Identifying 2 B.E.F. soldiers buried in dugout

Discussion in 'Non-Commemorated War Dead' started by Dirk, Jul 14, 2011.

  1. Dirk

    Dirk Member

    Hello

    As a local historian, I'd like to learn the identity of two Commonwealth soldiers whose remains were found by accident somewhere around 1949-1953 in the Belgian village of Korbeek-Dijle (Corbeek-Dyle). The village of Korbeek-Dijle is situated 30 kilometres east of Brussels and 8 kilometres south-west of Leuven (Louvain).

    The story goes as follows: The bones of the soldiers came accidentally to light, when a game warden found a soldier's shoe sticking out of the bank of the "Hollestraat" - a sunken road. Some rain shower or thunderstorm had washed the shoe clean and thus caught the game warden's attention. So he pulled the shoe free from the earth making the macabre discovery that he not only had pulled the shoe free from the earth but also with it the leg bone of its owner which was still stuck in the shoe. The game warden informed the rural policeman about his find.

    While the rural policeman and an employee of the municipality were recovering the poor soldier's bones they stumbled upon the skeleton of a second soldier. Their remains were lying in situ, in a horizontal position, one lying next to the other, and it dawned to the rural policeman that both soldiers had died in their dugout which was cut out in the sandy bank of the "Hollestraat". His theory is that an enemy shell smashed the bank, most likely exploding just above their dugout, causing the sandy ground to collapse with the dreathfull result of burying both men alive.The drama must have gone swift, both had their helmets still on their head. All that remained of them were naked bones. The rural policeman found pieces of clothing. However, he didn't find the Identification Discs.

    Locals say both men were buried at Heverlee War Cemetery. This would be logical as Heverlee War Cemetery is situated only 4 kilometres east of Korbeek-Dijle.

    In May 1940, during the Battle of the River Dyle (12-17 May 1940), Korbeek-Dijle was held by the 2nd Battalion of The North Staffordshire Regiment. The Battalion had established its Headquarters in the "Hollestraat". Several dugouts were made in the banks of this sunken lane. On 15 and 16 May 1940, a heavy enemy artillery barrage fell on Battalion Headquarters and the whole of the sunken lane and the equipment in it was blown to pieces. Assumingly, the dugout of the two men was hit the 15th or 16th of May thus becoming unexpectedly their last resting place.

    Today, Heverlee War Cemetery (a Commonwealth War Cemetery) counts precisely two graves of two soldiers belonging to the 2nd Battalion of The North Staffordshire Regiment. Their names are: Private's PAULEY, WILLIAM GEORGE and ROBINSON, JACK SAMUEL , both were killed on the 16 May 1940.

    I wrote the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to learn whether both Private's PAULEY and ROBINSON were the soldiers found in the "Hollestraat" in Korbeek-Dijle. Here's the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions' answer: "Please note, that Private W G Pauley and Private J S Robinson were previously buried in Ninove Churchyard however the date of the burial is not recorded. Our records show no information on how the bodies were found or by whom. No details also given regarding the cause of death. Private W G Pauley and Private J S Robinson buried in Heverlee War Cemetery around 1951".

    The Belgian town of Ninove is situated about 40 kilometres West of Korbeek-Dijle. My assumption is that Privates PAULEY and ROBINSON got wounded at the River Dyle Line in Korbeek-Dijle, and were evacuated to Ninove where - I guess - a Casualty Clearing Station was located, and subsequently died of wounds. So ... my guess is that Privates PAULEY and ROBINSON aren't the ones that were found in the "Hollestraat" back in 1949-1953.

    But whose remains were than found in the Hollestraat...????

    I noticed that the Dunkirk Memorial commemorates precisely two men of the 2nd Bn. North Staffs still missing namely:
    - BISHOP, WILLIAM HENRY, Service No: 5046272, Date of Death: 15/05/1940
    - LEE, FRANCIS GEORGE , Service No: 5047355, Date of Death: 15/05/1940

    Here's what I do know about BISHOP, WILLIAM HENRY, thanks to a copy of an article that was given to me. Here follows a transcription (the article appeared in "The Cannock Advertiser" and is dated 21 March 1942) : "Private William H. Bishop, whose home was at 21 Piggott street, Wimblebury, has been officialy presumed killed in action.
    He was reported missing nearly two years ago on May 15 1940, at Corbeek-Dyle in Belgium. He was thirthy-two years of age and was a married man with one child. He was a member of the regular army for over seven years and has seen service in Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. He had been serving in the army reserve and was called up at the outbreak of war
    A memorial service for Pte. Bishop was held at St. Paul's Church, Wimblebury, which he attended as a boy. The service was conducted by the Rev. N. P. Stevens, assisted by Mr. A.C. Cooke".

