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Further to the points raised about the importance of the Luftwaffe smashing
our UK rail network in order to forstall the 'rushing of reinforcements' - One
may be excused for enquiring - What reinforcements ? - other then men.
The BEF had left all of their heavy equipment on the beaches of Dunkirk
-most of the 335,000 troops that returned to the UK were nearly all
minus even rifles. Had German troops estabished a foothold on
our beaches - other than the RAF I fear it would have been a walkover
for them.
Without wishing to belittle the Home Guard/ LDV a further indication of
just how desperate things were in those day being my fathers HG
platoon had One Rifle and 5 rounds to be shared between some dozen men
who would be called upon to defend the Croydon Airport area. The
remainder of the 'force' were each armed with pickaxe handles.
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