After almost 6 months of digging and building during the Phoney War period the Unit is dismantling its gun positions and preparing to evacuate only 5 days after the Battle of France commenced.

15/5/40

0400 Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired.

0816 One Do. 17 brought down by Hurricanes. Many pointer rounds fired. AUBERIVE Aerodrome bombed. Considerable bombing and aerial combats in REIMS area. At least two enemy planes seen to be brought down by fighters. Emergency move orders issued and explained to Station Commanders.

0935 Instructions received to prepare for moving guns. Sections in action all day. Gun walls removed and stores packed in readiness.

Day 4 of the German invasion of France as recorded in the Unit Diary.

14/5/40
0600 Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired. PIP I placed four rounds in middle of formation of 21 Dorniers. Formation broken up. One brought down by fighter plane. Considerable activity all day. Emergency move orders received from C.O.

13/5/40

0400 Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired by both gun stations.

0625 PIP I engaged enemy planes at height 4,700'. One brought down by gun fire. Bombs dropped on AUBERIVE Aerodrome. Enemy activity continued all day.

An optimistic report on the success of the battery and supporting small arms fire during the Luftwaffe attack on the previous day.

12/5/40
0800 - Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired. Enemy engaged by fighters. Two enemy planes seen to crash.

Report received from H.Q. that eight of fifteen planes engaged in attack on VRAUX Aerodrome on 11/5/40 crashed in our territory on way home. Said to have been damaged by small arms ground defence fire. This could only have been inflicted by gun station and R.A.7 ground defences. The Battery PIP II credited with minimum of two. Considerable bombing in area.

11/5/40

0400 Five guns ready for action.

0545 Low flying attacks on VRAUX aerodrome by 16 Do. 17s at between 10-100 ft. Engaged by PIP II shrapnel two guns only. Two guns nearest line of attack out of action, fire of remaining two guns restricted by safety arc. About 60 bombs dropped on aerodrome. Six machines damaged. Petrol dump fired. Enemy planes machine gunned gun positions from about 50 ft. One casualty (foot). Tactics used by enemy - one high plane as decoy two Hurricane fighters in pursuit. Low attack by 16 planes approaching along Mame Valley - turned north to attack Aerodrome - wheeled and came back to attack guns and made off flying very low in easterly direction. Further indicator rounds fired by both stations during day.

On the 70th anniversary of the German invasion of France the 157th Battery Diary gives no hint of what is to come.

10/5/40

0403 Five guns ready for ction.

0450 Considerable enemy activity. Indicator rounds fired by both stations PIP I and II during day. Work on huts and field works continued.

An extract from the Unit Diary a day before the German attack on France and the Low Countries began. With that in mind it is ironic that 2 of the 8 guns were taken out of action. PIPII was located at Vraux. 16 Blenheim IVs of the Advanced Air Striking Force were based at Vraux.

9/5/40
0800 - No. 1 and 2 guns at PIPII (south) placed out of action owing to the removal of receiving dials to change over from A.R.C. to "M" Type transmission. (Predictors).