    What if both men found in the "Hollestraat" weren't identified, and are buried at Heverlee War Cemetery - as locals say ??? I went to Heverlee War Cemetery to look for two adjoining unidentified burials and I found two such pair. Again, I wrote the Commonwealth War Graves Commission with the following questions:

    1. Do the records hold any information about two casualties - be it identified or be it unidentified - found in the period 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 or 1953 in Korbeek-Dijle? (Please note that Korbeek-Dijle may have been spelled the old way as 'Corbeek-Dyle' in original records. Also note that the remains of the two casualty weren't necessarilly identified.)

    2. I assume that a record is held by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for each unidentified burial. Could it be that - in case the remains were'nt identified - that both men are nowadays resting next to oneanother at the Heverlee War Cemetery under seperate gravemarkers bearing the inscription "Known Unto God".

    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's answer is the following: "I am unable to provide further information as our archive is incomplete and no concentration documents exist for those dates. Whilst I am unable to assist you in this instance, I wish you every success in your project".

    HELP .... !!!!!

    A. Can someone advise me as to how I have to proceed with my quest,so I can ascertain whether both men found in the "Hollestraat" in Korbeek-Dijle were identified Yes or No?

    B. What British or Belgian department, organism or organization do I need to contact to receive precise information about both unfortunate B.E.F soldiers found in the "Hollestraat" in Korbeek-Dijle?

    I thank you for any help you can give.
    Dirk
     
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  2. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    There is a file in National Archives which deals with those reported missing from the regiment while serving in BEF. From experience these files can be difficult to extract information from (generally clerical lists), but this would certainly be worth checking if you still want to follow the North Staffs line of enquiry. There may be statements from eye-witnesses, all depends on the quality of the data accumulated at the time.

    WO 361/94 British Expeditionary Force, France: North Staffordshire Regiment; missing men 1941 Jan 01 - 1942 Dec 31
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Dirk, have you had no luck in the Belgian records ? Presumably there would have been an official report to confirm that these were not recent deaths ?

    Have you managed to get hold of the battalion's war diary ? It seems odd that neither body was identifiable from discs or posessions. Could the fact that they were lying next to each other indicate that this was a temporary burial and that the marker (if any) was subsequently lost.

    It seems to be a feature of the 1940 campaign that discs were generally removed at the time of death resulting in difficulty identifying at the point of re-burial. You may find reference to burials in the war diary if it survived.

    The cemetery at Oud Heverlee doesn't date from 1940, as you probably know and was established after the liberation close to a hospital in the school there. I tried to plot positions on the 'Dyle Line' using local burials but strangely enough most of the army burials from 1940 were concentrated at Leopoldsburg and Heverlee has a preponderance of RAF burials, including crews who died bombing the Albert Canal in 1940 and who had been buried there.

    There seems to be little logic in these post-war concentrations but Leopoldsburg does seem to have remained 'active' for longer.

    In terms of locating the current burial place, it would seem likely that the marker will include no details of unit as unfortunately, the newly introduced Battledress included no unit markings at all and the presence of a unit at a certain place would never have been sufficient evidence for CWGC to risk guesswork.
     
  5. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Hello, Dirk
    An interesting and well researched posting
    Your English is excellent and I'm sure I speak for many here that we welcome your research and will try and assist.
    There is an organisation known as "In From The Cold" Project which seeks to identify the remains of servicemen. It has been very successful in finding WW1 graves which had been overlooked and the men only being commemorated on Memorials.
    It may be worth an approach to them.
    IFCP - Report A Missing Casualty
    If you use the link on that page "You can report any such missing names here" they will be able to advise whether they need anything more from you.
    They will be better able to deal with the right people in the Ministry of Defence and CWGC and take your case forward.
    Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the families of these soldiers, whoever they may be, but it does look as if you have some compelling evidence as to their likely identity.
    Well Done!!
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Dirk,

    I suspect the answer to your Q's will be in Belgium. I have a similiar scenario of an unknown officer buried in Esquelbecq-I'm convinced I know who he is, I just can't prove it.

