大象传媒

When Churchill announced that the evacuation of Dunkirk was complete I was three years old. Later I discovered that this was not an entirely happy announcement for my mother because my father was still missing somewhere in France. He did eventually reach these shores and took part in the invasions of Africa and Normandy.

After the war, I asked him about this experience and he said that he, and a number of others, reached Dunkirk after the rescue vessels had gone. They sheltered for a number of days under the stand at the St. Malo football ground, before being taken off by a destroyer. He had to be mistaken because even I, a cocky young grammar schoolboy, new that St. Malo was at the other side of the Cherbourg Peninsula and miles away from where he was supposed to be. So he wasn't only late but was also hopelessly lost.

A few years ago I visited Dunkirk, strolled along the beach and climbed a dune from which I saw a football ground with a small stand over which was the name St. Malo.

Can any credence be lent to this story which stems from the answers of a shy man to a relatively disinterested brat?

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.