大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Alex Kane of CSV Scotland on behalf of Donald Angus Montgomery and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was a sergeant in the original 51st Highland Division. I say original, for we were sacrificed by Churchill at St Valery in 1939 and a second line was then redesignated as the 51st. Under the leadership of General Fortune we fought a brave rearguard action under the French flag in an attempt to stop the Germans closing off evacuations at Dunkirk. As Rommel鈥檚 troops closed in, the French surrendered but we fought on. Once we ran out of ammunition we fought the Germans with anything we had, including our own cutlery, but eventually our situation was becoming hopeless and the order was given to surrender to prevent further loss of life.

Rommel was so impressed with our defence that he demanded to take our surrender personally. I saw the man who was later known as the Desert Fox as he took our surrender, it was a sad occasion for all of us there but I am proud to say I fought with the brave men of the 51st. After the surrender we were placed in a field while we awaited our fate. My comrade and I managed to slip away and tried to make our way back to another British unit even using out Gaelic tongue to pretend we were Russian soldiers. We were hiding in a field and had resorted to eating grass when we saw a French farmer and begged him for some food. He told us to stay hidden and went off only to return with German soldiers. For us the fighting was now over. I was to become a POW for four and a half years spending captivity in Stalag 8B and Stalag 838. Sometimes being force marched with only canvas covering my feet through Poland and Silesia, a hardship which leaves me suffering with walking difficulties today.

At least I am alive to tell the tale unlike many of those brave men of the 51st and other regiments who made the ultimate sacrifice. On the Isle of Lewis hardly a home was left untouched by loss during the war. Despite my captivity I still consider myself one of the lucky ones as were my 4 brothers. All fought and returned home after the war something I will always be grateful for.

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