In this week in 1940, Allied soldiers were being hurriedly evacuated from Dunkirk after troops were stranded at the coast during the disastrous Battle of France.

This was also the week that several of the men commemorated on Frodsham and Helsby's War Memorials died in action.

One of the fallen was Sub-Lieutenant Alexander John Glover, who was serving on board the H.M.S Gracie Fields, a paddle steamer originally built as a ferry and later requisitioned as a minesweeper.

On 29 May 1940, the ship rescued 280 troops from Dunkirk, returning them to safety before setting its sights back on the French coast.

However, on this second trip, she was attacked by German aircraft and sunk, taking eight of her passengers – including Sub-Lieutenant Glover – down with her.

Sub-Lieutenant Glover was only 21 at the time of his death. He was the son of Frodsham couple Edward and Minnie Glover, whose other child, Alan, also died in service.

As well as Frodsham War Memorial, his name can be found on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

While the H.M.S. Gracie Fields was struggling in the water, aircraft operated by the 610 (County of Chester) Squadron of the Royal Air Force were fighting in the skies above.

Between 27 and 31 May, these planes managed to destroy 10 enemy aircraft, but lost seven of their pilots.

One of the casualties was 30-year-old Flying Officer Gerald Malcolm Theodore Kerr, who was reported missing on 29 May. It was presumed that he had been shot down in somewhere in the Channel.

On the ground, Lieutenant John Percival Higham was serving in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, which was responsible for bomb disposal and vehicle repair. He also died on 29 May, and is commemorated at the Dunkirk Memorial as well as in Helsby.

Also fighting was Gunner Frederick Turner, who belonged to the 24th Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery. According to the Cheshire Roll of Honour, he is buried in St. Laurence churchyard in Frodsham.

One can't help but wonder whether Alexander, Gerald, John and Frederick might have known each other in the happier days of their childhood in Frodsham.

You can find out more about the men listed on Frodsham and Helsby War Memorials on The Cheshire Roll of Honour.