大象传媒

In May 1940 everything changed when Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium. People living on the East Anglian coast realised just how near to home the war had come and everyone was saying fearfully "It'll be our turn next." The evacuees in the area were moved away speedily to safer places and civilians were advised to leave wherever possible. On June 3rd 1940, my Mother and I went to stay with an aunt in the Midlands. I will never forget that day. My mother was crying all the way to the station. She was a stoical lady and I had never before seen her in tears. I didn't quite understand what was happening and I was very upset. On the train from London to the Midlands, about a dozen or so soldiers walked through the carriages and further along the train. Everyone went silent. As young as I was, I remember how exhausted they all looked and their uniforms were stained and in tatters. Some were wearing an assortment of odd clothes. When they had gone past, people were saying "Poor chaps, they must have come from Dunkirk". Childlike, I asked "How do you know ?" and a gentleman said "See the red badge on their shoulders with the letters B E F - that stands for British Expeditionary Force, the Dunkirk Army". Even to this day I can still see the look of exhaustion and despair on their faces, one of my most vivid memories of the early part of the war.

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