A Soldier's Battle

[Jim]

"It had been a soldier's battle. A fight to the death. In places, entire sections lay still at their posts." The Flames of Calais.


Airey Neave - 24th May, 1940

[Dave]

Good one ! Great example of the Dunkirk rearguard, and puts the "miracle" in some perspective:

Book Description
The defense of Calais in May/June 1940 was a superb example of selfless courage and sacrifice. Sent by Churchill to divert the Germans from Dunkirk and so save the British Army from total annihilation and capture, 29 Brigade had orders not to evacuate or surrender.

Airey Neave, later to be Margaret Thatcher's right hand man until his assassination in 1979, was one of those who fought, and was wounded and captured there