John Oxlade

This is a story about two brothers and a ship. Set in the early months of the Second World War, airman John and army Joe find themselves abandoned in a demoralised and defeated France. Having a desperate need to flee before the Germans overrun the country, their separate journeys through the enveloping chaos to St Nazaire for evacuation are gripping and sometimes riotous. Meanwhile, a former luxury cruise liner is sent to rescue allied stragglers in France.
Originally sent to Brest, it gets diverted to St Nazaire with disastrous consequences.