Looking west along the Channel coast from Bray Dunes, Dunkirk just visible on the horizon, directly above the information board.
Bray Dunes, June 1940.
The original photograph used on the board. With original scraches.
Abandoned lorries and damaged ships at Bray Dunes after the evacuation. Over 200 men (some sources suggest 300) died when the paddle steamer H.M.S. Crested Eagle (far left, beneath gun barrel) caught fire after a Luftwaffe attack on 29th May; H.M.S. Devonia (centre left), another paddle steamer, was deliberately run aground the following day.
The carcasses of both ships can still be seen at low tide.
Panoramic aerial view showing the coastline from Bray Dunes, towards the right of the shot, to Dunkirk, far left. The wrecks of the Devonia and another ship can be seen near the shoreline on the right (close-up below). This whole stretch of beach would have been packed with troops for much of the ten days of the evacuation.
Long lines of men slowly wend their way out to sea and, with luck, a waiting boat and rescue. The dunes themselves, from where this picture was taken, offered more safety from the Luftwaffe than the flat sand of the beach, but they weren’t going to get you home.
Further down the dune line, although not pertinent to these current posts,…
…is a remnant of the bunker defences of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, or that’s what you would assume. However it may well be that this particular bunker is actually a pre-war French bunker, in effect the very end of the Maginot Line, and there certainly are Great War bunkers in the dunes around here too,…
…as this brilliant map shows (wish I could credit it). This area is just beyond the seafront apartments pictured below,…
…this the view looking east along the beach towards Nieuwpoort, ten miles away along the coast, now,…
…and then.
Modern-day Dunkirk, around six miles away, the lighthouse on the Western Mole, signalling the harbour entrance, visible to the far right of the picture. And no, we are not walking from here. Back on the bus for us.
We used to visit Bray Dunes on our free day from Talbot House. Sea breezes reminded us of home and wrecks bunkers and walking dunes and beach were evocative of what was faced in 1940. Thanks as always
I could easily have spent a day exploring Bray Dunes. And I might do so at some future point, I think.
Superb. Always great to see then and now photos. Very interesting spot
Yes it was, and I must return before too long. Much more to explore. Cheers mate!
My grandfather was part of BEF and was rescued from Bray-Dunes. I have a hand written note from him describing the experience… I am happy to share if anyone is interested
Lesley I would appreciate a copy thank you
Hi morag, sorry I hadn’t noticed that there had been replies to my original post. The note was written on the back of a photograph of my grandfather when he returned years later. He verbally told us of the horror he faced hiding in Bray-Dunes following the retreat until he had no choice but to make a run for it into the sea. I have posted a transcript as a separate post, thanks lesley
I have just read the transcript. Really brought it hone how awful it must have been. Wevwalked the beach the dunes what’s leftbif Atlantic Wall defences. So different in warm sunshine thanks again
That would be fascinating to read! My grandfather was captured during the retreat and spent the rest of the war as a POW.
Hi Nick, sorry I hadn’t noticed that there had been replies to my original post.
Which company did your grandfather serve with? The terror felt in Bray-Dunes must have been overwhelming. I visited earlier this year and couldn’t believe the vastness of the beach. How any made it is beyond me. My grandfather served throughout the war and survived.
The note was written on the back of a photograph of my grandfather when he returned years later. He verbally told us of the horror he faced hiding in Bray-Dunes following the retreat until he had no choice but to make a run for it into the sea. I have posted a transcript as a separate post, thanks lesley
Hi Lesley,
No problem at all. My Paternal Grandfather was with the 2nd battalion Manchester regiment. From what I understand he was on a munitions train headed for Dunkirk, which was dive bombed. He was blown clear of the carriage he was in and woke up some time later surrounded by germans with most of the calf and heel missing from his right leg. He spent some time in a POW camp in France before being moved to Germany for the duration. He made two escape attempts, but was recaptured both times. Lucky not to have been shot for trying really. His record also shows that due to his debilitating injury, he request to be considered for prisoner exchange. However, this was declined by the Germans on the basis that he had been an office clerk prior to the war and could therefore have been considered of use to the British should he be returned. Nick
Nick, thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story. We just cannot appreciate what these men went through. My grandfather was always quite distant to us, as my grandparents divorced but I now think he would have had a level of PTSD and after hearing about his history I can understand why. What these men experienced and witnessed must have been very scarring!
