Austin Staff car With KIA Officer RA 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by morrisc8, Dec 11, 2019.

  1. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    I have this original negative of a Austin staff car M4100177 with aos 49 [ 2 Searchlight Rgt RA ] and what could be M410 ? near number 49.
    To me its a strange photo as the car is not on the road and does not look like it has been shot up. The officer and his kit has been ransacked , you can see his SD cap with the RA cap badge.
    Any info on what happened here and his unit?
    Keith
    Austin kia 1940 bef.jpg
     
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  2. battleofassche

    battleofassche Well-Known Member

    I wonder if Andy could post some pages from 2 Searchlight WDs for April/May 40 that might help ID this officer.

    I might have an idea who this could be but out of respect for the family I would not wish to speculate publicly at this point.

    Steve
     
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  3. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Close up of the car with 49 . 2 Searchlight Rgt RA and next to it is M410? and some kit.
    Keith
    austin kia 1940.befjpg.jpg austin car officer kit car jpg.jpg austin car officer kit bef .jpg austin car officer kit 1 jpg.jpg
     
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  4. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Only getting 2 hits across CWGC and FMP for 2 SL Reg officers KIA in France in 1940.

    67266 2nd Lt DONALD LAWRENCE GARDNER, age 24, KIA 22/05/1940, 2 SL Regt, DUNKIRK MEMORIAL Column 7.
    239234 Lt WILLIAM DOUGLAS TUCK, age 42, KIA 20/05/1940, 2 SL Regt, VACQUERIE-LE-BOUCQ COMMUNAL CEMETERY Row 5. Grave 2.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
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  5. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Why M410? The number of the car is quite clear (on at least one photograph) on the bonnet.
    Chris
     
  6. idler

    idler GeneralList

    How likely is it that a subaltern in a mechanised unit would be wearing what looks like SD, breeches and riding boots?
     
  7. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    He was a Capt and in the RA and does not look that young.
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2019
  8. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    It looks as if the car has driven off a road onto a farm track at the side of a corn field. It could have been driven off a metalled road to avoid gunfire or to seek cover. It is possible they were surprised and killed out of the car, hence the lack of obvious damage to the vehicle. That said, the front off side tyre does seem to be damaged but it may be a trick of the light.
     
  9. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    There are some references in previous threads to elements of the 2nd Searchlight Regiment being ambushed near Abbeville on 19th/20th May 1940. It would be helpful to know which Battery these officers belonged to.

    The 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th batteries were all involved in the defence of Calais.

    bill Lansley bio 001.jpg
     
  10. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    i have been told he moved to 14 AR RA on 24 April 1940 61 Battery.
    Keith
     
  11. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Its a long shot.

    For info, Lt Tuck was 42 when he was killed and an BSC Engineering Graduate of at King College in London.

    He was also a Lieutenant in the RGA in WW1.

    Could he have been a Acting Captain? and could he have been wearing his WW1 uniform?

    I have read stories of similar WW1 officers in BEF wearing their old uniforms to same money.

    Gus
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2019
  12. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    At the time many minor rural roads in France were still unmetalled so the car may not have been driven off road. The car seems to be surrounded with papers/documents which would suggest looting by undisciplined troops or even opportunist civilians. German military intelligence would have issued general instructions that any documents found on or with casualties be collected and passed to them .
     
  13. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The arm of service serial on the car indicates that it must have been with 2nd S.L. at the time of its loss...We're assuming that the body is related. It does seem likely to be. There was a 2-seater car allocated to the Captain, 2nd I/C at RHQ...probably the most likely location for an officer to be wearing Service Dress as the HQ of a searchlight regiment was not expected to be close to the batteries but was an administrative unit.
     
  14. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Which would also account for what appear to be files scattered arouunfd
     
  15. amberden

    amberden Junior Member

    I Have some information regarding the death of Lt Tuck that is taken from private papers that I have a copy of.
    I have included the passage that relates to his death on 20th May 1940 on what is now the D941 just north of Boffles.
    The text in italic is directly from the papers.

    After the convoy carrying the men of M Troop 8 Btty had been ambushed
    and the men taken prisoner the writer describes the situation as below.

    We moved towards the front of the column and as we approached

    No1 lorry we saw Mr Tucks car. It was on the other side of the road

    facing the opposite direction to which the convoy had been travelling

    and I was surprised to see Mr Tuck still sitting in the passenger seat.

    I moved across to speak to him then suddenly realised he was dead. He

    had been hit in the temple. I think it was the saddest sight of the day

    for me. I had been shocked to see other members of the troop killed and

    wounded that afternoon, but for me Mr Tuck had a special place. He had

    always been fair and courteous and i think most members of the troop had

    a great respect for him.


    The writer goes on to explain that some days later they caught up with Jim, Lt Tucks driver



    On leaving Auxi le Chateau Mr tuck told the driver to get well ahead

    of the convoy so that if there was any danger they could turn back and

    warn the convoy. They hadn't got very far when Mr tuck spotted something

    suspicious and said to Jim " Quick turn round we must warn the convoy".

    The car was turned and just as they got going in the opposite direction something

    hit Mr Tuck and the car causing it to veer into the hedge.

     
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  16. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Thank you for the info
     

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