Their Greatest hour: The Rearguard Action of the 12th Lancers, Dunkirk 1940

Описание: Their Greatest hour: The Rearguard Action of the 12th Lancers, Dunkirk 1940
With Philip Watson
Part of our 1940 Series
   • 1940  
Also part of our British army series
   • British Army in WWII  
Also part of our Battle for France in 1940 series
   • Battle of France and the Battle for Britai...  

There can be few military stories which have been written about in such great detail. The story of Dunkirk has found its way into the British consciousness to such a degree it has come to epitomize the very essence of Britishness at times of national hardship.

The phrase 'Dunkirk Spirit' has been used to define the British character. Cartoons of the day re-defined the abbreviation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to mean Bravery, Endurance, and Fortitude! This has been the prevailing national narrative of May 1940. A story of small boats that came to the rescue of a stranded Army on the beaches of Dunkirk: brave soldiers who would have died, or been captured had it not been for the flotilla that came to their rescue. This is supported by strong images of stoic British soldiers waiting patiently on the beaches for deliverance.

Historians have subsequently identified other factors which contributed to the success of Operation DYNAMO. These include the mild weather and calm sea, as well as the use of the East Mole for the large ships. The smoke which hung in the air as a result of the German shelling and bombardments helped mask the BEF's activities, and Hitler's earlier somewhat unexpected Halt Befehl gave the BEF time to consolidate its bridgehead at Dunkirk. However, if Gort's statement as quoted by Shand is true, that 'without the Twelfth Lancers only a small part of the Army would have reached Dunkirk, ' then it would appear there is another element of the story which is still to be told. It was to account for the five Battle Honors the Regiment would win in just 21 days.

In today's show we look at only 21 days of fierce operations in the Lancers' 334-year life, their rear-guard activity during the retreat to Dunkirk.

Major (Retd) Phil Watson joined the Army in October 1976 at the Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps as a boy soldier having been a member of the Army Cadet Force since 1973. On joining the 9/12L he served with the Regiment in Germany, Cyprus, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and the Gulf War. During this period, he also served away from the Regiment conducting two tours at the Royal Armoured Corps Signal School as an instructor. In 1998, he was commissioned from the ranks, and was appointed the Regiment’s first Regimental Career Management Officer. After leaving Regimental duty he fulfilled a series of staff appointments at Chilwell, Bovington and PGHQ Northwood, before returning to Regimental duty to command Headquarters Squadron.

Phil left the Army in 2012 after 35 years-service and joined Home Headquarters 9/12L, where his primary role is in the support of the Regiment’s veterans. He is a keen military historian with a MA (Distinction) in history and has three published works, The Last Charges, Audregnies and Their Greatest Hour. Currently he is studying for his PhD in military history. Also, he is a member of the WFA, British Commission for Military History, and the Douglas Haig Fellowship.

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