First Hand Accounts
During our research for this web site, we have come across a number of personal first hand accounts either of the massacre or the days leading up to and after it. From this page you can follow the links to read those first hand accounts:
Private Bob Brown
Bob Brown was a private and a signaller with the Royal Norfolk Regiment who was present in Duriez Farm. Like all the other soldiers he was given the option by the commanding officer Major Lisle Ryder of either making their own way and taking their chances or surrendering en bloc. Bob was one of the few who decided to take his chance of survival. We have Bob's first hand account of those turbulent days and his words can be viewed by clicking on his name above.
Major Hastings
Captain R. J Hastings was an officer of the Royal Norfolk Regiment. He wrote what he referred to as "a narrative" and which was more a diary of events and which is now a very important historic document - the original of which is kept in Norwich Castle Museum as part of the history of the Norfolk Regiment. Captain Hastings points out that the war diary and all papers of the second battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment were destroyed on the day of the massacre. Although his narrative is not designed to be a substitute he believed it might be of interest to future historians. We are delighted to be able to bring you this narrative thanks to permission from the museum and the tireless work of Ralston Ryder, son of Major Lisle Ryder.
Private Stanley Priest
Private Stanley Priest was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps who gave a first hand account of the massacre in Joshua Levine's book "Forgotten Voices Dunkirk". You can read what he had to say by clicking on his link on his name above.
SS Sergeant Leitl
Read a first hand account by German SS Sergeant Leitl.
Private Arthur Brough
Arthur was part of the British Expeditionary Force that tried to hold the German advance back.
Private Bob Brown
Bob Brown was a private and a signaller with the Royal Norfolk Regiment who was present in Duriez Farm. Like all the other soldiers he was given the option by the commanding officer Major Lisle Ryder of either making their own way and taking their chances or surrendering en bloc. Bob was one of the few who decided to take his chance of survival. We have Bob's first hand account of those turbulent days and his words can be viewed by clicking on his name above.
Major Hastings
Captain R. J Hastings was an officer of the Royal Norfolk Regiment. He wrote what he referred to as "a narrative" and which was more a diary of events and which is now a very important historic document - the original of which is kept in Norwich Castle Museum as part of the history of the Norfolk Regiment. Captain Hastings points out that the war diary and all papers of the second battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment were destroyed on the day of the massacre. Although his narrative is not designed to be a substitute he believed it might be of interest to future historians. We are delighted to be able to bring you this narrative thanks to permission from the museum and the tireless work of Ralston Ryder, son of Major Lisle Ryder.
Private Stanley Priest
Private Stanley Priest was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps who gave a first hand account of the massacre in Joshua Levine's book "Forgotten Voices Dunkirk". You can read what he had to say by clicking on his link on his name above.
SS Sergeant Leitl
Read a first hand account by German SS Sergeant Leitl.
Private Arthur Brough
Arthur was part of the British Expeditionary Force that tried to hold the German advance back.