Dunkirk May 2004 Another bloody tunnel at La Coupole – A launch site for the V1 and V1

England France Dover Castle looms Dover White Horse from Eurostar 18:57 Hours, 26 May 1940: The signal is given to evacuate British and French troops from Dunkirk’s beaches on the Northern coast of France. 13:57 Hours, 22 May 2004: The Tonsley time team re-claim the beach-head. Over two days they were to deftly move from London-Dover-Calais-Dunkirk, and then strike into the French countryside, taking sites of great strategic importance. It was a simple operation, executed with Churchillian gusto.

FloodyWoolfyAnt But first: The three drivers. Without them nothing would have been possible. Never before had so much been owed by so many to so few.

The view from the bedroom window at 18 th Century converted Mill Hotel, Le Moulin de Mombreux, St Omer Chair in a garden…And more flowersFlowers Floody had kindly swung by the hairdresser’s that morning to pick up his Mum’s armoured car

Memorial inside La Coupole V2 engine This defences were awesome – La Coupole – where V1 and V2’s were stored for launch. The concrete dome was almost impenetrable. Almost. We got in.

We were surrounded. I had never seen it thicker. The regiment’s attention had been successfully diverted. There were cute French chicks everywhere.

Joe, the brains-trust of the operation, and Georgie struggle coming to terms with the fact he was equipped with no V2 flying rocket Ant was gutted. There was to be no ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’. But judging by the John Wayne walk, it soon became very clear there was somebody in the group packing a little more than the regulation field artillery…

“If you can read this you are standing too close” Weapons of Mass Destruction Shells on the seashore“For sale: V1 Flying Bomb. ONO. Cheap. Never flown. Perfectly safe. For enquiries please contact…” Batterie Todt

P.O.W.’s It was sad. The goats had resorted to doing weed behind the sentry booth Batterie Todt The face of war

Mimoyecques – Site of the ‘Canon of London’

Rob’s absence throughout the weekend was noted… or was he actually there…? Random dog A German pillbox pokes out from the tall grass, with para-gliders soaring over the cliff edge Atlantic wall defences.

There was dancing For all And laughing And skipping The mission was a success.

The infamous road signs outside 10 Tonsley Place, London End. Thanks, Joe