Escape from France, 1940

This is a story about my Grandad, who died 3 years before I was born, in 1988. I got the story from my Dad.

In 1940, when all of the British troops had to be evacuated from France, my Grandad did something that not many other soldiers did.

When he and his group of about ten men arrived at the beaches, there were already huge queues forming. Most of the group, including the officer, were glad just to be at the beach. They thought of it as a bit nearer home. My Grandad thought to himself that he would not make it to the boats if he joined one of the ever-increasing queues. The Germans were bombing the beach all of the time, to try and 'wipe out' the British Army.

My Grandad and another private, whose name I do not know, decided to leave the beach and search for another, quieter one. It might not have even been a beach, just a rocky inlet for the sea. This was extremly dangerous because of the axis forever gaining territory. I think he had to go into enemy territory but I am not too sure.

My Grandad and the other private swam out into the English Channel. There was one problem - the private couldn't swim. My Grandad had to swim as a lifeguard does when carrying a person, with one arm.

My Grandad was a very strong swimmer and had won awards for it at school and in the army previously (he was already a territorial when it all began in 1939).

He swam out to a small fishing boat that, after picking him and his mate up, went back to England.

My Grandad arrived home safely a couple of days later.

He was soon to embark on his next adventure.

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