Boulogne — Fox-Pitt and the Guards facing the port
Brigadier commands the , formed of the and the , with an anti-tank company. Disembarked at Boulogne-sur-Mer at dawn on 22 May 1940, the brigade has been given a simple mission: hold the port and wait for reinforcements from Calais.
Boulogne is one of the last ports through which the encircled BEF can be resupplied or evacuated. The roughly 972 take up positions on the heights to the west, while the 720 cover the suburb of Outreau to the south. The reinforcements promised from Calais will never come.
Bearing down on them is General Veiel's , spearhead of Guderian's , supported by Stuka dive-bombers. The probing attacks of the evening of 22 May give way on 23 May to pincer assaults that drive the defenders back toward the port basin.
On the evening of 23 May, Royal Navy destroyers steam into the port under fire. Fox-Pitt must decide his brigade's fate as the noose tightens on the quays.
Should Fox-Pitt embark his Guards while the destroyers can still enter, or hold the port to the end?
Fox-Pitt chose A, on War Office orders received around 18:00 on 23 May. During the night of 23-24 May, eight destroyers — Keith, Vimy, Whitshed, Vimiera and others — embarked roughly 4,365 men under heavy fire; the captains of Keith and Vimy were killed at their posts. Three companies of , cut off from the quays, could not re-embark: some 300 men were left ashore. Major 's detachment held the Gare Maritime until 13:00 on 25 May; General Lanquetot's French troops defended the upper town until the morning of 25 May. Boulogne fell, but the bulk of the brigade was saved. Fox-Pitt, briefly called into question, was exonerated: the evacuation had preserved an elite force while delaying Guderian. He died in 1985.
Learn more about this event
Related polls
10
Bulson — Lafontaine and the 02:00 rumour
Calais — Nicholson facing the ultimatum
The Defence of Boulogne
The Weygand Line on the Somme
Monthermé — Portzert in the Meuse loop
The panic of Bulson
The Lille Pocket
Stonne — Billotte facing the Panzer column
Touchon on the Aisne — Fall Rot
The abatis of the Chasseurs Ardennais
Bulson — Lafontaine and the 02:00 rumour
Calais — Nicholson facing the ultimatum
The Defence of Boulogne
The Weygand Line on the Somme
Monthermé — Portzert in the Meuse loop
The panic of Bulson
The Lille Pocket
Stonne — Billotte facing the Panzer column
Touchon on the Aisne — Fall Rot