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A Post Card From Dunkirk

Joseph Green was my uncle and spent his life in the Merchant navy and with the Royal Navy during WW11 for which he volunteered. On the death of my mother Mary Walmsley-Josephs sister- their came into my possession two items of mail Joseph had sent her during his involvement at Dunkirk. Below is a transcript of the said items along with a personal comment. I feel they are worth including in your WW11 archive for their sense of immediacy during as Churchill put it 鈥淥ur darkest hour鈥�

Transcript
Post Card marked Aberdeen 8-30 PM 6th Jun 40.
Just a line hope you are same ship lost, not me! tell everybody. Sorry their Over Bombs
Good Bye
Joe God Bless You

Comment
This card with its message hastily scrawled on the wrong side, was written by my Uncle Joe on the beach at Dunkirk and given to an evacuating soldier to post in England, which he eventually did. Holding this card and knowing its history, one can empathise with someones desperate need to communicate with his family amid so much despair and uncertainty.

Transcript of Letter

Aberdeen Catholic Canteen
Still working. What a job Dunkirk. Dear Mary just a line back again. Mary we have no peace now the French finished don't ever forget he has not won by a long way if he can beat us he can have the British Empire we are going again.Best love to all my relations.
Sorry short letter answer letter immediately.
God Bless Good Luck
Brother Joe.

Comment

Fortunately Joe was evacuated and on his arrival in Aberdeen was re-assigned to a ship and sent back to Dunkirk. His comment "Don't ever forget he's not won by a long way" is surely a triumph of Hope over experience and one that as a Nation we turned into a Belief and subsequently a Victory.

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