Arkforce

Arkforce was an ad hoc formation of the British Expeditionary Force improvised during the Battle of France in 1940.

At the start of the Battle of France, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division had been reinforced and detached from the rest of the BEF to man part of the Maginot Line. Eventually, the 51st Highland Division was attached to IX Corps of the French Tenth Army; command of the corps was given to Major-General Victor Fortune of the Highland Division, who in turn was under the orders of General Robert Altmayer of the Tenth Army. After almost continuous fighting, on 7 June, the Highlanders were ordered to hold a 13 mi (21 km) defensive line along the River Bresle. When the second German offensive Fall Rot (Case Red) reached the area the next day, the 5th Panzer Division outflanked the Bresle position at Rouen, leaving the Highlanders and the French 31st Division cut off from their line of retreat across the River Seine. Fortune decided to ignore orders from Altmayer and the War Office to retire towards the Seine (through an area now occupied by several German divisions) and to head for the port of Le Havre, taking the rest of IX Corps with him.

The units grouped into Arkforce were near Arques-la-Bataille and its name was derived from village. Arkforce was to form a defensive line about 19 mi (30 km) to the east of Le Havre, on the Fécamp–Bolbec line, to allow the 51st Highland Division and the rest of IX Corps to retreat. It was also charged with providing the reconnaissance for a line of defence closer to Le Havre, to aid the evacuation.

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