Landing Craft

I was one of the many men sent out to the Beaches of France for what was to become known simply as Dunkirk. I served with the Royal Engineers, and I had the glorious task of searching for mines, using the technology of the time, a knife and my bare hands. Unfortunately as people now know, the invasion was not a great military success. As we were forced back into the freezing cold English Channel, all we could do was wait, for ships and vessels that were heading our way. I remember the sea to be freezing cold and my kit was getting heavietr by the second. I was one of the lucky ones, being tall I could walk out further into the sea, there were men around me, being shot and killed, and also drowning as they tried to escape. After what seemed like an eternity a landing craft approached and there was a mad scramble to board. I was lucky I managed to get on the landing craft. As I moved down the craft, I looked at the pilot, who it turns out was my brother in law Len. He calmly smiled at me and sai "Thank God there is a Royal Navy" to this day I remember his warm sarcastic smile. and I also remember the very brave and very unlucky ones that couldn't make it home

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