Lot 2821

Description

WWI Memorial Plaque, with name removed and inscribed, 'St Valery/1940', with cut grooves at right edge, probably for fitting to a display stand, also illegible impression at lower left edge. Fine.

St Valery-sur-Somme was the site of a desperate battle fought in 1940 in France between the allied forces of the British and French Armies against the German 7th Panzer Division, 2nd Motor Division, and the 5th and 31st Infantry Divisions. The battle was fought as the British withdrew from France, the bulk having already evacuated from Dunkirk. The battle did not go well and despite repeated requests to be evacuated the French surrendered and due to the British navy being delayed in organising the evacuation finally the British force also surrendered resulting in the men spending the rest of the war as POWs.