2 Royal Norfolks on the Escaut 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by jerrymurland, Sep 21, 2015.

  1. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    I'm hard pressed to locate the chateau that Barclay and A company had on their sector of the canal in May 1940. If the now dusused railway bridge was in the centre of A Company's frontage the Chateau de Chartreaux would more than likely be outside the company frontage.The Chateau can be seen on GE to the west of Chercq Churchyard Cemetery. The only other possible location for the 'chateau' mentioned by Barclay is the open area to the east of the sewage works and the disused railway bridge - see GE again
    As for where Gristock won his VC am I correct in assuming the sewage works now covers that area? Confusing isnt it?
    Any help appreciated here as I'. gong to Antoing on Sunday!

    Jerry
     
  2. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    Sorted now after being in contact with the Military Museum in Tournai. Apparently therailway lines on the west bank, shown on the 1917 Trench maps, were still in existance in 1940. Therefore the railway line mentioned by Ernie Leggatt was the one running alongside the river, Battalion HQ was in the Chateau de Curgies near Calonne which is presumably where the RAP was situated. As Barclay's company was on the right it stands to reason his sector was up to or just beyond the modern day Vaulx bridge and the chateau where he mentions hunting for rabbits was the Chatea de Chartreaux. Barclay was on the right flank of the battalion so Gristock's VC action must have taken place somewhere in the area of the Vaulx bridge? There is a branch railway line running almost up to the Chateau de Curgies. I will have a closer look next week when I am there.
     
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  3. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Hi Jerry could you give me a ref point on Google as I have searched on there and not found the area.
    Thanks RCG
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Guy Hudson likes this.
  5. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    Find Tournai on GE and follow the river south to Chercq. This is where the Norfolks were positioned. War diary and Regimental history is lamentably short on detail! I would post the 1917 map snip which I have just been told is virtually the same as it was in May 1940 but don't know how to on this forum! sorry.
     
  6. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    Didn't know about Gristock Place in norwich - thanks.
     
  7. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Thanks Jerry I can have a good look now.

    TD. You should have widen the view of Gristock place.

    Five members of the Royal Norfolks, the highest number of any British Army regiment during the Second World War, were awarded the Victoria Cross:
    David Auldjo Jamieson
    John Niel Randle
    George Gristock
    Sidney Bates
    George Arthur Knowland

    Then you would have seen this :biggrin:

    https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.641139,1.2400396,17z?hl=en-GB
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    Here is the 1918 map of the the Escaut - this would have been the situation in May 1940 when the Norfolks were in position along the canal.
     

    Attached Files:

    Owen likes this.
  10. lionboxer

    lionboxer Member

    Well done RCG for pointing out this unique record about the Norfolk's. I've been banging the drum about this for years!!
    Lionboxer
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Jerry-Are you happy with what you have on Gristock's VC? There's some info and a map in the Regiments History by Kemp and At The Sharp End by Hart.
     
  12. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    Drew, have not seen map in regimental history can yo email it to me as I'm in Oudenaarde at moment! If you need my email pm me. Thanks, jerry
     
  13. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    Does anyone have a copy of the map in the Norfolks History showing the events on the Escaut in May 1040? I am having some doubts about exactly where the Norfolk Battalion HQ was. The Regimental history days it was at Calonne which is south of where the Norfolk company positions were situated. I suspect the Battalion HQ might have been in the Chateau Carbonelle which Barclay refers to in his account of the battle as the place where he went rabbiting. This is where the RAP was presumably positioned as Ernie Leggett crawled along the railway to the RAP where he was found and later Gristock and Barclay were brought to after they had been wounded. The railway line in 1940 ran along the road south of the chateau grounds. Any help please would be greatly appreciated

    Jerry
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Gerry - I PM'd you my email address but never heard anything from you. PM me your address.
     
  15. jerrymurland

    jerrymurland Junior Member

    Andy, I emailed you with my address but it must have gone astray. Can we try again?

    Jerry
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    PM me your email address mate.
     

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