Field Marshal Sir John French , commander of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) , co-operated Collaboration with the French strategy to capture Vimy Ridge , by planning British attacks against Aubers Ridge .

By 21 May German forces Hostile_encounter had trapped the BEF , the remains of the Belgian forces Hostile_encounter , and three French field armies along the northern coast of France .

The commander of the BEF , General Viscount Gort , immediately saw evacuation Removing across the Channel as the best course of action , and began Process_start planning Arranging a withdrawal Escaping to Dunkirk , the closest Motion good port .

Destroying Destroying the trapped BEF , French , and Belgian armies was left to the `` Luftwaffe '' until the order Arranging was rescinded Removing on 26 May .

The BEF lost 68,000 soldiers during the French campaign Motion and had to abandon GiveUp nearly all of its tanks , vehicles , and equipment Supply .

This was designed Creating to first separate the French and British Armies before continuing with the original concept of pushing the BEF into the sea .

After the Battle Hostile_encounter of the Frontiers ended Process_end , the French armies and the BEF began Process_start the Great Retreat into France , the Belgian army and small detachments of French and British troops fought Hostile_encounter in Belgium against German cavalry and .

Attacks Attack by the BEF ( Field Marshal Sir John French ) the Belgians and the French Eighth Army in Belgium made little progress Cause_to_make_progress beyond Ypres .