By Isle of Wight Observer
As President of the Isle of Wight Royal British Legion, I continue to value the respect given, across the generations, to the commemorative events that honour the sacrifices made by Islanders, at home and overseas, in both World Wars and other conflicts.
Our recent focus has been on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with our thoughts now turning to the Forgotten War in the Far East, with VJ Day 80 on August 15. However, it is also important to remember that this year sees the 85th anniversary of the Battle and Evacuation of Dunkirk, between May 26 and June 4, 1940, and the part the Island played.
Over 330,000 British and Allied troops, part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force), led by General Lord Gort VC, were rescued by an armada of Little Ships, including vessels from the Isle of Wight. Newport Quay hosts a commemorative plaque, unveiled in 1990, recognising the contribution made by Bee, M.F.H., Murius, Chamois, Hound and Bat — all boats being part of the Pickford’s fleet. Accounts of crews’ experiences and their selfless gallantry are contained in public records from the time.
The IW Mercury, from June 1940, recounts the exploits of Captain D G Russell, from Whitwell Road, Ventnor, and how he survived an enemy raid involving 500 bombs on Dunkirk, which killed around 400 soldiers and civilians. Russell went on to be appointed a Major, and his son, Peter Russell, also served as a Paratrooper during the invasion of Europe in 1944.
There is also a commemorative bench in the Chapel of St Nicholas in Castro, at Carisbrooke Castle, with an inscribed plaque dedicated to the Isle of Wight branch of the Dunkirk Veterans Association.
East Cowes is home to a plaque partly dedicated to ORP Błyskawica, part of the Polish fleet, and built at J S White’s, which served at Dunkirk, Norway and in the Mediterranean, as well as defending East Cowes and Cowes during the bombing raids of May 4 and 5, 1942.
PS Sandown, built by Southern Railways for the Ryde–Portsmouth crossing in 1934, went on to serve with distinction, leading the flotilla on May 27, 1940, to Dunkirk and rescuing over 1,800 personnel during the operation.
A final word must be given to General Lord Gort VC (born John Vereker), who grew up on the Island and lived at East Cowes Castle. He was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1918 for conspicuous bravery at the Battle of the Canal du Nord, and unveiled the East Cowes War Memorial, located at St James’ Church, in June 1920.
In the 1930s, he became Military Secretary to the War Minister, Leslie Hore-Belisha (known for introducing Belisha beacons at road crossings). At the outbreak of WWII, he was appointed by Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, as Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force.
Subsequently, in the face of overwhelming enemy forces, he made a series of decisions that historians have argued both for and against — decisions that led to the surrender of France in June 1940. Gort went on to have roles with the Home Guard, as Governor of Gibraltar, Governor of Malta, and was present at the surrender of the Italian army in Valletta Harbour on September 29, 1943.
Before his death, Gort was High Commissioner for Palestine and was involved in proposals to divide Jerusalem into Arab and Jewish quarters. A plaque was unveiled on Cowes Parade in 2018.
The importance of commemorations and remembrance is to learn the lessons of the past, including the not insignificant part played by the Island and those who have come from these shores. I hope that this year’s commemorations, involving those with direct experience from that time of conflict, help remind those in power of the responsibility they have to do the right thing — as well as the consequences of doing the wrong thing.