Dunkirk part 2

[bigduke6]

After the last thread regarding Dunkirk, managed to get to see a bit more this week as I was on nights, one place I've never had the chance to see is the Operation Dynamo Museum as its shut from October till April, thats the normal re fit season, so went a long this week, not a big museum very small but a few good displays and something which really caught my eye which give me a bigger picture......

I was up early and the weather was glorious decided to have some light refreshment which led me to a short cut to the Museum, I'd used this many times on my run but never really paid much attention of what was in the small factory/ business yard, a forgotten about bunker similar to the one in the last thread. pics not too good as it was in the shadow,





Below the museum,





There is a short film to watch when inside but I never caught the start but one part I did see was the film footage from a Stuka cockpit that was bombing the main pier............

Moving on from that was quite a few very good displays and relics that have been recovered, even whats left of a British Truck front end that was recovered only due to a bad storm that blew and washed of the sand on a sand dune to reveal its remains.

But what got my attention was this,



Its the housing that was in the Bunker on the previous thread, but its what it has behind, a 47mm Czech anti tank Gun with Czech Machine gun on top, it explains all the holes on the swivel main gun, MG and sight.

again not the best pics as it was behind glass and had to take pics over the top, have included a link which has a better pic.





a close up of the MG muzzle and on the left would of been the sight system.





The link below gives a better side view, I think the MG's were not standard as I've seen a MG 42 on one so I guess they adapted later on, but the original guns complete would of all been Czech

4cm kanón vz. 36 – Wikipedie

There is a selection of books in the entrance and most you can get on line, one in particular I was keen on but I 'd spent up on the refreshments and entrance fee so had to go back next day, I'd highly recommend this to anyone with an interest, also recommend a visit to the Museum, don't expect too much but gives an insight to how much in Dunkirk was wiped out.



I've a few other interesting pics but I'll load them up in part 3.......

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[Ovidio]

Cheers! And thanks!!!

[30Three]

Thanks for the information. I've been meaning to visit Dunkirk for a long time; I will have to try and organise a weekend visit.
Have you visited the beach areas and dunes ? Our shooting club has a relic from the beach there; washed up a couple of years ago and found at low tide.
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[bigduke6]

Thanks for the information. I've been meaning to visit Dunkirk for a long time; I will have to try and organise a weekend visit.
Have you visited the beach areas and dunes ? Our shooting club has a relic from the beach there; washed up a couple of years ago and found at low tide.
Attachment 93130Attachment 93131

I have been along the beach several times over the last few years, although never have enough time to rummage around the dunes on the east side as this is the turning point on my run, there is a lot of road works etc going on at present at the west end, the road and terrace in front of the bars and restaurants are getting a face lift, I'd be surprised if there wasn't any finds when they were excavating some of the beach area.

Its certainly a dramatic change running along the beach front between December and May........ certainly with the good weather arriving brings out droves of folk. In the museum there are plenty of pictures of the area during evacuation, but the destruction is a lot more than Imagined, I roof a few pics as some of the areas I recognised straight away and was wanting to do a then and now comparison, unfortunately I'll have to wait till I return...... my last few days I decided on a recce of the area were the Ship yard is, this revealed a few bunkers I wasn't aware off.........

[mrclark303]

Nice one Geoff, interesting pics, its a fascinating area mate, I will endeavour to visit next time in Northern France.

[Gil Boyd]

Amazing what has to be left in tact now in Europe and at home, to show people in the future how things were properly made at one time in history!!
I marvel at the mushroom 360 degree concrete positions on old airfields in East Anglia which now have thousands of houses built around them, where I spent many happy hours skiving from school!!

[bigduke6]

Some things are in tact but unseen or forgotten about, I found this about 100 yds from the Shipyard Gate, this the only bit you can see the rest is covered , I would say it was a comms bunker or had a anti aircraft gun on top ?? the writings on the wall as they say,

[Gil Boyd]

If you want to see defensives I strongly suggest a visit to Alderney. Now that is concrete City if ever I have seen one. Some brilliantly built bunkers there, put up by Chinese prisoners!
Look at the indepth defences of the middle photo clever thought there

[bigduke6]

Its on my list Gil, The Channel islands were the heaviest defended part of the atlantic wall, hopefully will be over in France with the bike next month for some exploring, If the weather holds I'll basha up with the bike...... Just sorting the seized brakes.

[Gil Boyd]

Geoff,
Clearly not a German bike then.............ozzervise zit vood be in zee gud condishon yaa!