British relic "Tommy" helmet recovered from a cellar in the town of Cassel.
The helmet still bears the faint outline of the insignia of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, whose 4th battalion, along with 2nd Glosters, formed the infantry component defending this key town. Cassel, some 19 miles to the south of Dunkirk, stands on a steep hill with commanding views of the area and the key roads. The town was turned into a fortress by barricading the streets and creating loopholes and firing positions in the houses and gardens, in the outer limits of the town. Anti-tank support was provided by the Worcestershire Yeomanry, who had 24 guns dug-in around the town. It is estimated that these accounted for at least 40 German tanks during the various assaults on the town.
The orders to the British troops were simple, "You will fight to the last man, to the last round." While the Germans were unable to overcome the defenders in three days of bitter fighting, they did succeed in surrounding the town. With casualties mounting, the defenders attempted to break out through the Geman lines to the north on the 29th May. However, the various groups were all ambushed and only three officers and approximately 30 men made it to Dunkirk. Their sacrifice had not been in vain; the delay to the German advance allowed a formidable defensive perimeter to be established around Dunkirk and much of the BEF had already been evacuated.
The helmet still bears the faint outline of the insignia of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, whose 4th battalion, along with 2nd Glosters, formed the infantry component defending this key town. Cassel, some 19 miles to the south of Dunkirk, stands on a steep hill with commanding views of the area and the key roads. The town was turned into a fortress by barricading the streets and creating loopholes and firing positions in the houses and gardens, in the outer limits of the town. Anti-tank support was provided by the Worcestershire Yeomanry, who had 24 guns dug-in around the town. It is estimated that these accounted for at least 40 German tanks during the various assaults on the town.The orders to the British troops were simple, "You will fight to the last man, to the last round." While the Germans were unable to overcome the defenders in three days of bitter fighting, they did succeed in surrounding the town. With casualties mounting, the defenders attempted to break out through the Geman lines to the north on the 29th May. However, the various groups were all ambushed and only three officers and approximately 30 men made it to Dunkirk. Their sacrifice had not been in vain; the delay to the German advance allowed a formidable defensive perimeter to be established around Dunkirk and much of the BEF had already been evacuated.