The Brits walked in on the 10th of may 1940 (thanks god) and met the welcome.
Germans were preparing 2 ocean liners for the job. They would have been here some week later.
The Brits being first was the only thing to shock Hitler on that day, since may the 10th was also the day (the morning) that Nazi troops rolled into the Netherlands, thereby opening the western front in 1940. He went into a towering rage, - what else.
BTW, talking of troops, I belive that the British home army has some 80.000. Only!. Is that true?