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'This Story was submitted to the People's War site by Sarah Nurton on behalf of Cecil E STeff and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr. Steff fully understands the terms and conditions'

To Dunkirk

Ploegstreet Wood, orders received to expend all ammunition, spike all guns and retire to Dunkirk. Knowing all transport would be dumped and destroyed some miles short of Dunkirk, the remaining distance to be completed on foot, four of us all surveyors and drivers foolishly volunteered to stay behind with two vehicles to transport an infantry detachment fighting a rearguard action. We thought we would drive right into Dunkirk and avoid any walking. No way, we fought with them, eventually dumping the vehicles and then making our own way to the beaches

The Beaches

Arriving late evening at the sand dunes near Dunkirk we were shattered to see long queues of soldiers snaking away into the sea awaiting boats. We were desperately tired, thirsty and hungry and our reaction was ‘to hell with that’ back to the dunes and let’s sleep. After the best nights sleep we’d had for ages it was time to take stock. Water was the first priority, so into town and fortunately found water, slaked our thirst and filled our water bottles. Food was not important, we had an ample supply of cigarettes to keep us going, but what was our next move to be. We were on our own, the beach was being bombed and occasionally machine gunned, the queues were moving but very slowly and without a regiment we were not wanted. We aimlessly wandered around before again retiring to the sand dunes to smoke and sleep.

The Bombings and A Lucky Escape

The next morning it began to get serious, the beach was clearing, the bombing was more frequent, one falling dangerously close and temporarily deafening me, thankfully the sand was very soft and I survived. It was time to be positive so we walked to the ‘mole’ and joined the tail of a group awaiting a ship to arrive. A sergeant wanted to know who we were and because we were not of his unit off we had to go. When he disappeared back we went, but this time to the head of the queue and reported to the sergeant in charge. Fortunately he was pretty busy getting a group away to a ship which was frantically signalling by lamp. Before he could kick us off the mole once again I had an inspiration and asked if he could read lamp. He couldn’t, so I told him they were signalling for more men quick as they were pulling away. We were told to move quickly and just managed to jump onto the ship as it pulled away. One of the lads said to me ‘I didn’t know you could read lamp’ I replied ‘I can’t but it got us on this ship!’

To Safety

It’s strange but I don’t think any of us were really frightened , bomb happy maybe, and there were times when one was scared stiff but they passed very quickly and one soon returned to normal, thirst and tiredness were the worst experience. Once on board finding the first available place to lie down I slept to be eventually awakened by somebody saying we are pulling in to port. To this day I still do not know which port.

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