5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards May 1940

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...etails/2252713/frederick-william-john-arnold/

 

Cheers - Didn't realise they were sharing that piece of documentation.

Sadly none for any of the dead buried in Winnezeele Churchyard.

 

The recorded CWGC location of the initial burial of LCpl FWJ Arnold East Riding Yeomanry killed 18 May 1940:

 

Hello everyone! I'm related to Tosh Baker on my mother's side, and studying history at university. If anyone has any photos of him or could point me towards any information at all it would greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Sam

 

Hello Sam and welcome to the forum.

I was wondering if you could share some biographical information regarding TSM Baker. For example date of birth and location, occupation at enlistment, date of enlistment, name of parents and siblings, etc...

Cheers

 

Reginald Baker was born on 25th March 1901 in Wiltshire, most likely in Shalbourne. We're still trying to track records down but from what we know is that he joined the army in 1920 and served in India until 1929. (Apparently he tried to bring a small monkey home which he threw overboard on the troopship when it bit him) He had 6 brothers (Albert, Charles, Ernest, John, Stanley and Wilfred) and 3 sisters (Edith, Irene and Eveline) He married Gladys Bird in 1921 and had a single son, John, in 1933.

 

Hi, I've just had quick scan through likely parts of Howard Hollinshead's "Back to the Front", but nothing popped up. Jim Boardman's "Tracks in Europe" has a couple of mentions. Tosh Baker became SSM HQ Squadron after evacuation from Dunkirk:



and in the Envoi section: "Tosh Baker, legendary SSM of Headquarters Squadron, eventually retired in 1947. He still retained a great interest in horse-breaking, while at the same time, working for the Hampshire Water Authority" and mentions his sudden death in 1984.

It also has a group photo, albeit over exposed:


which you may be able to pick him out on. However, Boardman's book will give you some context if you go through the process of obtaining his documents. Good hunting.

 

Sam, many thanks for that info. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of him or his scout carrier.

 

Thank you so much for this, it's greatly appreciated!
If I find anything else at all I'll let you all know!
Thanks again.

 

Sam, I have been doing a bit more searching through my photo collections and seem to recall a photo of a 5 Troop B Sqd. scout carrier at a German collection point near the beach at Malo-Les-Bains.

It might be Baker's. I'll try to find it and if successful will message you.

Cheers

 

While looking into finding a picture of TSM Bakers Scout Carrier. I noted in The Story of 5 RIDG that two TSM Bakers are listed as troop leaders one in B and another in C Sqd. for May 1940.



Also on the map of 5 RIDG positions from May 11-17 I note a TSM Chunn is list on the map. I wonder if the C Sqd. TSM Baker is incorrest and it should be TSM Chunn.



Tracks in Europe does not list TSM Baker or TSM Chunn in C Sqd...


Any ideas?

 

Hi,

I had noted two Bakers too. Not an uncommon name and similarly not uncommon for both (or more) to be of same rank; related? ..... perhaps Sam Cantor can offer insight?

In one of the Suggit photos earlier, we had:

and he is also an autograph signatory.

Suggit did receive a letter as a PW from AC Gibson, so maybe he had been in his troop at sometime too? Regimental Diary indicates Lt Gibson joined the Regiment from base on 10 March 1940. But still curious why no Baker on the map above at #51. Manning churn, or covering for leave/illness or ? Chun's autograph indicates a single 'n' in his surname, so whoever annotated the map may not have known him well and this is a typo. Chun pens his rank as Sgt in February 1940, so seems to have been advanced by May.

Still looking for any relative of Sam Sissons (Tosh Baker's driver). Grateful for a releasable image of the abandoned carrier, if you have one, which may help find a relative.

How is Volume II progressing?

 

No luck on the photo, although it was a 5 Troop B Sqd. scout it was not 5 RIDG but 4/7 RDG.

Edition two of the book is progressing well. I have added a new 57 page appendix that deals with 5 RIDG abandoned AFVs on the beach at Malo-Les-Bains or at nearby German collection points, (72 photos).

Also more information, pictures and maps regarding Belgium forces activities from newly acquired Belgian officer reports that were written after Belgium was repatriated and purchased photos.

Taking another look at the map it appears that B Sqd. was covering the northern flank and it shows individual B Sqd. Troop locations. So it seems to indicate Chun was leading a Troop in B Sqd. at the time. So we still don't have a clear/complete picture of all the Troop commanders on May 17/18.

I'll have to do a little digging on George Chun and see if anything useful pops up.

 

Maj. William Frederick Bovill was 2 IC of 5 RIDG in May 40.


Maj. Bovill July 1939.

I have not managed to find much on him. Can anyone add more or have a picture of him in uniform??

Maj. Bovill at that time was the 35 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Bovill of Sondes House Bekesbourne Canterbury Kent. He had been born 4 February 1905 at Westminster Middlesex and would later marry Marjorie Joan Leigh at St. Georges Hanover London in July 1939. This was just prior to the departure of 5 RIDG for France. He died on 8 December 1982.

 

Greetings,

Boardman's book indicates he moved from OC A Sqn to 2iC Regt when Michael Ansell was moved to command the 1st Lothians and Border Horse in March 1940. He was evidently in post before 25 February, because that is when Neville Ussher reported to him on joining.

At the time, Bill (as he seems to have been known) Bovill may have been a Captain, Acting or Local Major because this was his rank (post Dunkirk and) a year later when awarded the MBE whilst serving at HQ 7 Armd Div in the Middle East:
Recommendation for Award for Bovill, William Frederick Rank: Captain, Acting... | The National Archives
but I don't know what his appointment was.
He was advanced to OBE in September 1942:
Page 3945 | Issue 35697, 8 September 1942 | London ...
and is interestingly listed here as RAC Canterbury, rather than 5RIDG.

Indication here:
DEGUINGAND 2/3/2
1945 Jun-May
King's Collections : Archive Catalogues : DE GUINGAND, Maj Gen Sir Francis (1900-1979) : 1-4: Papers
that he became Personal Assistant to Maj Gen Sir Francis De Guingand.


This suggests he retired as a Maj:
Person Page
but he could have held higher temporary wartime rank at sometime.

Afternote:
The Chief of Staff with his A.D.C. and P.A. Left to right - Major E.R. Culvert, A.D.C. Major General Sir F.W. de Guingand, and Major W.F.Bovill, P.A.:
PICTURES OF MAJOR GENERAL SIR F.W. DE GUINGAND, KBE.,CB.,DSO., CHIEF OF STAFF TO 21 ARMY GROUP
PICTURES OF MAJOR GENERAL SIR F.W. DE GUINGAND, KBE.,CB.,DSO., CHIEF OF STAFF TO 21 ARMY GROUP

 

Thanks for the additional details, much appreciated. Did 5 RIDG have an annual regimental journal like 15/19?

 

Evidently they did ........ at least up to 1992. A few offered for sale on line, but no loaded copies seen. Presume you're thinking obituaries and historical articles. Will ask at the Museum in York next time I'm there - they have copies of "Change and challenge: the story of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, 1928-1978". Chester and Enniskillen are options too.

Visited the Museum at York on 1 July 23; no joy on any journals or 5DG specific history books.