Hi everyone I am trying to trace the movements of my uncle Thomas William Davidson who was a driver in 17th Field Company RE. I am particularly interested in the dates between 19.9.1939 when he arrived in France to his death on 30/05/1940. Thomas William is buried in Veurne Communal Cemetery Extension, Veurne, Belgium Any help, advice or direction would be appreciated.
Hi Sapper Sorry for delay in response, I have been away with work. Could you give me more information on the sister company please. As I am struggling to get more info on my uncle's movements and maybe this could give me some clues. According to Thomas's War Record he signed up aged 21- 04/09/1933 for 12 years. 3 Years with the colours and 9 years in the Reserve. 04/09/1933 - 08/10/1935 Home Home 16/03/1934 posted to 17th Field Company 09/10/1935 - 07/09/1936 Egypt 08/09/1936 - 17/12/1936 Palistine 18/12/1936 - 04/01/1937 Home 05/01/1937 Army Reserve 15/06/1939 Called up for service and re-posted to 17th Field Company 18/09/1939 Embarked Southampton 19/09/1939 Disembarked France 30/05/1940 Killed in action (France) Thom
Sorry for the delay - Here's a couple of pages covering the Company's last few days in France when your man was killed.
It might be worth mentioning that 'Furnes' is the French-language spelling (adopted almost universally in British documents and maps) of 'Veurne' . It would seem that 17th Field Company were being used as infantry on 30th May.
Hi There My Uncle Leslie Gerald Parsonage born 1913 Portsmouth Hampshire and died of his wounds sustained in Belgium on 18th May 1940 - He was Sapper #1867228 or #1867288 (found both numbers online!!! but am sure one is a typo!!!) - He was in the 17th Field Company Royal Engineers - also a boy apprentice in the Army from 1927 and then a pre-war Reservist. He was buried at Aaigem Communual Cemetery Erpe-mere Oost-Verlaanderen Belgium (May 1940). I have also found a reference to the Expeditionary Force in France online. Can any one add anything more to his story - such as the exercise he was partaking whilst in Belgium in May 1940 before he died. Many thanks for any help Jan Bower
Many thanks for posting these snippets - especially the baptism entries of Leslie and his twin brother Leonard.... I do have their actual baptism certificates but not the records from St Andrews RM Barracks church. Thanks.... I posted in another topic too and have had a message back from Steve.... he has told me that Leslie was part of a demolition party sent to blow up bridges over the rivers on their retreat back to France but apparantley more explosive must have been used than was needed and he was caught up in the actual explosion.... along with a local woman from the village who was standing 300 metres away!!