DUNKIRK MEMORIAL
Nord
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.0306, Longitude: 2.38967
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
Location Information
The Dunkirk Memorial stands at the entrance to the British War Graves Section of Dunkirk Town Cemetery lies at the south-eastern corner of the town of Dunkirk, immediately south of the canal and on the road to Veurne (Furnes) in Belgium.
On entering the cemetery through the columns of the Dunkirk Memorial, two Commonwealth war graves sections will be seen: Plots IV and V from the First World War and Plots I and II from the Second World War.
There is also a further First World War section (Plots I, II and III) in the main part of the cemetery to the right of the main entrance.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible to the cemetery. There is a disabled parking space marked on the road immediately in front of the Dunkirk Memorial, and a slope has been built to allow wheelchair access from the pavement to the memorial and thus Plots IV and V from the First World War and Plots I and II from the Second World War in the cemetery. Plots I, II and III from the First World War, in the main part of the cemetery, are accessible via the Civil Cemetery entrance.
Historical Information
During the Second World War, Dunkirk was the scene of the historic evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from France in May 1940.
The DUNKIRK MEMORIAL stands a the entrance to the Commonwealth War Graves section of Dunkirk Town Cemetery. It commemorates 4,499 casualties of the British Expeditionary Force who died in the campaign of 1939-40 or who died in captivity who were captured during this campaign and who have no known grave.
Commemorated on Memorial: United Kingdom 4,494, India 5. Total 4,499.
The memorial was designed by Philip Hepworth and unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 29 June 1957. The engraved glass panel, depicting the evacuation, was designed by John Hutton.
Memorial images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
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53422 Lieutenant The Honourable Christopher Furness, V. C.
1st Bn. Welsh Guards
24th May 1940, aged 28.
Panel 34.
Son of Marmaduke Furness, 1st Viscount Furness, and of the Viscountess Furness (nee Hogg), of Westminster, London.
Citation:
The citation in the London Gazette of 5th February, 1946, gives the following details: Lt. Furness was in command of the Carrier Platoon, Welsh Guards, from May 17th-24th, 1940, at Arras. His extremely high degree of leadership and dash imbued his command with a magnificent offensive spirit during their constant patrols and many local actions throughout this period. On May 22nd, 1940, he was wounded, but refused to be evacuated. The enemy had encircled the town on three sides, and Lt. Furness's platoon, together with a small force of light tanks, were ordered to cover the withdrawal of over 40 transport vehicles to Douai. Heavy small arms and anti-tank gun fire blocked the column. Lt. Furness, realising the seriousness of the situation, with three carriers and the light tanks attacked at close quarters the strongly entrenched enemy, inflicting heavy losses. His carriers were hit, most of their crews killed or wounded, and the tanks were put out of action. When his own carrier was disabled and the driver and gunner killed, Lt. Furness, despite his wounds, engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat until he was killed. His magnificent act of self-sacrifice against hopeless odds made the enemy withdraw long enough to allow the large transport column to get clear unmolested, and to permit the evacuation of some of the wounded of his own platoon and of the light tanks.
1st Bn. Welsh Guards
24th May 1940, aged 28.
Panel 34.
Son of Marmaduke Furness, 1st Viscount Furness, and of the Viscountess Furness (nee Hogg), of Westminster, London.
Citation:
The citation in the London Gazette of 5th February, 1946, gives the following details: Lt. Furness was in command of the Carrier Platoon, Welsh Guards, from May 17th-24th, 1940, at Arras. His extremely high degree of leadership and dash imbued his command with a magnificent offensive spirit during their constant patrols and many local actions throughout this period. On May 22nd, 1940, he was wounded, but refused to be evacuated. The enemy had encircled the town on three sides, and Lt. Furness's platoon, together with a small force of light tanks, were ordered to cover the withdrawal of over 40 transport vehicles to Douai. Heavy small arms and anti-tank gun fire blocked the column. Lt. Furness, realising the seriousness of the situation, with three carriers and the light tanks attacked at close quarters the strongly entrenched enemy, inflicting heavy losses. His carriers were hit, most of their crews killed or wounded, and the tanks were put out of action. When his own carrier was disabled and the driver and gunner killed, Lt. Furness, despite his wounds, engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat until he was killed. His magnificent act of self-sacrifice against hopeless odds made the enemy withdraw long enough to allow the large transport column to get clear unmolested, and to permit the evacuation of some of the wounded of his own platoon and of the light tanks.
5183914 Corporal
Norman Harold Barton
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
27th May 1940, aged 20.
Column 56.
Son of Harold and Margaret Barton, of Gloucester.
Norman Harold Barton
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
27th May 1940, aged 20.
Column 56.
Son of Harold and Margaret Barton, of Gloucester.
4344668 Private
Thomas William Cadman
4th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
28th May 1940, aged 22.
Column 47.
Son of Thomas and Dorothy Cadman, of Hull.
Thomas William Cadman
4th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
28th May 1940, aged 22.
Column 47.
Son of Thomas and Dorothy Cadman, of Hull.
4453106 Private
Maurice Laverick Chase
2nd Bn. Durham Light Infantry
27th May 1940, aged 23.
Column 122.
Son of Jacob and Florence Chase, of Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham.
Maurice Laverick Chase
2nd Bn. Durham Light Infantry
27th May 1940, aged 23.
Column 122.
Son of Jacob and Florence Chase, of Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham.
4457812 Private
Harold Haughton
9th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
26th May 1940 aged 21.
Column 122.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Haughton, of Pimlico, London.
Picture courtesy of niece, Beverley George
Harold Haughton
9th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
26th May 1940 aged 21.
Column 122.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Haughton, of Pimlico, London.
Picture courtesy of niece, Beverley George
4457295 Private
Albert Edward Maley
9th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
26th May 1940, aged 21.
Column 122.
Son of Albert Edward and Hannah Clemmet Maley, of Pallion, Co. Durham.
Albert Edward Maley
9th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
26th May 1940, aged 21.
Column 122.
Son of Albert Edward and Hannah Clemmet Maley, of Pallion, Co. Durham.
2208959 Gunner
Robert Weir
76 Field Regt, Royal Artillery
19th May 1940, aged 37.
Column 16.
Robert Weir
76 Field Regt, Royal Artillery
19th May 1940, aged 37.
Column 16.
