大象传媒

CHAPTER FIVE
THE FINAL ACT
A Sergeant A Borman RA. Relates his personal experience:
"Having been amongst the 51st Highland Division to attack and capture St.Valery which seemed to be burning from end to end. During the fighting I joined with a small group who had lost contact with their unit thinking they were the only British Troops in the town. Eventually I made contact with my own unit where half way through June 11th we were informed that boats were on there way to take us off. So under the command of a Major Mullens we marched down to the beaches where we halted and told to about turn. The boats we expected were not coming. Much to our amazement the Major marched us away from the harbour up a hill to some woods where we waited from 3am until 6. The Major called us together to tell us he had grave news. It was that most of the Division had surrendered and that he himself had no intention of surrendering if he could help it and any man who wished to follow him could do so at his own risk. With that he said, "I'm off!" and started running through the wood. Needless to say we stuck to him like glue.
He led us for 6 miles under constant machine gun and mortar fire until we arrived at a small coastal village of Veules-Les-Roses where to our joy we discovered many British and French craft. Even then we were under fire from heavy batteries mounted along the cliffs. We were more relieved when a British Destroyer arrived (HMS Harvester) and fired back at the enemy very effectively". Picked up by a French boat Sgt. Borman found himself transported to Cherbourg where he was to remain for several days assisting in defending the Port just prior to its fall. Eventually he got back to England in a coal boat and was saddened to learn that France had capitulated.

Meanwhile my group was less fortunate. They had lost contact with their HQ. Both 'C' and 'D' companies were out of touch on the beach and unable to make contact with the main Battalion. They decided to take up positions in the pinewoods led by Captain Colley O.C of 'C' company. (I buried my pack in these woods and I wonder now if it's still there?) The operation was successfully carried out and the position held out against frequent attacks. Eventually the enemy brought up tanks and the unit began to get really serious casualties.

Captain Colley, acting without official orders suggested the three remaining Officers take small parties in an attempt to reach the ships laying about a mile or so from shore. There were still a number of small fishing boats undamaged in the harbour. Captain Colley and 2nd Lt.Walker each with a party of 18 men secured boats. It was disappointing to note the lack of oars or paddles in the boats. They obtained shovels and used these as paddles. Unfortunately Captain Colley's boat (on which I was on) had a taller mast than 2nd Lt.Walkers who managed to get away and attract the attention of the Destroyer HMS Harvester and taken on board. Captain Colley's boat had to return since we were unable to get under the bridge across the harbour due to the high mast. This meant that on returning his crew had to climb the mast in order to get back onto the jetty due to the now falling tide. He then attempted to lead his group along the beeches towards Veules-les-roses but was him self killed in the process. We decided it would be "Every man for himself". Being a Sergeant I didn't think it right to leave lesser ranks to hold the fort. Leaving behind those badly wounded was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Those not so seriously wounded, with assistance from the more able bodied and under continuous fire from both sides of the Harbour kept close to the cliffs but the Germans began to roll boulders down onto them as they dashed along the beach. I soon realised how hopeless things had become. I gathered together a few of the remaining able bodied and we decided to chance it. I'm afraid we left it much too late. Dodging small arms fire we reached a point on the beach where three ships were laying just a short distance from the shore in the fast rising mist. Wading out to them I soon realised they were all grounded on an out going tide. A shell landed on the far side of the ship closest to me fired from the cliff tops behind us, then all hell broke loose as more and more guns fired in and around the three stranded ships, it was as though the sea its self was boiling. All were heavily loaded with troops of whom many were seen leaping back into the sea to escape what to them was inevitable disaster. Almost immediately the ship closest to me took a direct hit causing even more men to jump or fall back into the sea only to be machine gunned from the cliffs behind us. We realised the situation was hopeless and turning back we waded to the beach and ran for the cover of the cliffs. Here we were luckier in being out of sight from those manning the guns above us but we hadn't gone un noticed. It was so disheartening to see that ship eventually explode taking with it so many brave men. The remaining two ships hoisted white items indicating they were surrendering. Then handgrenades began showering down on us from the cliffs above. We had long destroyed our own transport so removing the bolts from our rifles we tossed them in different directions onto the sandy beach then we ourselves surrendered. You cannot imagine what goes through your mind in such a situation.
Your thoughts were of the men around you, especially those badly wounded and of how your captors would treat them and you? We were directed by an arm waving German Officer from the cliff tops to assemble on the small promenade at the end of the beach. After the war I learned that 338,226 men were rescued from the beaches of France. Of this number 139,911 were French troops. A great many men were killed who had been sheltering in caves along the cliffs between St.Valery and Veules-Les-Roses on leaving cover to reach the ships they were gunned down from the cliffs and by enemy aircraft. Making our way into captivity it was here that I saw the adjoining beach covered with their bodies. From a distance it looked like hundreds of holidaymakers enjoying the warm sunshine. Sights like that remain with you forever. It was June 12th 1940. At no time did I hear the words "For you the war is over" from our captors.

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