Remember 51st Highland Division at St Valéry-en-Caux

["Iain Laird" <Iain.Laird@btinternet.com>]

 There was a revealing comment from a Dunkirk veteran yesterday.  Could we
 have done more? What about the ones we left behind?  While we remember the
 miracle of Dunkirk and the heroism of the "little boats" we should not
 forget that it was not only Goering's boast that his Luftwaffe could
destroy
 the British Army at Dunkirk that held back the German land forces:  Not all
 the British Expeditionary Force were due to be evacuated.   51st Highland
 Division (Seaforth Highlanders, Cameron Highlanders, Gordon Highlanders and
 the Black Watch) fought on while the main force was evacuated until
 completely surrounded and overwhelmed by Rommel at St Valéry-en-Caux on
12th
 June 1940.  Some 8,000 were taken prisoner.

 Their valour is recalled in the pipe tune "The Heroes of St Valery" and
even
 better in the Scottish Dance "The Reel of the 51st" in which the dancers
 recreate the Saltire, the badge of the 51st Division.  The dance was
created
 by the officers of 51st Highland in their prison camp at Laufen during the
 long dark days of captivity following 1940.

 As at Athelstaneford in 832 AD, and Roslin in 1303 the Saltire was an
 inspiration against apparently overwhelming odds.

 Yours aye

 Iain

 References:
 www.virtual-pc.com/journal/honours1.htm
 www.gbc86.dial.pipex.com/1940western.htm
 wae.com/messages/msgs16071.html
 www.iain.laird.btinternet.com/Saltire.htm






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