Just a little extra #Dunkirk80 #Dunkirk1940 thread... 80 years ago Sgt Gordon Pudney (my father), along with several of his mates from the now decimated 133 Field Ambulance, were preparing to spend the night at 10 CCS, Krombeke just north of Poperinge... 1

When they arrived Dad, as senior NCO had sought out the CO and offered their services as medical orderlies. Though grateful the CO told them the CCS would not be evacuated, & if they stayed they would end up as POW's. He urged them to head for Dunkirk, after a nights rest... 2

Heading back to the others, he passed a Matron who stopped him and pointed out the filthy sate he was in... "I pointed out there was a bloody war on & that I'd spent the best part of the day in water filled ditches, hence my appearance, but she wasn't impressed!"... 3

She sent him off to the stores to find a clean uniform, "This meant picking out clothing that had been taken from casualties...I managed to find a pair of trousers that had 2 holes in one leg where the former owner had been shot but decided not to change my tunic"... 4

...as I couldn't find one with Sgt's stripes on. I'd only had those a few months and was reluctant to give them up!" After a restless night Dad and the others discussed their options, Dunkirk or POW. With no decision reached the men agreed on a vote... 5

They wrote their choice on a scrap of paper and dropped it in the ballot box (Dad's helmet). The decision was unanimous, Dunkirk! One other difficult decison was taken though, to leave 'Spider' Powell, who was severely shell shocked & in no fit state to travel, at the CCS... 6

I'll continue their story tomorrow along with that of the men now 'in the bag'. Many of the latter would spend an uncomfortable night not far from where they were captured, uncertain of what the future held for them. Doug Underwood spent the night in the church at Hondeghem... 7

"I was taken out for interrogation & gave them a complete load of nonsense. Unfortunately someone else told them all about our unit, etc so I was manhandled out & thrown back into the church. I felt I was lucky not to have been shot"... 8

As he looked out of the open doorway of the church it seemed to Doug that every village, every farm, for miles around, was ablaze. Future prospects, he concluded, were not good... As I say, more tomorrow and thanks for your indulgence...9