British naval losses at Dunkirk, 1 June 1940

“RED FRIDAY in COURAGEOUS CANADA/1939-1945….March 11, 2022, @19:37-DUNKIRK, WAS more than precisely the 1ST/FIRST ATTEMPT for a LANDING on Occupied France, May, 1940…with OPERATION DYNAMO!!! Also, this Operation DYNAMO, and The Landing…DUNKIRK; SAW OTHER LOSSES of Canadians, and ETC. This DUNKIRK…INVASION; was DUPLICATED with DIEPPE/August, 1942, and FINALLY with SUCCESS ON D-DAY/June 6, 1944…OPERATIONS OVERLORD and NEPTUNE!!! CONCERNING THESE LOSSES POSTED, INCLUDING OUR COURAGEOUS CANADIANS; THESE POEMS ARE OMITTED… Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, a humble and a contrite heart; Lord God of Hosts be with us yet, LEST WE FORGET, LEST WE FORGET.” Poem by Rudyard Kipling. “At the going down of the SUN, AND in the MORNING; WE WILL REMEMBER THEM, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM!!!” “Still TRUE to the IDEALS, WHEN as THEY WERE YOUNG MEN, THEY SAILED to MEET the FOE AGAIN, THEIR NAMES ENROLLED in HONOUR’S COURT, THEY ARE RIDING ANCHOR…ON THE HIGH SEAS, and/or AN ALLIED PORT-France, etc.” “YOU ALL ARE NOT FORGOTTEN, WE IVE IN FREEDOM 1945-2022; DUE TO YOUR SACRIFICE-CASUALTY…LOVE YOU ALL, Yours RESPECTFULLY and REMORSEFULLY Aye-Brian CANUCK Murza…Killick Vison, W.W.II Naval Researcher-Published Author, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.”

Naval Matters

Another day of heavy British and French losses off the port of Dunkirk and the beaches at Bray-Dunes and La Panne. Losses were due to air attack (particularly Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers), torpedo-carrying E-boats, and German army artillery sited as shore batteries.

HMS Keith (Capt E. Berthon, RN) came under sustained German air attack off La Panne. Badly damaged and with her steering disabled, Keith fought on until her ammunition was expended. A German bomb entered No. 2 boiler room and started internal fires. The order to abandon ship was given and survivors were taken off by HMS Salamander, HMS Abbs, and the “little ships.”

HMS Havant (Lt Cdr A. Burnell-Nugent, RN) carrying 500+ troops received 3 direct hits from German aircraft. The record notes: “some survivors were machine-gunned” while in the water.

HMS Havant off Dunkirk. Painting by Rex Phillips.