    As Rich has suggested try the local authorities like the Police, Mayor's office, Courts and Coroners (Belgian equivalents). There must have been an investigation when the bodies were found and thr records etc filed away.

    Good luck and keep us posted.

    Andy
     
  7. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Hello, Dirk

    There is an organisation known as "In From The Cold" Project which seeks to identify the remains of servicemen. It has been very successful in finding WW1 graves which had been overlooked and the men only being commemorated on Memorials.
    It may be worth an approach to them.
    IFCP - Report A Missing Casualty


    Such cases are probably beyond the scope of the IFCP project who's main aim is to get due commemoration for names who are truly lost. Secondary, the matching up of names on memorials to properly recorded burials, which by persistent and clever detective work has some considerable success.
    I don't think they can help identifying remains. Andy's suggestion is the best way to go.
     
  8. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    As the man who does most of the grave hunting at IFCP this is something new to me. Without some form of identity on the bodies that were found then there is little chance of making a foolproof case.

    Your only hope is the war diary &/or local records.

    Im very sorry that IFCP cannot be of more help

    Cheers

    Chris
     
  9. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Dirk: I did give the IFTC Project a "heads up" about this information.
    As stated, there needs to be something to positively identify these men.
    That should have been done at the time of discovery, so as they weren't able to be identified then, with access to any other artefacts with them, then it may still not be possible to positively identify them.
    You need to go back and ask what else was found with the bodies. Badges, buttons, clothing or any personal possessions would be the key to proof of identity.
     
  10. Dirk

    Dirk Member

    Hello,

    I thank you all for the good advice.

    I interviewed the rural policeman, who collected the remains of both casualties. He is 96, and hasn't any recollections about making an official report at the time. However, he recalls informing the office of prosecution of Leuven (Louvain), and he also thinks the Belgian Gendarmerie was present at a given time. I hope to find evidence in the archives of the office of prosecution in Leuven.

    In the War Diary of the 2nd N. Staffs no mentioning is made about fatal casualties, except for 2nd Lt. R.C. Le Tissier who was killed as a result of enemy arty that fell on Bn. HQ established in the sunken lane called Hollestraat. Lt. R.C. Le Tissier's final resting place is Korbeek-Dijle Churchyard.

    The file in the National Archives which deals with those reported missing from the 2nd N. Staffs is rather disappointing as no eye-witness accounts are included with reference to Privates Bishop and Lee.

    Kevin, I think I'll follow up your advice by notifying the IFTC Project about my conclusions with reference to Privates Bishop and Lee.
    By the way, thanks for the compliment on my English!

    Again, I thank you all,
    Dirk
     
  11. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Is it possible to go back to where they were found and see if any more info can be found in the area as they [the police] could have missed some artefacts, ie buttons, badge, Ect. [ so near but yet so far.] I wish you all the Best in finding there IDs.
    Keith
     
  12. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Any update as to the IDs .
     
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  13. chick42-46

    chick42-46 Senior Member

    Would be interested in an update too if there is one.

    One thought occurred to me reading the original post. Are we sure these are WW2 casualties? I ask only because the lack of much in the way of uniforms, after only a relatively brief period in the ground, doesn't seem right. Surely the uniforms wouldn't have rotted that quickly? But if these poor souls had been there since 1914-18, that might explain things. There was certainly fighting in this area in WW1, and there are a small number of WW1 burials in Heverlee Cemetery, so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility. My limited knowledge suggests that many WW1 casualties were buried at or near where they fell where possible but that meant, sometimes years later, the locations of the burials were lost. I know for instance of casualties buried in May 1915 after the battle of Aubers who are listed now only on memorials, the graves and remains having subsequently been destroyed/lost.

    So could these men be WW1 casualties, whose names are on a memorial somewhere as killed but having no known grave?
     
