TNA ADM 234 360

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CHAPTER III
OPERATION "DYNAMO" IS COMMENCED,
SUNDAY, 26TH MAY, 1940
Allied decision to withdraw
In the morning of Sunday, 26th May, Lord Gort was able to visit General
ing collapse of the Belgian Army and felt that the time for the proposed com-
Blanchard at his H.Q. The French general shared his view as to the impend-
bined French and British counter-attack southwards was past. It was agreed
to withdraw the Allied main bodies behind the line of the Lys, subject to there
being no further deterioration in the Belgian situation, and with this decision
there vanished the last opportunity for a sortie.
from what might be described as a normal situation with Allied troops on the
The disposition of the B.E.F. was beginning to take its final shape. Starting
right and left, there had developed an ever-lenghtening defensive right flank.
This had then become a semi-circular line with both flanks resting on the sea,
manned by British, French and Belgians. Finally it had assumed the form of a
corridor, with its southern end blocked by the French 1st Army, and each side
manned, for the greater part of its length, by British troops; next to the sea
were flank.¹ French troops on the west, and French and Belgian troops on the eastern
The Franco-British forces were now holding a front of 128 miles, of which
97 miles were beld by British troops, though some of its sectors were held jointly
with the French. The immediate problem was to shorten this front, and Lord
Gort issued orders, in accordance with the agreement reached with General
Blanchard that morning, for withdrawals north-westward to take place in
successive stages, on the three coming nights.¹ These withdrawals would
have the effect of shortening the Franco-British front by 58 miles, but there
would still remain the possible necessity of having to occupy the 25 miles front from
Ypres to the sea, at present the responsibility of the Belgian Army.
H.M. Government authorises withdrawal to the coast
So far Lord Gort had not discussed with General Blanchard further with-
drawal of to the sea, and although he (Lord Gort) had foreseen a the possibility
been being forced to make this move, up to now he instructions had
events given authorising me to undertake such an operation".² says, no The of
to his was, however, increasing rapidly, for at 1030 on 26th returning tempo
which H.Q., Lord Gort received a telegram from the Secretary May, of State on for War
said, inter alia,
from Somme be cannot be made information in sufficient goes
to show
French offensive
may Gravelines to fight your way back to west where strength all only course open east to you of
small boats will be used for embarkation. beaches and ports and
timation and R.A.F. would give full Navy will provide fleet of ships first in-
agreed with replied that seriously considered.
Lord Gort to Lord Gort that evacuation must support. be 2" This was the
Belgian front the withdrawal north-westward had been
I Lord was concluded, He added "I that must the not news conceal from from the
2 Ibid, Gort's para 44. Second Despatch, para. 43.
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