Bicycle made for two

HOW did my Uncle Harry get off Dunkirk beach?

He had become separated from what was left of his division of the Gloucester Regiment and, under heavy enemy fire, he took cover in a ditch with half a dozen other soldiers. A German machine gun in a nearby farmhouse had them pinned down, and the British soldiers decided to attack it.

Harry and another soldier ended up in an outbuilding, where they found an old tandem bicycle. They jumped on it and pedalled like hell to Dunkirk beach, where thousands were under air attack.

After two or three days, they were ordered to bury their equipment (including the bike) and made their way to the pier, where ships were waiting.

Harry arrived in Southampton with only what he was standing in. He was put on a train with orders not to get off until instructed to do so. A fellow soldier woke him up just as they were pulling out of Bristol Temple Meads station and asked if he came from the area. Harry confirmed he did.

When the train stopped at Horfield/Filton station a few minutes later to allow a tender to be uncoupled, the other soldier opened the carriage door and pushed Harry onto the platform.

He fell into the arms of a policeman. ‘Where have you come from and where do you think you are going?’ asked the policeman.

‘Dunkirk and home,’ replied Harry, and the policeman escorted him there. CHRIS GADD, Bath.