Calais, sieges of (1346-7 and 1940). As the French seaport closest to England, Calais was besieged in September 1346 by Edward III after his victory at Crécy. Its determined garrison under Jean de Vienne was enthusiastically supported by the citizens. Attempts at relief failed and the English land and sea blockade starved the defenders. In July 1347 six leading citizens, led by Eustache de St Pierre, presented themselves to Edward. Wearing only shirts, they had ropes around their necks, ready for the hangman, and carried the keys to the city and the castle. Edward would have strung them up, but his wife, Philippa of Hainault, persuaded him to show mercy. Calais and a wide area round it—the Pale—remained in English hands until the Duke of Guise recaptured it in 1558. Queen Mary, shocked by its loss, declared that ‘Calais’ would be found written on her heart.
In May 1940, with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) cut off from most ports, Calais was a useful base. The War Office believed that the problem lay not in holding Calais, but in getting supplies through reportedly light German forces to the BEF. Brigadier Claude Nicholson's 30th Infantry Brigade—two motorized battalions, 1st King's Royal Rifles and 1st Rifle Brigade, with a Territorial motorcycle battalion, Queen Victoria's Rifles—was sent there, with 3rd Royal Tank Regiment added at the last moment. It became clear that the BEF could not be reached, and after order and counter-order, Nicholson was ordered to hold on for inter-Allied solidarity. He declined an invitation to capitulate and was eventually overwhelmed on 26 May. Churchill, who had insisted that Calais should be held, maintained that it played a key role in the evacuation from Dunkirk; but in truth its gallant defence had little real impact on operations.
— Richard Holmes