  14. JWB

    JWB New Member


    Hi Dirk,

    I have only just read your post on this website, and to be honest, I'm absolutely astonished. Private 5046272 William Henry Bishop was my Uncle. The details you describe from "The Cannock Advertiser" are exactly correct. William, or "Bill" had 2 Brothers and 2 Sisters ( one being my mother, Phyllis ) As you can imagine, his family were completely devastated when they found out that he was "missing in action" ( and of course, the fact that his body was never found? only made matters worse ) Sadly, all of his siblings have now passed away, but my mother spent all of her life trying to find out what had happened to her brother. As for myself, I am interested in Ancestry and History, and you could say, that I've "taken up the mantle" in searching for information about my "Uncle Bill". Like yourself, we have tried numerous research methods including the "Ministry of Defence" and "The Commonwealth War Graves Comission" but came to the conclusion that William probably succumbed to a "direct hit" from some sort of explosive and was vaporised ( hence, no remains? ) We also have come to the same conclusion, that he was probably in the same vicinity of "Private Francis George Lee" who was reported missing at the same time. I have in my possession, the letter sent from his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel D. Butterworth? ( difficult to read signature ) to Williams family after he was reported missing: "Pte Dinose? states that your Son-in-Law was last seen in the neighbourhood of CORBEEK-DYLE on the DYLE river in BELGIUM on or about 15 May. He was then in the neighbourhood of Battalion Headquarters which was being shelled at intervalls by the enemy". Ulitmately, it would be remarkable for myself if I could positively identify my Uncles remains and establish an headstone in his rememberance ( both, for himself and my mother ) As an amateur in these matters, it seems to me that DNA could be the answer to this issue, of which I would only be too glad to provide ( I presume this wouldn't be an easy option to persue ) Rest assured, I'm as determined as yourself to find a resolution to this situation and would be grateful for any advice from yourself. Finally, I understand that this could possibly not be my Uncle, but regardless of that, I would like to sincerely thank you for your dedicated research and respect for our servicemen.

    Kind regards,
    John,
     
  15. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

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  16. JWB

    JWB New Member

    Thank you Harry for your advice. It's something I will definitely pursue.

    Kind regards,
    John,
     
  17. Dirk

    Dirk Member

    Hello John,

    It has been a long time since I visited the forum, and as you may imagine I was very exited to find your post.

    I don't want to give you any false hope, but there is a reasonable chance that your Uncle, William Henry Bishop, and Private Francis George Lee are buried in the following unknown war graves at Heverlee War Cemetery (Belgium): Plot 6, Row E, Graves 24 & 25. See photos of these adjacent graves attached. Also attached is the article from The Cannock Advertiser.

    For your convenience I added the whole email correspondance which I (Dirk Vander Hulst) had with the CWGC Records Data Manager in 2016, and which led to this provisonal conclusion. That way you may form your own conclusions. As next of kin to William Henry Bishop, you probably have more authority and chance to get in contact with the JCCC, and inform them about these provisional findings, Perhaps you may even persuade them to do a DNA comparisson (In case you should want to).

    Please contact me via private message (available on this forum).

    My postal address is:

    Dirk Vander Hulst
    Boskee 8
    3061 Leefdaal
    BELGIUM


    Here is the whole correspondence with the CWGC Records Data Manager:


    From:
    Dirk Vander Hulst
    Sent: 06 November 2016 19:34
    To: Enquiry section CWGC
    Subject: Enquiry Number: 00025874

    Dear Madam or Sir,

    I'm preparing an article for our local history society about two WWII Commonwealth war dead, whose remains were found in the Belgian village of Korbeek-Dijle (formerly also written as Corbeek-Dyle). This happened in the period 1948 -1952. Unfortunately, I can't provide you with a more accurate time frame. Korbeek-Dijle is situated 30 kilometres east of Brussels and 8 kilometres south-west of Leuven (Louvain).

    Rain had exposed the collapsed dug-out, in which the remains of both war dead were found. Both had their helmets still on their head. The dug-out was cut into the bank of a sunken lane named Hollestraat in Korbeek-Dijle (Corbeek-Dyle). The bones of the men were put per individual in a bag by the rural policeman. The two bags were than buried by the rural policeman at the Korbeek-Dijle Churchyard. A temporarily measure in awaiting of the proper authorities to arrive (I assume a British Graves Registration Unit or British Graves Concentration Unit). When the proper authorities arrived they took the two bags with them.

    (For your information Korbeek-Dijle Churchyard contains the war grave of one British officer: 2nd Lt. Raymond Cyril Le Tissier (date of death 16 May 1940). 2nd Lt. R.C. Le Tissier isn't one of the soldiers whose remains were found in the dug-out. R.C. Le Tissier was buried in a marked field grave by his regiment, and in the fall of 1940 exhumed by the local authorities and properly buried at the Korbeek-Dijle Churchyard.)

