Hi All, I'm researching the activities of my great uncle, John Wilfred Lucas who is buried in Abbeville. The CWGC website shows his date of death as being between 14 May and 23 June 1940. from my research to date, it seems that the 2nd Bn Warwickshire Regiment were in action but much further North, holding back the enemy to allow the Dunkirk evacuation and would have been evacuated themselves in early June. So I'm trying to understand what potential situations would cause him to be buried in Abbeville so far away from his regiment. He is the only person from the Warwickshire Regiment to be buried there. Any ideas would be much appreciated, Many Thanks Martin
Casualty Details Do you have a copy of his service records? There may be a clue in them-Whilst he may have been cap badged in the Warwicks he could have been attached to another unit or he could have been evacuated to a medical facility that was situated there.
Hi Drew5233, Thanks for your reply. I don't have his service records. I did look into this but couldn't find anywhere where anyone but a direct relative could obtain them (i.e. from the MOD). In the past, I have acquired them for WW1 personel and as you say there are often many clues in them. Is there somewhere I've missed? Thanks again Martin
He's been dead for more than 25 years you don't need to be a rellie to get his records. Requests for personal data and service records - GOV.UK See the bit that says... After this period, and if it is held, in addition MOD will disclose without the requirement for next of kin consent:...
Martin, Your Great Uncle may have been a patient initially at Etaples and then evacuated to Abbeville in the face of the Germans army driving down from the north. There was a British Army major hospital at Etaples during the Great War and there was one established there by the BEF. Abbeville had a similar large hospital during the Great War and may have had one under the BEF. During the Great War Abbeville attracted German air force raids as the Abbeville Communal Cemetery testifies with the deaths of nursing staff. Abbeville was one of many towns that was severely damaged by the Luftwaffe from when the Blitzkrieg was launched from 10 May 1940.The town was captured by the Germans on 20 May 1940 but a failed attempt to recover the area by French and British units led to the engagement known as the Battle of Abbeville occurred during 27 May - 4 June 1940. His death,recorded as occurring between 14 May-23 June 1940 would fit into these dates....last date officially accounted for,to presumably the date when his body was found. However, as said,his service records might reveal his movements from when the phoney war in France became real on 10 May 1940.
Given the date range on CWGC record, there may - or may not - be some information about him in this... files in this Casualty Branch series are very much a 'lucky dip' type. Who knows you might get lucky and find a letter written by a comrade about him. British Expeditionary Force, France: Royal Warwickshire Regiment; missing men | The National Archives Reference: WO 361/54 Description: British Expeditionary Force, France: Royal Warwickshire Regiment; missing men Good luck.
Thanks all for your excellent responses. I will now try to get hold of his service records as suggested. Thanks to @Harry Ree , your explanation does sound highly probable. I thought perhaps he may have been left behind or shipped back, possibly because of injury so this makes sense. Hopefully his records will give a few more clues and I'll look more into the battle of Abbeville too. Thanks again Martin
Hi Martin and Andrew, a very interesting topic for me, Please find enclosed the photo of the grave of J. W. Lucas. Best regards
