Operation DYNAMO, Evacuation from Dunkirk

Event
Mon, 05/27/1940 - Tue, 06/04/1940
Op DYNAMO Dunkirk BEF
Dunkirk's beaches littered with abandoned and destroyed equipment, vehicles and craft.

Following the withdrawal to Dunkirk, the evacuation of the Allies began on 27 May and was completed by 4 June 1940 with the eventual rescue of around 338,226 personnel. The British Expeditionary Force evacuated from Dunkirk included the:

  • 2nd Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (13 Infantry Brigade/5th Infantry Division/BEF Headquarters Troops)

  • 2nd Battalion The Royal Ulster Rifles (9 Infantry Brigade/3rd Infantry Division/II Corps)

  • 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers (25 Infantry Brigade/50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Division/II Corps)

To read about our Battle Honour for actions during this period, please click on DUNKIRK 1940.

Meanwhile, on this day:

The Inniskillings were dug in at Hollebeke on the Ypres-Comines canal when an attack by the Germans developed into a penetration through a gap between A Company and the Cameronians to their flank. The Company suffered heavily and Brigade ordered the Companies to fall back to a position in rear. There was, in the fog of war that ensued, a loss of command and control by the Battalion Headquarters and Brigade liaison officers ordered the Battalion’s moves as directed by the Brigadier. When, later in the day, German pressure forced C and D Company to fall back, German patrols began to dominate the woods around Battalion Headquarters and soon the CO, Second in Command, Adjutant, RSM and others were captured.

The Rifles at Turcoing prepared for the move to a new position at Boesinghe (Boezinge) on the West Bank of the Yser canal. The Battalion moved that evening at 2130 hours under enemy shellfire as they began the 18-mile night move, arriving at dawn the following morning.

The Faughs, having withdrawn from the Bassée Canal, had marched to Rouge Croix some 8 miles north-east of Béthune. Early on the morning of 27 May, the CO was ordered to immediately send to Dunkirk for embarkation to England, a cadre of six officers and six warrant officers. He was then ordered to move the rest of the Battalion to line the nearby Canal de la Lawe, facing west to defend against German advances on Hazebrouck. At 1730 hours that afternoon, the Faughs disengaged and withdrew north through Estaires at speed. As they did so, a bridge was blown to delay the pursuing enemy, and tanks were engaged with the Boys Anti Tank Rifles at a range of 600 yards.