Recently I received out of the blue an email, (forwarded by the inimitable AWS) from a fulminating Frenchman. He’d come across an article of mine on GP from 2022 – The Family at War four parter – in which I described the WW2 Odyssey of a relation, one Horace Rumsam & his stepson VBM (my father)……………….
Parts 1-3 focused on the role Horace played in the evacuation of British & French troops from Dunkirk in 1940………. the articles were complemented by photographs taken by Horace when on board his ship (paddle steamer) . One of the pictures featured one General Bougrain (Part 3)………. Now…… to that email from the FF :
“I recently saw this article reporting an episode of the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. The photos are rare, despite their poor quality. The text is interesting but contains numerous inaccuracies. I personally interviewed many witnesses in the 1960s and consulted most of the archives.
Reminder: On June 1, 1940, 3,000 men from the 2nd Light Mechanical Division (Cavalry Corps) boarded the British steamer SS Prague, which set sail from Dunkirk at 9:00 AM. About two hours after weighing anchor, the Prague was attacked by twelve bombers—a leak sprang in the stern—and she continued her course with a heavy list and one engine out of service.
The destroyer HMS Shikari pulled alongside while underway and took on over five hundred men. By order of the ship’s captain, the remaining personnel moved to the bow of the ship to await rescue. Help arrived shortly thereafter: the PS Queen of Thanet, a small paddle steamer, took aboard the remainder of the 1er Régiment de Dragons Portés.
In the published photo, likely taken aboard the Queen of Thanet, one can see on the left Médecin-Colonel des Cilleuls, Director of the Cavalry Corps Medical Service, and not a Red Cross officer as indicated. On the right is General Bougrain, commander of the 2nd DLM.
The caption for the photo is entirely fabricated: the General never requested a cabin—they were all occupied by junior British officers—and he was certainly not ‘horrified’! The Prague later ran aground on the Sandwich Flats off the coast of Kent. Upon arriving in England, the Dunkirk survivors found it surreal to be on a beach in June where vacationers were relaxing, despite the distant sound of occasional bombing, while they emerged from hell in soiled uniforms and exhausted.”
Including one General Bougrain (*) Who appeared horrified at the appalling state of affairs that a stateroom reserved for his exclusive purpose was unavailable, although his Aide-de-Camp (wearing a purloined Red Cross armband) seemed quite satisfied with his lot.
(*) Yes, that General Bougrain, last heard of in Part 1 of A Family at war……
Queen of Thanet then departed the mostly destroyed Dunkirk for the last time.
My email reply was as follows……………
Dear BB
I am truly indebted for your recent email.
You will appreciate that the pictures were taken by an amateur photographer, not Robert Capa, thus accounting for their quality. Nevertheless in the urgency & confusion of the situation they provide an almost unique glimpse into what was a truly awful time for all involved. The pictures were found only after all the family members of mine mentioned had passed away, & the information I put in the article (in respect of Operation Dynamo/Dunkirk) was mostly gleaned from pencilled notes scribbled on their reverse………….The text of the articles was presented as narrative based rather than as an academic treatise. Horace himself was none too impressed with his passengers & the damage they caused to his ship, so perhaps his jocular note about distinguished French guests reflected the unholy chaos at the time & the unlikelyhood that formal introductions & exchange of calling cards was effected……..The four part article “Family at War” was my attempt to highlight the involvement of family members in the UK war effort 1939-45. Any errors/omissions/misattributions in text are mine alone. My one regret is never having had the opportunity of asking Horace whether he thought his efforts at Dunkirk and subsequently in the Channel 1941-45 were worthwhile, having in mind the current state of affairs on the beaches of Northern France, where it’s apparently impossible for the authorities in both France & the UK to interrupt/combat a seemingly endless flow of inflatable craft full of incompatibles crossing the Channel. I shall of course amend our family record in light of your information, and thank you sincerely for taking the time & trouble to make contact.
Sincerely, DJM – (son of VBM).
* * *
Part 2 follows…… which include further exchanges of email, photographs, & a serendipitous revelation !!!!
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