    Unfortunately, I do not know whether the remains of the two war dead, killed in the dug-out, were ever identified. Both men must have belonged to the British Expeditionary Force and must have died in 1940 during the Battle of the River Dyle.

    My question for the CWGC is the following:

    Can the CWG on the basis of the above-mentioned information (known origin of the corpses plus known time frame in which the corpses were found) trace the names of both the war dead and inform me about the location of their war graves, or in case they were never identified inform me about the location of their nameless war graves?

    Documents of that time may still refer to Corbeek-Dyle instead of Korbeek-Dijle. Corbeek-Dyle is the old spelling.

    I thank you for any help and information you can give me.
    Yours faithfully,
    Dirk Vander Hulst



    _______________________
    From: CWGC
    Sent: : do 1/12/2016 13:37 To: Dirk Vander Hulst
    Subject: Re: Korbeek-Dijle


    Dear Mr. Vander Hulst,

    Thank you for email.

    We have looked through our records, but regrettably, after an extensive search of our archives, it has not been possible to confirm the recovery of 2 soldiers from Korbeek-Dijle. Based on the possible recovery date (approximately 1950 - probably 1951), I believe it is possible they are now buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, in Plot 6, Row E, Graves 24 & 25, but unfortunately the records for these graves cannot now be found.

    Yours sincerely,

    CWGC Records Data Manager


    _________________________
    From: Dirk Vander Hulst
    Sent: 06 December 2016 19:34
    To: CWGC
    Subject: Re: Korbeek-Dijle

    Dear Mr. Hemington,

    I thank you for your answer, and your extensive search of the archives. Is there any chance that the records of the two graves (Heverlee War Cemetery, Plot 6, Row E, Graves 24 & 25) may be found later on? May I take the liberty of asking the CWGC what the reason is as to why the records of the above-mentioned graves cannot now be found?

    I thank you for your kind help in this matter.

    Yours sincerely,

    Dirk Vander Hulst

    _________________________
    From: CWGC
    Sent: wo 07/12/2016 9:48
    To: Dirk Vander Hulst
    Subject: Re: Korbeek-Dijle

    Dear Mr. Vander Hulst,

    No, it looks like the records were accidentally destroyed when the Commission moved its offices out of London and down sized its filing at the beginning of the 1970s.

    Yours sincerely Records Data Manager

    Commonwealth War Graves Commission
    2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7DX, United Kingdom
    Tel: +44 1628 634221 | Ext: 1159 | Direct: +44 1628 507159 | Fax: +44 1628 771208 | Website: www.cwgc.org

    _________________________
    From: Dirk Vander Hulst
    Sent: 14 December 2016 14:21
    To: Roy Hemington
    Subject: Re: Korbeek-Dijle

    Dear Mr. Hemington,

    I thank you for your reply.

    I visited the two unknown graves (Heverlee War Cemetery, Plot 6, Row E, Graves 24 & 25) , the graves suggested by you as probably being the graves of the two British soldiers discovered in the sunken lane, named Hollestraat at Korbeek-Dijle (Corbeek Dyle) in the late 1940s, early 1950s. The inscription on both grave markers reads: "A soldier of the 1939-1945 War, Known unto God".

    In 2011, I interviewed Mr. Bruggemans (1915-2015), the rural policeman who recovered the remains of the two soldiers in the Hollestraat. Since then the identity of the two soldiers has kept me riddled. I did quite a lot of WWII research in the Korbeek-Dijle area, and I'm inclined to believe that the remains discovered in the Hollestraat may have belonged to Privates William Henry Bishop and Francis George Lee. Two Privates of the 2nd Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment who have no known grave and are commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. Their date of death is 15 May 1940.

    BISHOP, William Henry, Rank: Private, Service No: 5046272, Date of Death: 15/05/1940, Age: 32, Regiment/Service: North Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Panel Reference: Column 120, Memorial: DUNKIRK MEMORIAL, Additional Information: Son of Joseph Henry and Lily Bishop; husband of Florence Bishop, of Wimblebury, Staffordshire.

    LEE, Francis George, Rank: Private, Service No: 5047355, Date of Death:15/05/1940, Age: 27, Regiment/Service: North Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Panel Reference: Column 120, Memorial: DUNKIRK MEMORIAL, Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lee; husband of Florence May Lee, of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.

