than that of the French, but did not extend further The importance oj equipment; the time factor; back than the division. No guns were available liaison; dejence in depth; the employment for the defence of Corps or rearward areas or for of air forces; river crossing and demolitions ; the three " Pioneer " divisions, except by with- signal communications; traffic control; drawing weapons from the formations to which security; supply and transport; the behaviour they had been allotted in War Establishments. of the troops. These…

5932 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941 The liaison with flanking French formations breaking up formations of enemy aircraft. But was carried out by the exchange of bilingual being purely defensive, it can never prove the liaison officers. I was particularly fortunate in complete antidote to 'enemy bombers and recon- the French officers who were attached for these naissance aircraft, even when available in duties from neighbouring formations. sufficient strength. A commander must have at his call sufficient fighters to intercept and attack I would also like to take this opportunity of the enemy. r…