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After several more weeks we were told that the French had capitulated and we were to get out of France the best way we could. The weaponry of the Irish regiment and the R.D.F. had to be destroyed to stop the Germans getting hold of them. As far as I can remember, all were dropped into the sea.

Still we travelled France, eventually making our way onto the beaches. Planes were flying all round us,and thank God, we did not have any casualties. We swam out to a small boat, probably a fishing vessel. There were already 30 to 40 soldiers standing on deck. Any who still had rifles were told to keep them pointed towards the skies, ready for any attack by German aircraft. To this day I thank God we were not attacked.

Eventually the boat sailed out to sea, towards England. Although the voyage seemed to take forever, finally we got our first sight of the English coast line and a great cheer went up. We docked at a place called Weymouth, which I knew was not far from Bournemouth. We could not thank the captain enough for bringing us safely back to England.

As we left the vessel we were greeted with, 'How are you?' from various people along the keyside. Each side of the street was lined with Redcaps (military police). No one had a chance to get away - the fact being, owing to Dunkirk, no one knew who was dead or alive.

We were each given postcards to write home and tell our loved ones we were back in England. No postage stamp was required - we had to write B.E.F. or British Expeditionary Force in the corner of the postcard. Then we were ushered on to a train which was waiting at the station. The train moved out and still John and I, and maybe everyone else on board, had no idea of where we were going. At last an officer came to inform us that we were going to Blackpool. I was living in Bournemouth before I left England and since Weymouth is only a few miles from there, had hoped when we landed to get home and see Joan. At this time it seemed it was not to be and I felt a great longing. Upon arrival at Blackpool, we assembled in a school hall, were given blankets and told to sleep. As we had been awake now for several days this sleep was certainly needed. The next day we were billeted out to various boarding houses in the area to stay for a few days until we could be sent back to a British unit. Unfortunately John and I were told we would not be allowed to rejoin the anti-aircraft unit as requested, but would be sent to a British unit.

The first opportunity I had, I telephoned Joan, my future wife, who I imagined must have been very upset at not hearing from me. But what she had been through, I discovered, was much worse than simply not hearing from me.

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