The Battle of Britain Five Months That Changed History, May—October 1940 by James Holland (z-lib.org).epub

other words, less than a division, and rather than a pincer movement, it was
thrusting south from the north only.
Since the French had planned their war in such a way that speed of
movement was anathema to them, it was no real surprise that they had
failed to come to the party. Gort had issued orders on the 20th for a thrust
south of Arras to protect the town and his exposed right (southern) flank. It
had not been intended as a counter-attack or part of any large-scale
operation, and neither was he expecting French help. Soon after issuing this
order, however, ‘Tiny’ Ironside, the CIGS, had arrived at Gort’s command
post with orders from the War Cabinet that the entire BEF should move
south-west, ‘attacking all enemy forces encountered’. Gort was incensed by
this order. ‘A scandalous (ie Winstonian) thing to do,’ complained Henry
Pownall, ‘and in fact quite impossible to carry out.’ Fortunately, once at
Gort’s command post, Ironside quickly realized this too, and so with
Pownall in tow went off to see Billotte and Blanchard, commander of
French First Army, at the latter’s HQ in Lens, to discuss a co-ordinated
counter-attack to retrieve the situation.
Although this had been imperative for several days and, since the day
before, a matter of utmost urgency, absolutely nothing had been done by the
French to prepare for such an action. The biggest sign of pro-action was the
sacking of Gamelin, who had been replaced as Supreme Commander by
Général Weygand – another Great War commander and now seventy-three
years old. Ironside was shocked by Billotte’s increasing hysteria. The
French Army Group Commander kept repeating his by now well-rehearsed
mantra that there was nothing he could do to stop the panzers. At one point,
he became so overwrought, Ironside grabbed him by his tunic and gave him
a good shake. While they were there, Gort telephoned and asked the French
to help in the planned action for the following day. This was followed by a
call from Général Weygand, who equally urged his commanders to pull
their fingers out and get a grip of themselves. At last Billotte and Blanchard
agreed to contribute two divisions. Since the French had at least eight in the
area, this was not much of a contribution. ‘Nobody minds going down
fighting,’ noted Pownall after this meeting, ‘but the long and many days of
defence and recently the entire lack of higher direction and action, have
been terribly wearing on the nerves of us all.’ It was an odd thing to say;
after, all the battle was hardly a cricket match. The mayhem was getting to
them all.