    Please let me explain as to why I'm inclined to believe that the two soldiers were W.H. Bishop and F.G. Lee by summing up the following points:

    1. In May 1940 Korbeek-Dijle was situated on the River Dyle Line. A line of defence held by three armies: the Belgian Army, the French Army and the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.). The latter occupied the River Dyle Line from the city of Leuven (included) to the city of Wavre (included). Korbeek-Dijle is situated in between both Belgian cities and was defended by the 2nd Battalion of The North Staffordshire Regiment (2nd Bn N. Staffs). The 2nd Bn N. Staffs arrived in Korbeek-Dijle on 12 May 1940 and withdrew from Korbeek-Dijle in the evening of 16 May 1940. In reference to the exact position held by the 2nd Bn N. Staffs the following details are stated in the War diary of the 2nd Bn N. Staffs: "May 12: [...] The position to be occupied was along the line of the RIVER DYLE from bend in rd [road] at 818533 [= Map Reference] to ORMENDALE [Ormendaal is a hamlet of Korbeek-Dijle] at 828546 a distance of about 2300 yds, this included the village of CORBEEK-DYLE, [...]."

    2. The 2nd Bn. N. Staffs had established its Headquarters in a sunken lane in Korbeek-Dijle. The location of this sunken lane is described as follows in the War Diary of the 2nd Bn N. Staffs: "May 14: [...] Bn H.Q. was established in a sunken lane about 300 yds from the front line, this being the only place available owing to the country being so bare. " The only sunken lane in Korbeek-Dijle fitting the above-mentioned description is the Hollestraat — the sunken lane where a decade later the remains of the two British soldiers were discovered in a collapsed dug-out. By the way Hollestraat is Flemish for hollow way (sunken road). The fact that the two British soldiers where found in the sunken road where once the 2nd Bn N. Staffs had established its Headquarters, makes it more than likely that both soldiers belonged to the 2nd Bn N. Staffs, and more precisely to the company that protected Battalion Headquarters (Locals told me that in May 1940 the British had cut several dug-outs into the banks of the Hollestraat).

    3. When I interviewed Mr. Bruggemans in 2011 he told me that an enemy shell had smashed the bank of the Hollestraat into which the dug-out of the two men was cut (most likely exploding just above their dug-out) causing the sandy ground to collapse with the dreathfull result of burying both men alive. The War Diary of the 2nd Bn N. Staffs proofs that Mr. Bruggemans is right as Battalion Headquarters (located in the Hollestraat) was shelled several times by the enemy on both 15 May and 16 May 1940 (15 May 1940 is the date that hostilies broke out in the Korbeek-Dijle sector).

    In the War Diary of the 2nd Bn N. Staffs the following can be read about Battalion Headquarters being subjected to enemy artillery and mortar fire: 15 May: [...] At about 1400 hrs 'D' Coy was ranged on by enemy Arty and 6" mortars and a small concentration put down — the ranging gradually switched to Bn H.Q. and a small concentration was put down on it. [...] A quiet night from 1700 hrs to 2030 hrs then followed. A very heavy barrage was put down on Bn H.Q. 'B' and 'D' Coys at about 20.45 hrs and also on the village of CORBEEK-DYLE — this lasted until 2130 hrs [...]. " On 16 May 1940 Battalion Headquarters continued to be the subject of enemy shelling. In the War Diary of the 2nd Bn. N. Staffs the following can be read: " May 16 [...] nothing happened till about 0800 hrs when the enemy Arty again opened on Bn. H.Q. — this fire had the lane completely enfiladed — spasmodic firing continued till 1145 hrs. 2/Lt. R.C. Le Tissier was killed and four men of Bn H.Q. wounded (2/Lt. Le Tissier was later buried in an orchard at the road and track junc[tion] at 820534). At 1200hrs the Colonel moved Bn H.Q. into the village of CORBEEK-DYLE." The orchard where 2nd Lt. Raymond Cyril Le Tissier of the 2nd Bn N. Staffs was buried on 16 May 1940 was situated near the entrance of the Hollestraat, at the junction of Hollestraat and Nijvelsebaan (= regional road N253).

    4. As it is clear that Korbeek-Dijle was held by the 2nd Bn N. Staffs during the period 12 May -16 May 1940, I searched for soldiers of the 2nd Bn N. Staffs with no known grave within that time frame and came across two names only, that of Pte. W.H. Bishop and that of Pte. F.G. Lee.

