officer shot by his own side? real incident?

The commentary makes it clear that all the characters are real and all the action based on first-hand accounts, so you assume that the BBC did their research and corroborated their sources. Not sure they'd get away with it if they didn't.

During the Eighties the journalist Charles Wheeler presented a BBC documentary about Dunkirk and went back to the area where the Coldstream Guards fought their rearguard action.
With him was Jimmy Hanley (the lieutenant brilliantly played by Benedict Cumberbatch in this programme). Hanley described the shooting incident almost exactly as it is portrayed in 'Dunkirk'. The dialogue spoken by Hanley's CO (played by Nicholas Jones) is verbatim from this programme.
When Wheeler asked him if he thought this sort of thing happened elsewhere in the rearguard, Hanley said: 'Yes, I think it probably did, and a good thing, too.'
Having watched an edited version of this series again on satellite TV last week, if anything it seems MORE impressive. Perhaps people are too used to Spielbergian sentimentality to understand the importance of what this programme is trying to convey.

I read a book years ago {can't recall what it was called} which said {others said it did not happen} that three lines were drawn up each told to hold and not to retreat as the line behind would shoot them if they did and the line behind them had the same orders.
I can believe it as the situation warranted it. The same as taking able-bodied troops and leaving the wounded. Quite rightly.
The RAF was in-land trying to stop the Luftwaffe but as they were not seen at Dunkirk soldiers thought they were abandoned by the RAF.
Some British prisoners were placed in barns and hand grenades thrown in.

I thought the series was great!! Well acted going from actual black & white film and colour drama, to re tale the story.

But that was NOT the end. The Scots fought on retreating west and after having nothing more to fight with surrendered to Erwin Rommel in late June.

What took place at one part of the defence may not have taken place at another.
The troops on the beach had no defence except the rear guard which held the line.
They in turn took to the beaches if they could and the French took over in the last hours. They went in ill prepared with old 20 year ideas. They returned with new ideas modern weapons and up-to-date training.

Two British officers wrote how the next war should be fought. No-one read it or took serious notice. The Germans took it to heart and taught it to their soldiers. YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP.

I may buy the DVD it would be cool to watch it all in one night.

Love film love cinema keep the suits at bay.

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