On 15 June 1939, 65th (8th London) Field Regiment created a duplicate 118th Field Regiment, RA, at Plumstead by separating 259 (23 London) and 260 (24 London) Btys. 65th Field Rgt remained with 44th (HC) Division while 118th formed part of 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division, its second-line duplicate. Field regiments were now organised as Regimental HQ (RHQ) and two batteries each of 12 guns. These were 18-pounders of World War I pattern, though now equipped with pneumatic tyres and towed by motorised gun tractors. There was a programme to replace the 18-pdr barrels with that of the new 25-pounder coming into service, giving the hybrid 18/25-pounder. Second World War 65th (8th London) Field Regiment The regiment mobilised at Lee Green under the command of Lt-Col C.C. West and on 25 September 1939 it moved to Shrapnel Barracks, Woolwich, to complete the process.. It then moved to Winterbourne Steepleton in Dorset where 44th (HC) Division concentrated on 23 October. It carried out live firing at Westdown Camp on Salisbury Plain in mid December. 44th (HC) Division embarked for France on 1 April 1940 to join the new British Expeditionary Force (BEF), and 65th Fd Rgt took up its positions at Érin and Blangy-sur-Ternoise, north-east of Hesdin. Dunkirk When the German offensive in the west opened on 10 May, the BEF advanced into Belgium in accordance with 'Plan D'. 44th (HC) Division moved up to the Escaut, where it was in reserve. However, the German Army broke through the Ardennes to the east, forcing the BEF to withdraw again, and by 19 May the whole force was back across the Escaut. 44th (HC) Division tried to hold the most dangerous point, but the Germans established bridgeheads across the Escaut at dawn on 20 May. The attack was renewed on 22 May and the division was badly chewed up, but there was no breakthrough: it was the deep penetration further east that forced the BEF to withdraw. Next day the BEF fell back to the 'Canal Line', and 44th (HC) Division was withdrawn into reserve. Cut off, the BEF fell back towards the coast, with 44th (HC) Division given the responsibility of defending the area round Hazebrouck. On 26 May the decision was made to evacuate the BEF through Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo). 44th (HC) Division was heavily attacked by German Panzer divisions on 27 May, and 65th Fd Rgt at Moolmacher, with an