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I have been wondering if you would be interested in some family history I have from Dunkirk. It came to light eighteen months ago when I was asked to go through some personal belongings of my Aunt who had died earlier.
My Father came off the beaches of Dunkirk. What I found was a postcard dated 31/5/40, typewritten, saying ‘I am home and well. I am not in hospital. You can write to me at :- Room 86. Balfore Barracks. Shrivenham. Swindon. Wilts.’, signed B. Jones
I also have a letter hand written by him dated 1/6/40 It reads :-
Dear Megan,
Well here I am back in England after spending 6 days in Hell. I arrived in Dunkirk on Sunday last and believe me what you have read in the papers wasn’t ¼ of what we went through. We had nothing to eat for 5 days, not even bully and biscuits. Sleep became a thing of the past and if you so much as put your head down on the sand for 5 minutes you’d fall off to sleep only to be awakened by a ton of sand falling on you from bursting bombs about 2 minutes after you’d fallen asleep.
One day about 300 planes came over and they all dropped about a dozen bombs so you can guess what I’ve been through and what I’ve seen.
Still thanks to the Navy we’re through although thousands of us must be left behind. Pray for them next time you pray as I’ve done nothing else for the last 24 hours and Thank God for guiding the Navy which brought me home safely on Friday.
When I shall get any leave I don’t know but I may have to wait until June for it as we are still on Active Service.
Well I am dog tired so forgive this short letter as I’m going to sleep. Cheerio with love Bryn xxxx
I’ll write again as soon as possible.

I know from what my Father told me that the Soldiers were told to leave everything on the beach and just take themselves to the ships. My father smuggled off that beach a leather writing case, given to him by his sister for his 21st Birthday. He had taken it everywhere with him since he had joined up at 21 years of age. I still have that writing case.
My father died in 1982 aged 65. He was Spr. B. Jones 1874295, 14th(Corps Fld Survey) Coy RE, B E F.

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