CHAP. II
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
21ST MAY
Counter-attack south of Arras
Mechanised He had Division, co-operation but the movements of the Corps and a byLord Cort was begun the of the French Cavalry Major-General H. by Lord Gort
The counter-attack this day under with 2 the divisions command south of of Arras planned did not materialise. Furthermore, serious attack widely divisions to of the French as 5th Corps would also the The hot develop two the flanks General Franklyn had latter did through wear¹. were now troubles developed beak troubles developed beak bubles developed break the British overworked tanks, whose tracks mechanical troubles developed to that Although the attack the objectives would not of maintain the day its were therefore reached, it became and supported by the French on its left¹. momentum unless it was reinforced clear enemy direction.¹ pressure "Thus compelled concluded the Allied force to withdraw - and in an 23rd
During the 22nd May General the Franklyn held his ground, but on the had valuable defence of Arras," said Lord Gort, easterly blocked imposed a vital a road centre".¹ delay on a greatly superior force against which it... had It
Germans approach Boulogne military situation, for, in the afternoon, an enemy column of all arms the
In the meantime, the 21st May had marked a still more serious change in approaching the Germans Boulogne.² The military situation was rapidly deteriorating; was completely Allied severing our line of communications.³ A quarter of were across the Somme² and had cut the railway at Abbeville, tons of troops now lay north of the Somme, cut off from the daily flow a of million decision ammunition and supplies essential to their maintenance. 2,000
"was to maintain the force through the northern ports", said Lord 'The established at Dunkirk.
finally taken on 21st May and the headquarters of a Base Sub-Area Gort,
A conference of the Allied Commanders was essential, and at 2000 Lord Gort went He to Ypres where he met the King of the Belgians and General Billotte.4
river explained the situation developing on the Escaut, where the water in the and decided back As the to was it was a that line line SO evident low the be in withdrawn rear, Escaut that that General it should no sooner to longer Billotte the or be later abandoned formed Belgian the a frontier Belgian tank on the obstacle. Army defences.⁵ night would of It 22nd-23rd was have thereupon to swing May, if on he to were the forced to withdraw from the asked positions the on King the of the he Belgians would whether, fall back the line of the Yser SO as to continue to Lys, of days B.E.F.⁵ later His Majesty agreed that maintain touch with the left five the Yser the Belgian command decided no that alternative the idea line of the existed, withdrawal but to must be ruled out".
I 2 Lord Lord Gort's Second Despatch,
3 Lord Gort's Second Despatch, para. 33.
General Gort's Second Despatch, para. 36.
General Lord Blanchard Gort's Billotte Second succeeded was Despatch, fatally him injured in para. para. command in 37 35. a motor of the accident French returning First Group from of this Armies. conference.
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