Giving Tea to the Soldiers Returning from Dunkirk

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Sue Manning-Jones on behalf of Len Lawrence with his permission. Mr Lawrence fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I was 11 when war broke out. On my twelfth birthday, 27th May 1940, I was down at Folkestone harbour watching the boat trains. Normally they were unloading troops onto the ships to take them to France. Much to my surprise instead of soldiers embarking they were going the other way. I was stopped by a Military Policeman who asked me what I was doing and told me to clear off. I went down the next day and another MP asked me what I was doing, this time I saw some WVS ladies with tea so I grabbed two cups and said I was helping the soldiers! He said “Good lad, carry on”.

At first the soldiers were in ordinary uniforms but over the next few days every time I went down things seemed worse — no equipment, torn clothes, some in just shirt tails and boots. I remember in particular one group of dishevelled men standing on the quayside. An officer said “OK lads, we’re back home now, smarten up” and with that they fell in and marched off.

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