ABSTRACT
The British hoped that even if metropolitan France was occupied, the French would fight on from North Africa and other colonial territories. Initially, the French naval and air forces bombarded Italian ports, while Godfroy’s squadron at Alexandria conducted a sweep into the Aegean and joined British forces in a bombardment of Bardia. As late as 15 June, Cunningham reported that ‘the French Admiral here is full of fight’, and the Admiralty endorsed another joint operation, a bold sally into the central Mediterranean, on 21 June.2 However, a few hours later, with the French involved in armistice negotiations with Germany and Italy, the Admiralty signalled, ‘Defer proposed operation.’3 By 24 June, France had signed armistices with Germany and Italy. During the uncertainty preceding the armistices, Cunningham informed Pound that Godfroy had ‘faded out’ and now ‘I fear there is little to be saved from the wreck here’.4
