We Remember Dunkirk

by Frank Shav (compiler), Joan Shaw (Joint Author)

The battle that took place in May 1940 was the first great epic of the Second World War. The battle itself was won by the German Army, inevitable once they had reached Abbeville on May 20 before the Allied High Command had realized the danger. But in a sense, the battle was also won by the soldiers and sailors of the British Expeditionary Forces and its allies, to the extent that although all equipment was lost, almost 340,000 men were brought out safely.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[David Vernon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. It appears that Frank and Joan Shaw sent out a call for all those who remembered Dunkirk to write to them with what they remembered. And that's what the reader gets. No editing, no clarification, no context, just tale after tale that have uncanny similarities. I guess after wading my way through 359 pages of memoirs I really do know what the poor Tommy experienced but I have no idea of the context in which they experienced their deprivations. This could have been a GREAT book if the editors had spent time explaining the military events that led to the events being described arising. Some of the stories should not have ever been published — they add nothing to our knowledge of the event but my guess is that the editors felt that everyone deserved their 'time in the sun.'

Eye witness contradictions abound which the Shaws could have cleared up. Obviously the fog of war was too foggy for the editors. At least these anecdotes are now collected for posterity - this is a good thing and for that I thank the Shaws.