Remember the heroes of St Valery-en-caux on this day

The National

12-06-2025

During the ten-day battle, 20,000 were casualties and the remaining 10,000 were forced back to St Valery-en-caux, where they were trapped by high cliffs behind and the full weight of Panzer divisions in front. No ships could get near to take them off, there was no longer any ammunition, and two days later, on June 12 1940, surrender was unavoidable. Nearly all were captured and marched off to Stallag 344, in occupied and destroyed Poland. Those who survived the forced labour camps (only officers went to prisoner-of-war camps) were not released until May 1945.
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This was all kept hidden so that the morale-boosting 'miracle' of Dunkirk would not be undercut by the disaster of the 51st Division's sacrifice only 10 days later. Relatives did not get news for years, some not till the war ended; the lives of many of the survivors were shortened; and the men whose actions had made Dunkirk possible were ignored. Every Highland village lost men, and yet little was made of St Valery – apart from those immediately connected – for the next 80 years.
During their long imprisonment the 51st Division, with many pipers, produced much music, including the Reel of the 51st Division and later The Heroes of St Valery, written by Pipe Major Donal MacLean (who died in 1964 aged only 56). Three Scottish Armed Forces charities organised a tribute, and pipers (and others players) all over the world – suitably distanced because of Covid – brought the memory of these men, mostly long dead, to mind.
Every year since 1940 much attention is rightly given to the courage of those involved in the Dunkirk rescue, including many who perished on the 'little' boats. Such commemoration should also be paid, every year, perhaps by playing 'their tune', to the men who fought on, to guaranteed disaster, with no rescue, in order that so many could be saved at Dunkirk – the heroes of St Valery-en-caux.
Remember the heroes of St Valery-en-caux: The 51st Highland Division, June 12 1940.
Susan FG Forde
Scotlandwell
IN a recent letter regarding the result of the latest by-election loss in Hamilton, in another publication, a pro-Reform UK writer used the Latin term 'ad hominem' to defend his preferred political party – Ukip, Leave, Brexit or now Reform UK plc, Mr Farage's vehicle – by alleging that opponents of his choice are, to use a common football analogy, 'playing the man rather than the ball'.
The normal protocol for political discourse advises that we should all stick to''the policy', being supportive or otherwise, rather than attacking or idolising the person espousing the policy.
However, I don't want to be a 'they did it first' person but they did, didn't they?
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First, it was the EU was ripping us off, Johnny Foreigner telling us what to and not to do. The European Research Group (ERG) political grouping within the Conservative party frequently squeezed their party to speak from the ERG script to get a better, less restrictive deal from the EU. The rest, we know, was Brexit.
Next, illegal immigrants became the focus of their ire. These poor people running from various threats to life, and yes, some making the move for a better way of life; let's be clear, 'a life'.
There is not one person in the UK that would not do the same if circumstances were different here. History reminds us of our forebears of the 1700s, who were forced to leave for sheep.
A more recent incident revealed that they (Reform UK) are back on their claims of stopping the dilution of British (English) values with the anti-Islam rhetoric, where banning the burqa was proposed and then subsequently reversed when chairman stood down then reappointed in a newer role, 'flip-flopping' somewhat.
The leader of the Ukip hasn't changed his spots since he has morphed his party from Ukip to Reform UK plc. There have been successive outbursts from the Clacton MP through the ages, about the EU and 'loss of control' of the UK borders and ridiculous legislation on food and regulations.
If Farage gets into Number 10 or into a position where he can pull the chain of the government, he will force the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights, which the UK co-founded, and we would join Russia and Belarus as they are the only other two European not bound by ECHR rules.
Is that a club we wish to join? That's a 'no thanks' from me.
It is clear 'playing the man' can sometimes be unhelpful, but when a snake-oil salesman gets hold of the reigns of government, we must look into to his history to decide if his product is worth touching or should be shunned.
Alistair Ballantyne
Angus