St VALERY ANNIVERSARY REMEMBERED BY MATHER

There are few towns or villages across the Highlands and Islands that do
not have a memorial or a street or a building that carries some
reference to St Valery en Caux. Commemorative ceremonies have been
recently held to mark the 70th anniversary of the successful evacuation
of more than 300,000 of our troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. In its
scale and in its successful conclusion it was a truly astounding
occasion. The events at Saint Valery that took place in June 1940 almost
two weeks after Dunkirk had an equally profound effect on communities
all over the Highlands and should be recalled with equal pride stated
Jim Mather MSP Argyll & Bute.

Jim Mather said:

Many now living in the Highlands and Islands will have not much recall
about the events at St Valery 70 years ago when a remnant of the British
Army was given the task of fighting a rearguard action to hold up hugely
superior German forces, including Panzer regiments, advancing on the
Channel beaches. Within this force and fighting alongside French troops
were soldiers of the 51st Highland Division, territorial soldiers from
most parts of the Highlands. They eventually were penned in at the
small fishing village of St Valery where, on 12th June surrounded and
finally out of food and ammunition, they were ordered to lay down their
arms and surrender. This was done with extreme reluctance. General Erwin
Rommel, prior to his desert experiences, was in command of the German
army and paid tribute to the courage of the forces he had encountered.

For most of those captured the war was over. They were involved in long
forced marches across Northern France and through Germany to Prisoner of
War (POW) camps in the East. Many died through hunger, wounds and
exhaustion. Some hardy individuals managed to escape and encountered
amazing experiences crossing France and Spain to get back to the UK to
rejoin the war effort. The Highlanders reformed and played a crucial
part in the successful campaigns across North Africa and through Sicily
and Italy.

Our French allies remember the price paid at St Valery and a memorial
high on the cliffs above the town, inscribed in English French and
Gaelic, is the site of annual parades to commemorate what took place.
The legend reads; "La a bhlair is math na cairdean" ;"On the day of
battle it is good to have friends."

There are very few veterans of St Valery around now to recall the
events of June 1940 but we should remember what took place there, the
price that was paid and the reason why St Valery has a very special
resonance within our communities."