TNA ADM 199 795

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It was now becoming obvious that to enable the IX Corps
to fall back in good order to the line of the Lower Seine,
a cover position would have to be held along. the River
Andelle, some 12 miles east of Rouen. General Evans, there-
fore, at once ordered his 3rd Armoured Brigade (in fact
reduced to some four weak squadrons of 30 tanks in all)
to stiffen up the right flank of Beauman's defensive line.
9. On the 8th June the German amoured drive continued
on the Axis Amiens - Rouen, and succeeded in penetrating
the weak British defences on the watershed butween the
Rivers Andelle and Bethune, west of Forges-Les-Baux.
Beauman's ill-equipped units, with the British tanks
supporting them, fell back to the line of the Soino.
That night German armoured units penstrated into Rouen,
and the French Tenth Army lost all touch from then onward
with its IX Corps in the Pouen - Dieppe cul-de-sac.
10. The 51st Division was thus completely cut off from
its proper line of retirement via Rouen. This was mainly
due to the failure or inability of the French High Command
to withdraw their left wing while there was still time
and space for this manoeuvre. Throughout all these
operations it was becoming clear that the French High
Command was issuing "die in the last ditch orders, which
their troops had no intention of carrying out. From this
time onwards, until the final evacuation of the B.E.F. on
was crushed and that it had little Intention of offering
the 18th, it was obvious that the spirit of the French Aray
serious resistance. This spirit was also shared by the
Headquarters literally ceased to function for 48 hrs; It
higher commanders; on the 8th June the Tenth French Army
had lost all touch, and its X Corps was broken and in full
retreat.
11. The had on the 9th June reached the line of
The 3rd Armoured and Brigada and Beauman's fragmentary units
the Seine Germans had ustablished bridgeheads at several points.
which had been refitting at Louviers, was put in to support
were withdrawn to reorganize, and the 2nd Amounted Brigade,
General hold de la Laurencie's south III Corps of Rouen. which was It was trying now to
being apparent to the 12. drive Tenth the It employed was Seine Laurie, that south-west French at sent an the elsewhere, this crossings able was out Army German critical towards and rushed to from France. cool-headed armoured while the up On Alencon juncture and the Armee three Its units ni placed with commander, de leading ht that Army Paris. and of & under Corps the view 12th/13th air brigade, 52nd Brigadier the to force were separating Division orders June were detached the
or it the Tenth Freuch right Army. sector of the III Corps frontenst of 8 miles of
Conches, took over the very exposed position, with & battalions gap on
on its right, in a and two newly arrived French
its left west of Evreux.
/AS