The 52nd Lowland at Cherbourg

In the dark days of the summer of 1940 and the mass evacuation of British and French troops from Dunkirk it is often forgotten that other units stranded elsewhere by the collapse of their French allies had little choice but to make good their escape to England from other ports.

On 7th June1940 with the battle for France still in full swing and AFTER the Dunkirk evacuation the 52nd {Lowland} Infantry Division landed at Cherbourg to support our French allies. Soon troops of the 157th Infantry Brigrade were clashing with forward units of advancing German forces at Le Mans, but the next day on hearing of the French plea for an armistice they had to disengage the enemy and to avoid capture the brigade withdrew back to Cherbourg where remnants of the defeated 51st {Highland} Infantry Division were already being evacuated.

The painting shows the scene at the dockside with the troops embarking in good order and even vehicles, among them Austin, Ford and Morris Commercial, awaiting loading for the return to England. A despatch rider waits to deliver a message to the two officers talking to the military policeman in the centre of the picture while in the right foreground a sergeant loads a Bren gun into its box.

Four years later the 51st and 52nd returned to Europe and fought their way with bravery to Germany and victory.

This painting now hangs in the officers mess at Colington barracks Edinburgh home of the 52nd Lowland.

Please remember this image is my property and protected by copyright law.