Evacuation From Bordeaux, Le Verdon, Bayonne and St Jean-de-Luz
Evacuation started from Bordeaux on 17 June by Royal Navy cruisers and destroyers and by Allied merchant ships that were still in the harbour. HMS Berkeley (Lt Cdr H G Walters), a Hunt-class destroyer, was made available to Paul Reynaud and the French Government as a venue for discussions with Churchill. After the fall of France, the ship evacuated the remaining British Consulate staff from Bordeaux. British diplomatic staff and the President of Poland and his cabinet were given priority. The remainder were mainly Polish and Czech troops. Evacuation continued at the nearby ports of Le Verdon and Bayonne, assisted by the troopships Batory, Sobieski (both Polish), Ettrick and Arandora Star. These ships then moved on to St Jean-de-Luz where the evacuation ended at 2 pm on 25 June, just after the deadline set by the terms of the Armistice. On the final day of the operation, the Canadian destroyer Fraser was rammed and sunk by the anti-aircraft cruiser Calcutta in the Gironde estuary. Minor evacuations continued from the Mediterranean coast of France until 14 August 1940.
Read more about this topic: Operation Ariel