    5. Furthermore, I consulted The Staffordshire Regiment Museum and received through Mr. Elson of the Staffordshire Regiment Museum a copy of a newspaper article which was published in The Cannock Advertiser of 21 March 1942. In it is stated that Pte. William H. Bishop was reported missing on 15 May 1940 at Corbeek Dyle in Belgium. The article reveals the following details:

    "Private William H. Bishop, whose home was at 21 Piggott-street, Wimblebury, has been officialy presumed killed in action. He was reported missing nearly two years ago on May 15 1940, at Corbeek Dyle in Belgium. He was thirty-two years of age and was a married man with one child. He was a member of the regular army for over seven years and has seen service in Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. He had been serving in the army reserve and was called up at the outbreak of war. A memorial service for Pte. Bishop was held at St. Paul's Church, Wimblebury, which he attended as a boy. The service was conducted by the Rev. N. P. Stevens, assisted by Mr. A.C. Cooke."

    Question: I read on the website of the British Army (http://www.army.mod.uk/news/news.aspx) that the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) Commemorations Team considers evidence relating to the identity of previously "unknown" buried service personnel. I consulted the JCCC's website, and when my understanding of the JCCC's policy is correct, I have to address my findings first to the CWGC which will then forward the relevant information or evidence to the JCCC for further investigation and consideration.

    Therefore my question for the CWGC is the following: Would the CWGC please be so kind to report my finding to the JCCC so the JCCC can look at my findings more closely? Perhaps the JCCC is able to trace the report of the Army Medical Examiner who examined the remains of the two soldiers found in the Hollestraat, or other documents that could support or refute my theory that both soldiers discovered in the Hollestraat were Pte. W.H. Bishop and Pte. F.G. Lee, or still even find documents that might reveal where the two soldiers found in the Hollestraat were finally laid to rest.

    Mr. Bruggemans told me that he didn't find the Identification Discs of the soldiers. All he found, apart from their naked bones, were their steel helmets, shoes, and some clothing fragments. Mr. Bruggemans could not tell me whether the remains of the two were ever identified by the British unit (I guess a British Graves Registration Unit or British Graves Concentration Unit) that finally took care of the remains. One local person told me that according to hearsay a British unit sifted the sand in the Hollestraat after Mr. Bruggemans had recovered the remains, and discovered a ring and an Identification Disc. I'm not sure whether that hearsay story is true.

    Please find attached the following documents in pdf:

    - A copy of the newspaper clipping from The Cannock Advertiser of 21 March 1942. Unfortunately, the quality is not good, but still dicypherable. A local disabled girl had taken all the newspaper articles relating to local men and put them in several volumes of a scrap book. Mr. Elson of the Staffordshire Regiment Museum copied these when he worked as a policeman at Cannock.

    - A copy of the War Diary of the 2nd Bn. N. Staffs for the period 10 May 1940 -16 May 1940 (The National Archives, London, WO 167/830)

    - Map: France and Belgium: Louvain; Sheet 56; Scale 1:50 000; GSGS 4040; Compiled, Drawn and Printed at the Ordnance Survey, Southampton,1938. The ordnance map was in use with the B.E.F. On the basis of the Map References found in the War Diary, I marked the position held by the 2nd Bn N. Staffs (12 May-16 May 1940) on the map. I also marked the Hollestraat (in red ) the Dyle River (in blue) and the position of the enemy — Infanterie-Regiment 101 (in dark grey).

    -A copy of a Google Map showing the Hollestraat at Korbeek-Dijle (marked by a red arrow).

    I thank you for your help and cooperation in this matter

    Yours sincerely, Dirk Vander Hulst

    _________________________
    From: CWGC
    Sent: ma 19/12/2016 9:40 To: Dirk Vander Hulst
    Subject: Re: Korbeek-Dijle

    Dear Mr. Vander Hulst,

    Thank you for your very interesting research into the possible identities of the two bodies Mr Bruggemans discovered in Korbeek-Dijle. However, unless some documentary evidence emerges that proves they are now buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, the MOD (JCCC) will have no case to consider. As I have stated, I believe it is certainly possible they are buried in Heverlee, but I cannot prove it and the MOD (JCCC) will require that before they will be willing to proceed.

    Yours sincerely

    Roy Hemington
     

    Attached Files:

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