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Book review: A Londoner in the 51st Highland Division: Jack Drinkall’s Story by Mike Drinkall

Book review: A Londoner in the 51st Highland Division: Jack Drinkall’s Story by Mike Drinkall

book-51st

Published by Somes Books

When Mike Drinkall looked through his late father Jack’s belongings, he didn’t realise it would lead to a life-changing experience. For among his prized belongings was a clipping from the Press and Journal dated March 10, 1941, which gave an account of the tragedy at St Valery, France in June 1940.

Armed with the knowledge that his dad had survived the famous wartime battle he set out to find out more and tell his story.

This book is the result. The story begins at the time of Jack’s birth in Southwark, London in 1919. With the aid of family knowledge, digging deep into local archives and including many photographic images the author describes his father’s early life growing up in London during the 1920s and 30s, and what happened after, aged 19, he volunteered to join the Army and found himself assigned to the illustrious 51st Highland Infantry Division commanded by General Fortune.

Jack Drinkall pictured in Royal Artillery uniform, 1939
Jack Drinkall pictured in Royal Artillery uniform, 1939

Jack and his Division arrived in France in January in the terrible winter of 1940. The 51st were under trained and ill-equipped and were to face an immensely powerful and professional German army.

Jack’s division became separated from the main Allied forces and was left behind following the Dunkirk evacuation, fighting on against overwhelming odds with many of its ranks captured or killed, eventually surrendering at St Valery – anything else would have been mass slaughter.

At the time, news of the surrender was not made public as it was considered to be too damaging for morale.

Drinkall suggests Churchill and his government considered it vital to establish the ‘Dunkirk Miracle’ in the minds of the public, while for those remaining in France there was no miracle and many felt they had been forgotten.

Royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to the 51st Highland Veterans Association.

Tom Renouf, secretary of the association, said of the book: “Any book about St Valery is to be welcomed, especially so when it tells the story from the novel perspective of a gunner and a Londoner. Portraying his father as a typical Highland Division gunner and by fitting him in the background in this way produced a worthy story. An attractive feature of the book is that it will serve as a comprehensive source of reference.”

Services of Remembrance will be held in St Valéry-en-Caux, France in June this year to recognise the 75th Anniversary of the events which took place.