March 1939. Germany has declared war on Czechoslovakia and 90,000 men of the British Expeditionary Force have been deployed to the Belgian Border just in time to join the fray. As the German War Machine turns east towards Poland, and west towards the Netherlands with frightening speed, the British and French desperately scramble into defensive postures. This is an account of the deadliest war in human history, from the diaries of those who fought.
September
Western Front
Private Henstridge, 9th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment:-
Belgium has fallen to the Germans, as has Luxembourg, Denmark and The Netherlands. Poland won't hold out much longer either from what I've heard. And then there was us. We were being pushed back into France. I was part of the 3rd Infantry Division, Monty's Ironsides, and we'd been tasked with holding the German right flank in place long enough for the 1st Light Armoured to withdraw to Dunkirk. They had us outnumbered and out-gunned, but we held them long after the remnants of the Belgian Army had routed. Twice they had tried to break through our centre, and twice we had sent them packing.
The division was suffering heavy casualties for every inch of ground we managed to hold. Hopefully, word would reach us that it was time to pull back, or there might not be a division left to save. I'd heard rumours from the Ulster Rifles that we were being sacrificed for the sake of the others. Aldershot Command wouldn't sacrifice the Guards Brigade, would they?
And then the call came down the line, every shout passed on by the commanding officer of every section.
"Prepare to withdraw!"
About time too. I checked my magazines and gear very quickly. This would be a fighting retreat while small pockets of anti-tank fire-teams provided a rearguard for us. God help them,
"Withdraw!"
I ran for my life, zig-zagging as bullets whizzed and popped all around me. The town had been reduced virtually to rubble, as would have the rest of the country by now. Good god, I hoped we'd never have to experience something like this. I joined up with a platoon from the Suffolk Regiment a few hours later,and learned from their C.O that the 3rd Division would to be evacuated from Le Havre as Dunkirk wasn't a viable option. God knows how many would be left behind.
Middle East
Lance Corporal McTavish, 15th “Scottish” Division:-
All quiet so far. Heard we're being hammered in Belgium. Division's being deployed to El Alamein because the Italians are rattling the sabre. Probably won't be long before they flood into Egypt looking for a fight.
We've got a new commander in Auchinleck. Haven't seen him, but imagine he's in Cairo. Looking forward to showing the Jerries why you don't pick fights with a Glaswegian.
