2nd Bat East Yorkshire Regiment - Dunkirk

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Coulter, Mar 31, 2009.

  1. KWilson

    KWilson Junior Member

    Hi Drew, I have been trying to find out as much as i can about my family member GEORGE WILSON No 4339760 EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, who died on June 02nd 1940 Dunkirk Evacuation, who's name appears on the Dunkirk memorial Column 47. I have read through the posts that you have had with COULTER and can only summise at this point that my Fathers Uncle met his fate in a similar manner to that of COULTERS. It is quite poingnent at this time as i will be taking my Mother and Father who are now celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary over to Brugge on the 2nd June for a long weekend, we plan to visit the Dunkirk Memorial on our way home to pay our respects. I booked this trip last year without knowing the significanse of the dates, and in addition, my parents have never travelled to Europe. In fact they've never left our shores. It would be a lovely end to what will be a fantastic weekend if i give my Father any additional information regarding his Uncle.

    My Fathers Father also saw action at Dunkirk, his name was RALPH WILSON No 4341623 and he also saw action with the EAST YORKSHIRES, i know he survived Dunkirk and was later discharged in 1946, again any information would be really appreciated.

    Kind Regards,
    Kevin Wilson.
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Kevin,

    More than happy to help - do you know what battalion they were in? The 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions went to France with the BEF.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  3. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Drew, George Wilson was 2nd Battalion.

    WILSON, GEORGE

    Rank:
    Private
    Service No:
    4339760
    Date of Death:
    Between 01/06/1940 and 02/06/1940
    Age:
    34
    Regiment/Service:
    East Yorkshire Regiment

    2nd Bn.
    Panel Reference
    Column 47.
    Memorial
    DUNKIRK MEMORIAL

    Additional Information:

    Son of John James Wilson and Esther Wilson husband of Eleanor Wilson.
     
  4. KWilson

    KWilson Junior Member

    Thanks Drew and Rich Payne for your help.

    Apart from Rich's addition of knowing George was in the 2nd battalion i have no other information regarding George apart from the inscription at the Dunkitk memorial.

    With regard to my Fathers Father Ralph Wilson, i have been told he was in the 2nd Battalion East Yorks, served in India 1937, in 1941 he was in the York & Lancaster 7th Battalion, then Green Howards, then Kings Own Light Infantry before being discharged in 1946, Ralph Wilson was my Grandfather so any additonal info would be much appreciated.

    Thanks for all your help.

    Kevin Wilson
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Ref George here is the war diary covering the day of his death:

    [​IMG]


    Ref Ralph, for some serious research I would apply for a copy of his service records and then, with units and dates confirmed via the records I would view the units war diaries.
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    There is also a report in the back of the diary and thought this page maybe of interest:

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    You're in luck, some info very few get to find out - Pte George Wilson was in D Company.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Drew's reference library succeeds again ! There is probably more relevant information there than all the published sources combined.
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thank you :lol:
     
  10. KWilson

    KWilson Junior Member

    Drew & Rich Payne

    Thanks Drew for this new information really appreciated, with regards to Ralph Wilson i'll try and find answers to your questions.

    Thanks so so much for what you've found so far.

    Kind Regards,

    Kevin Wilson.
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Do you know if either of them held the rank of Corporal? There is a list of corporals but just surnames and it includes a Wilson.
     
  12. KWilson

    KWilson Junior Member

    Hi Drew,

    I have found that Ralph Wilson was a Lance Corporal in 1939 then promoted to Sergeant.

    In August 1941 he was in the 7th Battalion York & Lancaster

    Hope this helps,

    Thanks,
    Kevin Wilson
     
  13. TopDog

    TopDog Junior Member

  14. Robert Meek

    Robert Meek New Member

    Hello

    I've just found this thread on an internet search and replying here and reviving it seemed the best way to raise my question - sorry if this isn't the accepted way to do it.

    I am looking for information on my grandfather who was in the East Yorkshire Regiment and to the best of my knowledge in 2nd Battalion. He was Frederick Roland (Roy) Meek and died on 31 May, or possibly 1 June 1940. He is buried in the Oostduinkerke Communal Cemetery and according to the CWGC this means he is likely to have died in fighting on the Nieuport-Veurne-Dunkirk Canal covering the retreat. His rank was Warrant Officer Class III and his trade is shown as PSM, which I assume is Platoon Sergeant Major? The CWGC show his age as 25 but he was in fact 35.

    Reading a few of the threads on this forum it seems to be a fantastic source of knowledge so I was hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction to anything that might be useful. The picture above seems to be of the war diary for the first few days of June. I guess I'd want the last few days of May? I believe I can look at them, or get copies from, the archives in Kew? Are there any other possible sources of information?

    Thanks

    Robert
     
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: Frederick Meek
    Given Initials: F R
    Rank: Warrant Officer Class III
    Death Date: Jun 1940
    Number: 4335466
    Birth Place: Yorkshire
    Residence: Yorkshire
    Regiment at Enlistment: East Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of York's Own)
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: France and Belgium Campaign, 1939/40
    Regiment at Death: East Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of York's Own)
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
    Name: Frederic Rowland Meek
    Registration Year: 1904
    Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
    Registration district: Beverley
    Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
    Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding
    Volume: 9d
    Page: 113

    So yes 35 years of age at the time


    Your best bet for information is Kew & Dunkirk guru - Drew5233 - I will message him to let him know his services are required

    TD
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi

    There is a regimental history called The East Yorkshire Regiment in the war by Nightingale.

    CWGC entry doesn't list the battalion:

    Casualty Details
     
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here's his headstone. I've visited the cemetery a few times over the years
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Robert Meek

    Robert Meek New Member

    Thanks both.

    I didn't want to write an essay in my first post but my father has a copy of my grandfather's service records and I am sure they show he was in the 2nd battalion. My father originally thought he was in the 3rd battalion but I believe that didn't exist in 1940, I assume because of a shortage of men. I have seen Nightingale's book and I think he refers to this as he was originally in 3rd battalion as well.

    Drew, looking at the link in your posts I think I would like to see the unit war diary for the last few days of May and will pm you about this. I am really looking for anything describing what was actually happening to this unit in the last few days of May 1940. I appreciate that I may be looking for something that doesn't exist.

    Thanks again for your help.

    Robert
     
  20. mvdv84

    mvdv84 Well-Known Member

    This thread is just a few days late for my research.
    The following guys are buried at Adegem, Belgium. They were all 1940 East Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. I don't get much further the CWGC. Details and WD reports would be a great help.

    May 28: Badger, John William (1st buried at Klemskerke churchyard. First thoughts are that his body washed ashore, while beging drowned during the Dunkirk evacuation.)
    BADGER, JOHN WILLIAM | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem

    May 29: Cheyne, David James Cairns
    CHEYNE, DAVID JAMES CAIRNS | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem
    Hobson, William
    HOBSON, WILLIAM | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem

    May 30: Millward, Nicholas
    MILLWARD, NICHOLAS | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem

    July 5: Gray, William (1st buried at Klemskerke churchyard. Wasn't the Regiment already back in U.K. at this point? Could it be William's body also washed ashore and could it be that his day of death is incorrect? I don't know because I have reference.)
    GRAY, WILLIAM | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2020

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