Arkforce
Encyclopedia
Arkforce was an improvised formation of the British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
formed on 9th June 1940, commanded by Brigadier A C L Stanley-Clarke DSO
of 154 Brigade
and charged with the aiding the defence of Le Havre
during the Battle of France
. The force's formation was centred on Arques-la-Bataille
(its name being a modified version of this village). The force was to form a defensive line around 30km to the east of Le Havre, on the Fécamp
-Bolbec
line to allow the French corps and the 51st Highland Division to retreat. It was also charged with providing the reconnaissance for a line of defence closer to Le Havre to aid the evacuation.
The units in ARK force included the following:
154th Brigade, 51st Highland Division (acting Brigadier D J Grant MC
)
"A" Brigade, Beauman Division
but attached to 51st Highland on 09 June 1940 (Brigadier M A Green)
Divisional units
Due to road congestion units were late arriving and the elements of the 7th Panzer Division were already driving between Ark force and the rest of the its Corps. Following orders which had anticipated this possibility most of Ark force was withdrawn leaving a small force on the original line. The whole force was evacuated from Le Havre on the morning of 13th June; part of Operation Cycle
.
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
formed on 9th June 1940, commanded by Brigadier A C L Stanley-Clarke DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
of 154 Brigade
154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
154th Infantry Brigade was part of The 51st Division and was a British Territorial Army division that fought during the Second World War...
and charged with the aiding the defence of Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. The force's formation was centred on Arques-la-Bataille
Arques-la-Bataille
Arques-la-Bataille is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:Arques is situated near the confluence of the rivers Eaulne, Varenne and Béthune, with the forest of Arques to the north-east...
(its name being a modified version of this village). The force was to form a defensive line around 30km to the east of Le Havre, on the Fécamp
Fécamp
Fécamp is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:Fécamp is situated in the valley of the river Valmont, at the heart of the Pays de Caux, on the Albaster Coast...
-Bolbec
Bolbec
Bolbec is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. Its inhabitants are called Bolbécais or Bolbécaises.-Geography:...
line to allow the French corps and the 51st Highland Division to retreat. It was also charged with providing the reconnaissance for a line of defence closer to Le Havre to aid the evacuation.
The units in ARK force included the following:
154th Brigade, 51st Highland Division (acting Brigadier D J Grant MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
)
- 4th Battalion, The Black WatchThe Black WatchThe Black Watch is a 1929 American early epic adventure drama film directed by John Ford and written by James Kevin McGuinness based on the novel King of the Khyber Rifles by Talbot Mundy. The film starred Victor McLaglen...
- 7th Battalion, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
- 8th Battalion, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
"A" Brigade, Beauman Division
Beauman Division
Beauman Division was a Second World War improvised formation of the British Expeditionary Force, which fought in the closing phases of the Battle of France in June 1940.-Raising the division:...
but attached to 51st Highland on 09 June 1940 (Brigadier M A Green)
- 4th Battalion, The Border Regiment
- 5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters
- 4th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Divisional units
- 1st Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment (less two companies)
- 6th Battalion, The Royal Scots FusiliersRoyal Scots Fusiliers-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
(Pioneers) - 17th Field Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 75th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 51st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (204 battery)
- 236th Field Company, Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
- 237th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 239th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- 213th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 154th Field AmbulanceRoyal Army Medical CorpsThe Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
- Detachments from 525, 526 and 527 Companies Royal Army Service CorpsRoyal Army Service CorpsThe Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
Due to road congestion units were late arriving and the elements of the 7th Panzer Division were already driving between Ark force and the rest of the its Corps. Following orders which had anticipated this possibility most of Ark force was withdrawn leaving a small force on the original line. The whole force was evacuated from Le Havre on the morning of 13th June; part of Operation Cycle
Operation Cycle
During World War II, Operation Cycle was the evacuation of Allied troops from Le Havre, France at the end of the Battle of France. From 10 to 13 June 1940, 11,059 British and Allied forces were evacuated....
.