Hi My Great Uncle was taken prisoner at Cassel, 1940, any information would be greatly appreciated. Gunner Leonard Stringer, 140 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Held in Stalag V11B then moved to Stalag X11A Kevin
I can highly recommend this book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cassel-Haz...5128060&sr=1-1&keywords=cassel+and+hazebrouck
Thanks very much, I hope it will give me some idea of what may have happened. I've heard a story about a few of the gunners hiding in a ditch and getting caught, but I don't know how true it is. Kevin
There's not much in the regimental war diary as the back end of it is missing if I remember correctly. The CO at the time wrote a history called Grand Party but these go for around a £100 now I think.
Unfortunately 'Grand Party' does not have anything in it about the RHQ and one Battery that went off to Cassel. The author commanded the other Battery which got away at Dunkirk. It was written during the war and before those who were made POW returned.
140 Army Field Regt. Certainly left some gun tractors in Cassel These prisoners were captioned as Cassel. They could be RA as they're not wearing 'basic' pouches.
Of Cassel, plenty (Have you visited, by the way ? It's a beautiful town). No more POWs I'm afraid. The '10' with the bar above indicates 140 Field Regt.
No, I've never been there. I've just started researching my Great Uncle who fought there, I find it interesting finding out what happened.
Where abouts are you based, Kevin ? I second Drew's recommendation of Jerry Murland's book. If you have a good look at that and search photos of Cassel on this forum (The Germans took many after it fell) then you'll be well-prepared for an enyoyable couple of days in French-Flanders. Most of the locations are easily recognisable today. The beer's great, the locals are friendly and it's only an hour from Calais.
Yes, I believe that the building behind the gun tractor is indeed nowadays the Crédit du Nord on the Place Place du Général Vandamme.
Sorry to bore you all with my posts but I am still seeking relatives of Lt. Col. Graham Brooks, who wrote Grand Party, as I wish to include some of his conversations in an account of the journey of my Uncle Artie, across France and to Cassel where he was killed. Any help would be appreciated. Barry