Beyond Dunkirk - Part 4 (Breakfast in Bed)

Part 4 of the letter my grandfather, Cpl Edward Arthur Wilkins (1860815) wrote to his wife and son on 12th June 1940 detailing the last few days before his capture by the Germans near Cap Gris Nez, which he left with Madame Urruty, Guesnoy sur Duele and which she posted back to England in April 1945.
You will see by all this Dearest that our Officers are conspicuous by their absence and I regard it all as a hopeless muddle on their part for we never knew until we heard it over the wireless, two days after Boulogne was captured, that the British troops had got away. It all appears as if we were just forgotten. I have seen the Germans, I have
mixed with them and I find that their behaviour towards the civil population is excellent. There is no molesting and they treat everyone with respect. Of course, I am only speaking as I find. So goodnight, Darlings, I will carry on with this tomorrow. M. Urruty informs us this evening that he cannot get us any work but proposes to get out along the coast on Sunday, the 16th, and see if he can find a boat for us. So after a really good Supper we get to bed.
Thursday, 13th June, get my breakfast in bed after a lovely night’s sleep and I drop off to sleep again and do not get up until mid-day. Have a very quiet afternoon and later in the evening see our bombers, bombing Boulogne. Have plentv to eat. Buy eggs and butter from a nearby farm and get the good lady to get us some meat. Off to bed again. Friday, 14th June, breakfast in bed again. Naylor tells me there were many bombs dropped after I had gone to sleep, I never heard them. Have a good dinner and supper, go to a house nearby and listen to the English News at 9 p.m. This afternoon Driver Hall turns up - he tells us he has been looking for us and found us by sheer luck. He says Lockart has left him - the reason why he is looking for us is that he thinks he has a boat at Wissant which is too large for one so he has gone to make sure and will let us know tomorrow or Sunday. Have a very good dinner and supper and sleep like a top.
Saturday, 15th June. Wake up and lie thinking about the news we heard last night. Paris has fallen and things look very serious.
Get up and have my breakfast of omelette, bread and butter and hot milk and
a good Dinner and Supper. I must say I am properly rested in body just now though not in my mind. I cannot get you and Arthur out of my thoughts. I am sure that if I have another week or two of this I shall go grey or out of my mind. Well, off to bed, thank the good lady and the Lord for this bit of comfort anyhow.
Sunday, 16th June. Have my breakfast in bed and a lovely rabbit for Dinner.
Hall returns, says he cannot find the boat and that the Germans are watching
the coast. We find he has no khaki under his civvies. This is very dangerous for him for he will be taken for a spy if he gets captured — so he returns to Boulogne to see if he can retrieve a khaki suit.
Well, Darlings, I have been through Hell worrying about you my Pet of how you
are taking all this silence from me. I wonder if I have been reported as missing, I have done my best to let you know I am still alive once through a Belgian Padre who said he would write to you when he returned to Belgium and through Mme. Okeef who said she would write as soon as the post started again for, of course, you must realise there are no trains running, no post, no gas, no lights - everything is at a stand-still, although things are beginning to get back to normal, for the gas, water and lights have come on these last few days.
Well my Pet I hope and trust when this arrives into your dear hands that I am there to read it with you and to comfort you but, if not. Dearest you will at least know that I loved you from the bottom of my heart, also Arthur. I have every reason to believe that he will always be a good Son to his Mother and a better man than his Daddy.
M. Urruty has gone out to look for a boat for us this afternoon so what will
happen when we get one, or if we fail, rests in the hands of the Lord. Should
there be no more to this epistle you will have to get the news from this good
lady here. No doubt you wonder. Dearest, why I am writing all this. Well,
my Pet, it gives me much pleasure, as in the thought that I am doing the best
I can to talk to you. I am just now imagining you sitting thinking of me
and I wonder perhaps through this concentration you may realise that I am
still safe and sound and thinking of you. I expect England is in a turmoil
just at present, with the War going as it is, but do not worry yourself too
much about it all, for you will find - as I have found out here - that those
who have nothing, have nothing to lose, and it has made very little appreciable
difference to them. Of course it has hit the middle-class and the rich but
as for the poor, well they are still poor and can at least raise a smile now
and again.
Five Germans have just passed the house - these are the first I have seen since
Tuesday last, everyone says that their character and behaviour to the civil
population is beyond reproach. So Darling, my only worry just now is you, the
sweetest little lady in the world, so ta-ta my Pet, should I be unable to write
more to you may this be a source of comfort to you to know that whatever
happens I love you both and that I am trying my best, or did try my best, to
get back to you to see your dear faces again.
M. Urruty has returned. He has found a boat with no oars so we have made
some and if all goes well shall set off tonight so, once again. God Bless you both
and tell everyone I am thinking of them before I set off. Goodbye Sweetheart
should we not meet again on this earth remember I shall be waiting for you
above.
Your everloving Husband and Daddy — thank you Darlings for the happiness and
comfort you have given to me.
TED.

(The story continues in Part 5 in my Grandfather’s diary)

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