Lesley, may I email you please (I have your email address) so that you can send me a copy?
Hi, I’m wondering if you may have made contact with Lesley regarding her grandfather’s written notes regarding his experiences at Bray-Dunes?
My father was evacuated from Bray Dunes also, and I’m very keen to see the account.
I haven’t managed to contact Lesley, so any assistance would be most gratefully appreciated!
Do you know, Len, I don’t think I have. Leave it with me.
Hi Len, sorry I hadn’t noticed that there had been replies to my original post.
The strange thing is my grandfather never really talked about his experience apart from once, and then only briefly.
The note was written on the back of a photograph of my grandfather when he returned years later. He verbally told us of the horror he faced hiding in Bray-Dunes following the retreat until he had no choice but to make a run for it into the sea. I have posted a transcript as a separate post, thanks lesley
Hi Lesley
I would love to see your grandfather’s note.
My father, who was with the Royal Signals Corps, was evacuated from Bray Dunes on May 30 aboard the HMS Worcester.
I have some information on the ship if that might also be helpful for you.
My Dad was evacuated from Bray Sands. I’m on the way into London to the Cenotaph. I always think how lucky he was to get away and even more how lucky I am to be here.
Indeed, Andy. Sobering, eh?
Sorry, I have just noticed that a few folk responded to my original post. My grandfather wrote the note on the back of a picture of him when he returned to the beach many years later. He verbally told us of the terror he felt whilst taking cover in a house in Bray-Dunes and having to make the decision to head for the beach whilst under fire.
Bray-Dunes
“On this spot June 1940, there were four anti-aircraft guns, the beach was full of troops and the Germans strafed us. I ran like hell passed the guns into the village and took cover in a bungalow.
When I returned I walked into the water and remained there for about 4 hours, eventually being taken off in a rowing boat to a coal boat and thence to Ramsgate. We were under air attack to within a few miles of Ramsgate. Casualties on board were light, mostly from machine gun fire”.
His name was Leslie Brookes Haughton and I believe he was in the Royal Engineers. I was named after him Lesley Brookes Haughton.
Thanks so much for sharing Lesley.
Here is my father’s written account:
“At Bray-Dunes, we were north of the port of Dunkirk, so there were no moles or jetties for us and we dust down to await the morning. I slept with my gas cape underneath me, and awoke facing a pair of boots belonging to a Frenchman half buried in the sand. No way could I do anything for him, and I joined the rest of my section and all the thousands of others looking out to sea and hoping for salvation.
Away the left, Dunkirk was seen through a thick pall of smoke but there were no planes to be seen, for the weather was overcast with a slight breeze and the sea was calm with a long slow swell. The beach was littered with cast off equipment and wrecked vehicles.
At about 9 o’clock someone gave the order to all troops to form up in single files and enter the sea, and small boats approached to commence picking this up. I waded in for quite a long way until I was being lifted off my feet by the swell. At this point I lost contact with my mates but slowly the files were being taken aboard in my turn came.”
These were such brave men Lesley, in my heart and respects go out to all of you who had family members there during those days.
Len, I really have had goosebumps reading these accounts. I walked the beach earlier this year and the scale is so daunting. My grandfather was only 19 and I just can’t imagine the horror they experienced. It makes me mad that only a couple of generations ago our family members fought in the defence of our country yet poppy sellers were feeling intimidated this year! They were brave young men and we owe them so much.
Leskey this is not page for politics but Sky press review said that poppy sellers did NOT feel intimidated and it was someone trying to cause trouble by publishing these stories. I live far north of Scotland . We no longer do house to house collections but no issues here. 19 was very young to witness and be scarred by awful events
No “politics” intended!