Dunkirk Diary of a Very Young Soldier

Dunkirk Diary of a Very Young Soldier, is the personal account of a Birmingham boy, Wilf Saunders. He joined 48th Divisional Signals at Hall Green T.A. as a 19 year old Signalman in February 1939, shortly before the outbreak of war.

Saunders recounts his experiences during the lead up to World War II, the ‘phoney war’ and finally the B.E.F. advance through France and Belgium, with the subsequent retreat to Dunkirk. He gives an insight into civilian and T.A. life in the late 1930s, active service in France – sometimes under fire, trying to escape the Dunkirk beaches and the re-mustering of the army back in England. It is illustrated with personal photographs from the time.

Saunders’ Diary was used extensively by the BBC in their docudrama Dunkirk, first shown in 2004. The book includes details from the series.