The evacuation that astounded the world.

[General Mayhem]

On the 29th of June, 1940, The British began evacuating 338,000 British & French troops from Dunkirk, on the Belgium coast. Most equipment had to be left behind. Civilian volunteers and vessels of all sizes aided The Royal Navy in this effort. Who would have thought then that in June 1944, they would be back?

Also on this day, in 1941, The battleship Hood was hit by a salvo, from Bismark, a direct hit into the rear magazine, the resultant explosion ignited the forward magazine, blowing the ship apart. Just three men, out of a company of 400, survived the ordeal.

And if you will forgive my indulgence:

On this day in 1941 The German Army completed the conquest of Crete. My father was among the defenders, his war was over and four years of incarceration about to begin.

But in 1943, on this day, The dams on the Mohne & Eder rivers in the Ruhr Valley, were breeched. (Do you know why they can't film a remake of The Dambusters? Because you can't call a dog nigger anymore.

And Lindenburgh completed the first, non-stop trans-atlantic flight from New York to Paris in 33 & a half hours, back in 1927.

[Mark]

On the HMS Hood website I found this;

 

24 May: Hood sunk in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. In the engagement, Hood, Prince of Wales and Bismarck all received damage. At 0600, Hood sank following a catastrophic conflagration/explosion resulting from a deep penetrating hit from Bismarck. Out of a crew of 1,418 only three (Ordinary Signalman Ted Briggs, Midshipman William Dundas and Able Seaman Robert Tilburn) survived. Despite the loss of Hood, the action DID achieve the result of effectively cancelling the German sortie: Though Prinz Eugen escaped, Bismarck was later defeated and sunk with a heavy loss of life. No convoys were lost to either ship.

[antarmike]

The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, between May 26 and June 4, 1940, when British and French troops were cut off by the German army during the Battle of Dunkirk in the Second World War. Winston Churchill called it the greatest military defeat for many centuries, warning that "the whole root, the core, and brain of the British Army" was stranded in Dunkirk. He hailed their subsequent rescue as a "miracle of deliverance."[1]"wikpedia"

"On the 29th of June, 1940, The British began evacuating 338,000 British & French troops from Dunkirk,"

I think they had all gone home by then!!

Edited June 29, 2008 by antarmike

[Tony B]

As for not calling a dog 'Nigger'. When the British militay team were taken hostage in Sierra Leone, a few years ago by a bunch politley reffered to on the BBC as 'The West Side Boys'. The account from the soldier's after release was that his drove thier captors up the wall. They considered the term 'Boys' to be derogatory, which has justifaction. They called them selves 'The West Side Niga's'. Always a dicy bit, you can upset anybody if they want to be upset. 'Ah my boy' is a term of endermant in Jersey, round here I hate it if some one uses it. And don't forget the 'Little Dunkirk' when vessels from the Channel Island's evacuated the British rear gaurd from St. Malo. They sailed down the French Occupied coast with no Royal Navy escort or involvment.

[Mark]

I also thought Crete surrendered on the 1st of June, with greatest respect to your father.

[antarmike]

Operation Chastise was the official name for the attacks on German dams on 17th May, 1943 in World War II using a specially developed "bouncing bomb". The attack was carried out by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the Dambusters. "Wikpedia"

 

"But in 1943, on this day (the 29th of June) The dams on the Mohne & Eder rivers in the Ruhr Valley, were breeched."

 

I think not... are we being deliberately wound up here?

Edited June 29, 2008 by antarmike

[antarmike]

Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) (nicknamed "Lucky Lindy" and "The Lone Eagle") was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and peace activist who, on May 20–21, 1927, rose instantaneously from virtual obscurity to world fame as the result of his piloting of the first solo nonstop Transatlantic flight from New York (Roosevelt Field) to Paris (Le Bourget Field), in the single-seat, single-engine monoplane Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh was awarded the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, in 1927 for his exploit.[1] "Wikpedia"

 

"On the 29th of June,.... Lindenburgh completed the first, non-stop trans-atlantic flight from New York to Paris in 33 & a half hours, back in 1927."

 

"May 20–21, 1927" Yes this must be a wind-up...

Edited June 29, 2008 by antarmike

[antarmike]

Public Profile Mini Statistics

Date of Birth

January 1 (2007)

 

Ah he's only a baby, this General Mayhem , unles that is another date he has got wrong!

[Degsy]

There might just be a clue in his name

[Tony B]

Be charitable! Call it the 'Hollywood Effect'?

[Degsy]

Oh yes, the Hollywood Effect, correct me if I'm wrong but is that a distorted view of history allied with a somewhat vivid imagination?

[Tony B]

On the HMS Hood website I found this;

 

24 May: Hood sunk in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. In the engagement, Hood, Prince of Wales and Bismarck all received damage. At 0600, Hood sank following a catastrophic conflagration/explosion resulting from a deep penetrating hit from Bismarck. Out of a crew of 1,418 only three (Ordinary Signalman Ted Briggs, Midshipman William Dundas and Able Seaman Robert Tilburn) survived. Despite the loss of Hood, the action DID achieve the result of effectively cancelling the German sortie: Though Prinz Eugen escaped, Bismarck was later defeated and sunk with a heavy loss of life. No convoys were lost to either ship.

 

Recently heard a radio autobiography by the late Jon Pertwee. He told how he had been on HMS Hood just before she sailed. He was called to an interview withe Captain, not realising it was the interview for his C.Q,. officers course. (What does CQ stand for by the way) anyway as he said 'he passed and expected to go on the course when he returned. Instead he was straight over the side onto a trawler and away'. The fate of the Hood we know.'

[Snapper]

Which is partly where the PoW's "Jonah" status comes from, which lasted until her demise off Malaya on December 10. Her gunnery was slow coming in to action leading the Hood to take a position she would not have been at otherwise. Hence the disaster.

 

There will always be something about Hood, there will never be another (except in olde Star Trek). Imagine seeing a ship like that nowadays. Had she survived they'd have scrapped her anyway. No sentiment.

[Degsy]

CQ is the international morse code for 'calling all ships', COQC is probably what he meant,Commanding Officers Qualifying Course.

[Tony B]

Thanks Degsey, a recent QI what wa sthe first international distress call.? CQD Ceek Que Distress?