Looking for Novels/Soldiers journals about the BEF and the fall of France

[elysium64]

As can be seen from recently changed avatar, my current project is small scale skirmishing in early WW2. I am currently reading Hugh Sebag-Montefiore's Dunkirk Fight to the Last Man, an excellent book.
I was hoping for some other book recomendations, either novels or soldiers journals, preferably from the British or French perspective- but any good books would be appreciated. (Oh movies and Dvd's too) Thanks

[Mainly28s]

The only book that jumps out at me is "A Tramp In Armour", about a Matilda tank and its crew in the retreat from the Germans leading up to Dunkirk.
Movies? Well, there's "Dunkirk"...

[Calimero]

Are you looking exclusively for book in English?

[elysium64]

Unfortunately having neglected my schooling, English is the only language I can read or speak, so yes.

[Colonel Tubby]

If your looking for novels then I recommend Darkest Hour by James Holland.

It's like a WW2 Sharp in feel - the Odin Mission by the same author set in Norway is also a good read!

[Captain Blood]

I have a copy of 'Then a soldier' by Brigadier-General A B Beauman - it's his memoirs, centrally concerned with the fall of France and the BEF, in which he led a Division.



It's only available secondhand now. Here's one at Abe Books...

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=755740493&searchurl=an%3DBrigadier%2BGeneral%2BA.b.%2BBeauman

... You might be able to hunt down a copy for less than this.

Bizarrely, I was given my copy 30 years ago by General Beauman's widow.
When I was a lad I went round to the Beauman residence with a school friend of mine at the time. My friend was known to the Beauman family because his parents had lodged in one wing of the Beauman's mansion back in the sixties...
One day, for some reason - God knows why now - he went round there for tea and I went with him.
When the old lady found out about my interest in military history (yes, even then!) she insisted on giving me a copy of her husband's memoirs...
Actually, I've just been to look for it, and can't blinking find it now. I know I've got it somewhere though, and I do remember it being quite dry but very evocative of the time, and with lots of interesting detail... 

[SBRPearce]

From a civilian point of view, may I suggest Neville Shute's The Pied Piper?

[BattlewagonBruce]

I went to France this summer to take part in the anniversery parades. we took a veteran from the Northumberland Fusiliers with us who was there in 1940. He was in the MG battalion attached to the 51st Highland Div.

I read The Sacrifice of the Highland Division by Saul David before we went, which is one of the few books on this forgotten adjunct to the more well know activities of the BEF.

Its worth a read. I did get to see where my great uncle, who is mentioned in the book, was shot before escaping back to the UK. He was with the 7th Argylls.

I have gamed a few of these battles since coming back, and they work well. Not too many tanks and quite a mix of troops (French mountain inf for example, as well as French Armour). Of course you also get lots of hairy Scots to use as well.

The Division made its last stand at St Valery, before being ordered by its French commander to surrender to a young Panzer commander call Rommell!

I have an account written by one of our officers after the trip, which includes the first hand accounts we got from our veterans. I could email this to you if you like (PM?)

BB

[Mogimbu]

Battle Dress by Gun Buster.  It's a novel based off of the experiences of a Royal Artillery officer.  Much of it is tales of escape and evasion from German forces.  A great read!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Battle-Dress-Gun-Buster-DJ-World-War-Fiction-/300430860229?pt=US_Fiction_Books&hash=item45f3131fc5#ht_2129wt_1140