In a daring and nearly forgotten World War II operation, British Harpoon Force, composed of Irish and Welsh Guards, launched a desperate mission on May 13, 1940, to rescue the Dutch royal family, government, and British diplomats from German forces advancing swiftly through the Netherlands. The mission was perilous, with overwhelming enemy air superiority.
Just days before the chaotic evacuation at Dunkirk, Harpoon Force crossed the treacherous North Sea under constant threat from the German Luftwaffe. Their target was the Hook of Holland, a strategic coastal town under relentless bombing. The British soldiers were poorly equipped and heavily outnumbered, relying on sheer grit and determination.
The Netherlands, initially neutral at the war’s start, faced overwhelming German 𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓊𝓁𝓉 in May 1940, beginning May 10. German paratroopers seized airfields around the Hague, pushing Dutch forces and their government into jeopardy. The Dutch royal family, linked by blood to the British crown, urgently needed extraction.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Hayden, commanding the understrength second battalion Irish Guards, reinforced by a Welsh Guards company, was tasked with an almost suicidal mission. The combined force, named Harpoon, had minimal anti-tank weapons and no motor transport, yet was charged to advance on foot to the Hague, secure key officials, and evacuate them safely.
The crossing at Dover was fraught with danger. Two slow ferries carrying the soldiers were vulnerable targets for German Stuka dive bombers, known as “Stookers.” The journey was harrowing, with rough seas inducing seasickness, but the force landed at dawn on May 13 amidst smoke and flames rising from bombed Dutch cities, including Rotterdam.
British Royal Marines had previously secured the docks, but the arrival of Harpoon Force was met with immediate strafing attacks. Despite under fire, the soldiers quickly set up a defensive perimeter and prepared to escort the royal convoy. Queen Wilhelmina and her entourage fled the burning city in a convoy toward the British positions.
Throughout the day, the men endured intense air assaults and ground fire. Their sparse weaponry offered limited defense. German sniper and machine-gun fire harried their lines. Despite this, Harpoon Force held their ground. Struggles unfolded on every front as German bombers pounded positions and refugees flooded the British perimeter seeking protection.
At midday, Queen Wilhelmina arrived safely at the Hook of Holland. She was swiftly escorted aboard HMS Hereward and evacuated to safety in England. She would soon head the Dutch government-in-exile and become a rallying figurehead for Dutch resistance against the Nazis. Her rescue marked the first major success for Harpoon.
The mission was not over; the British and Dutch officials had to be evacuated as well. Harpoon Force continued to hold their ground through relentless aerial bombardment and sniper fire while escorting convoys of diplomats and government staff to awaiting Royal Navy destroyers. The docks were chaotic and ablaze under constant attack.
As night fell, the intensity of German assaults only increased. Harpoon Force stood vigilant despite heavy losses, including seven killed and twenty-three wounded. Communications were compromised, and Colonel Hayden was forced to rely on semaphore signals from a courageous Irish guardsman atop a windmill to maintain contact with naval forces offshore.
With the situation deteriorating rapidly, the decision was made to withdraw. Enemy parachute landings and advancing German troops made holding the hook of Holland untenable. Harpoon Force collapsed its perimeter and made a fighting retreat toward the docks amidst burning wreckage and constant bombing, mounting a final desperate evacuation.
The Royal Navy destroyers HMS Witch, Vesper, and Malcolm arrived amid chaotic scenes to embark the exhausted guardsmen under fire. The eight-hour journey back to Dover was perilous, with intermittent Luftwaffe attacks. Yet, against all odds, Harpoon Force returned safely to England on May 14, just before the official Dutch surrender.
Harpoon Force’s mission, overshadowed by the larger Dunkirk evacuation shortly after, was a crucial act of bravery and loyalty to a key British ally. It ensured the survival of the Dutch monarchy and government, preserving a symbol of resistance and hope for occupied Europe. Numerous soldiers gave their lives and are commemorated in the Netherlands.
The operation revealed the extraordinary professionalism and courage of the Irish and Welsh Guardsmen, together with Royal Marines and Navy crews, despite minimal preparation and resources. Lieutenant Colonel Hayden was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and his leadership became an example of tenacity under fire, foreshadowing his future commando exploits.
This historic rescue underscores the forgotten sacrifices made during the early, darkest days of World War II. While Dunkirk’s colossal evacuation dominates memory, the Harpoon mission demonstrates the critical impact small, dedicated forces could have on the larger struggle—turning defeat’s tide by preserving leadership that would continue fighting in exile.
Today, the Irish Guards, formed 125 years ago, honor their heritage with public duties in London and active deployments worldwide, inspired by stories like Harpoon. This mission remains a testament to their unwavering commitment and serves as a reminder of the high human cost when freedom’s defenders act decisively against overwhelming odds.
The British and Dutch alliance forged a vital lifeline in May 1940, underscoring that even in the face of staggering enemy advances, coordinated courage and sacrifice could secure strategic and symbolic victories. Harpoon Force’s rescue imbued the Allied war effort with renewed resolve and preserved the legitimacy of the Dutch government during the German occupation.
As the world remembers the evacuation at Dunkirk, it must not overlook the bravery displayed at Hook of Holland. Harpoon Force’s actions directly enabled the Dutch monarchy and government’s survival, influencing resistance movements and maintaining Allied unity during a critical phase of World War II’s Western Front.
This extraordinary episode delivers powerful lessons on coalition warfare, the resilience of small forces, and the risks undertaken to protect political continuity under siege. It stands as a dramatic example of military ingenuity and valor, marking a pivotal but largely forgotten chapter in the epic story of World War II’s early days.
