Page "John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort" Paragraph 20

At the outbreak of war he was given command of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) in France, arriving on 19 September 1939.

During this time he played a part in a political scandal, the Pillbox affair, that led to the dismissal of British War Minister Leslie Hore-Belisha.

Following the Phony War, the 1940 German breakthrough in the Ardennes split the Allied forces and communications between the British Expeditionary Force and the French broke down, and on 25 May 1940 Gort took the unilateral decision to abandon his orders for a southward attack by his forces.

Gort's command position was difficult, serving under French high, theatre, and army group command while also being responsible to London.

Withdrawing northwards, the BEF together with many French soldiers were evacuated during the Battle of Dunkirk.