Inspired by our learning around the evacuation of Dunkirk – can you write 100 words (no more no less!) perhaps in role as a soldier trapped on the beach?
Or as a brave helper sailing across the Channel to rescue the stranded forces?
Inspired by our learning around the evacuation of Dunkirk – can you write 100 words (no more no less!) perhaps in role as a soldier trapped on the beach?
Or as a brave helper sailing across the Channel to rescue the stranded forces?
Dear Diary,
I wish I could completely forget what I have seen today. I volunteered, under the influence of my dear wife, to contribute in Operation Dynamo, as I have been instructed to call it. My small yacht, which I had rarely used, preferring my dilapidated fishing boat, took me across the English Channel to Dunkirk. And when I had run aground my boat, I could not believe my eyes. Thousands of soldiers, filthy and ragged, filled the debris-filled beach with bleak faces and haunted eyes. I would probably have not even begun to comprehend what they had been through…
The queues snaked all the way down the beach. Naval ships threw ropes to the men. Bullets flew. Soldiers waited. More people left. The hours on the beach felt like eternity. The men towards the front were dreading the fate of the next ship and the men at the back were dreading the wait ahead. It went on and on. Luftwaffe planes flew through the dull sky. More guns fired. 2,472 guns. 20,000 motorcycles. 65,000 vehicles. All left. Boats came and went like the lives of 68,000 soldiers that day. A day to remember. The evacuation of Dunkirk. A miracle?
I stood there. Everything moved so slowly around me. The rat-tat-tat of the guns sounding like a buzzing bee. The men queuing up like snakes in the water, I knew that I would not get out alive…
We were running out of resources, the last fight we would fight would be on this wet, soggy hell hole of a place, I hated it. The army running away like cowards, instead of trying to counter attacking; and why had I even signed up to this stupid job, the places you go to are usually never that warm, why of why…
We were trapped on the beach of Dunkirk waiting for the boats to come and get us. There were boats of all sorts e.g. fishing boats, rowing boats and if you were lucky you could get on a navy boat but you would have to swim there or ropes would pull you there. But staying on the beach was torture, with German guns shooting. When you got on a boat you would have to leave all your stuff behind. The Luftwaffe would be bombing the boats, especially the big navy boats. When the boats were full they would speed of.
I don’t know how it’s come to this. I knew things were bad for us, but I never thought we would get to such a terrible situation. And yet, here we are, simply lined up for the Nazis to obliterate. I sit in silence, not speaking to anyone, not even my best friend John. I can hear the Luftwaffe overhead. They let out an excruciating whistling sound as they strafe the beaches, but that doesn’t matter anymore. All I want is to get out of the hellish nightmare that is Dunkirk. Dunkirk, where we will all meet our deaths. Trapped.
I looked out on the chaotic sea. it was horrible , the sound of gunfire and explosions was unbearable. there were sinking ships, falling planes and soldiers wading out into the water hoping for a ship to come I was at the very back, terrified I wouldn’t make it, I probably wouldn’t. I hate the army, I hate Dunkirk and most of all I hate hitler! why is this war happening, why does Hitler need more land he’s already at least three times! why bigger? hitler is a mad man! God let this terrible war finish soon!
There we all stood stranded on the bleak shores of Dunkirk, dead bodies littered the beach. Ammunition lay on the ground as our troops tried to shoot the swift Luftwaffe planes down. Dodging them and every few minutes spraying out rounds of bullets onto the beach, sending our troops scattering. That was all we heard, the drumming of the guns and the occasional grunt of soliders being hit by the spray of bullets. There was an increasing amount of corpses littering the shoreline. This is the reality of Dunkirk- heavy loss of life.
All around me was chaos. I have no hope of survival. We’ve queued up for hours and hours, men pushing and shoving trying to clamber onto the boats. No-one wants to be here, not at Dunkirk. We’re surrounded by German soldiers, people slaughtered one by one, no chance to save them. We must keep queuing, there is no choice. I can see fishing boats sinking in the distance. Maybe this is a dream, but no it’s reality. I will probably die here. I have served my country and am proud. I hear loud whistling and shouts of ‘it’s near!’ BOOM!
I have been standing here for almost 24 hours, seeing what I never imagined would be able to happen. Right before my eyes, I have seen thousands dying, either being shot down by the Luftwaffe, or giving up, and committing suicide. But I can’t give up. I will continue to work for my country, if it’s the last thing I do, and the waters will be cold, and I will be shunted to the back of the queue, but I will manage fine. For now that I am second in the queue, I don’t see what could possibly go wrong…