LOOKING Back reader Roger Lane of West Stafford has sent us some information on Weymouth's response when French troops were evacuated to the town during the Second World War.

The town welcomed the refugees with open arms - a memory that seems timely in light of President Trump's recent executive order concerning refugees.

Back on June 3 1940 the Dorset Daily Echo and Weymouth Dispatch carried an editorial headlined Strengthen the Entente, exhorting its readers to welcome the thousands of Poilus (French soldiers) who had been sent west after the Dunkirk evacuation.

It said: "Let us determine to go on spreading and strengthening the friendship of the two great nations brought closer together than they have ever been before in their united efforts to preserve all that they hold dear.

"Let us keep on asking them into our homes: let us prove in every way we can how proud we are at the way they fought beside our own brave men. We salute our temporary guests and we feel immensely proud to have them in our midst. We assure them there is nothing we will not do to make their brief stay memorable."

Roger has also seen a report of a Weymouth Town Council meeting, give gave an idea of the suddenness with which the massive task of billeting these French troops was undertaken.

The town clerk, Mr Percy Smallman, received an urgent call from the War Office asking Weymouth to take 'several thousand' people.

Loudspeaker messages were sent out informing people, schools were closed, teachers mobilised and an organisation set up which worked flat out in time to greet the first trainload at 0530 the following morning.

The exhausted French troops were issued with Army rations and sent to Broadwey; more arrived an hour later and were sent to Wyke.

Not expecting any more to show up, organisers were whittled down to skeleton staff and were then surprised when at 1800, seven more trainloads of troops were on their way.

Roger fills us in: "By now they were 'using every building they could get hold of' and a show at the Regent was interrupted so that troops could be taken in. Space in the Alexandra Gardens was used and tents were put up on the Recreation Ground.

Praise came from the French commander-in-chief, who wrote warmly 'of the manner in which the municipality and population have received us'.

"Officers and men, very tired by three weeks of hard fighting have found at Weymouth their first rest and its worth was increased by the general kindness of all the inhabitants."

The article makes it clear the majority of the evacuated troops were not billeted in private homes but says that 'Poilus were honoured guests at scores of family meals and at picnic parties'.

It continues: "A big basket was put out in which the public were invited to drop cigarettes for the troops and 'private owners took hundreds of them for drives into the peaceful English countryside. All the way they were saluted by passers by with Vive la France."

The article notes that 'tired, hungry and thirsty troops still wanted to get back as soon as possible to have another go at the Germans.'

Roger notes: "Even if this were so, it was soon to be impossible, at least for many years; the next edition reported the surrender of France and her humiliation was soon completed by Hitler's victory parade through Paris."

*Do you remember getting a day off school when the Poilus arrived in Weymouth? If so get in touch with Looking Back the usual way. We'd love to hear your memories about accommodating the French soldiers or hear from anyone who has photos of the Poilus in Weymouth.

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