The Other 'Dunkirk'

The Harbour at St Valery En Caux
The Cliffs at St Valery
The Memorial to the 51st Highland Division


Many are aware of the Dunkirk evacuation May/June 1940 but what about the other 'Dunkirk' at St Valery En Caux. On the 12th June 1940 over 9000 men of the 51st Highland Division were taken prisoner after arriving at the coast after conducting a successful fighting withdrawal to the Channel port for evacuation by the Royal Navy. It was not to be. Some members of the Division known as 'Ark' Force however did escape the advancing German forces and were evacuated through Le Havre.

This action tends to be overshadowed by Dunkirk but is well worth a visit. I conducted a tour recently in reverse order from St Valery up to Dunkirk via Dieppe and Operation 'Jubilee' We might look at this in the future as a Recce for Guild members