8th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment 21st May 1940

I was up at Kew this morning for a quick in and out. Andy was right about the MIA diary. No mention of Lt. Holmes except on the final casualty sheet, which is almost a replica of the War diary page I posted before. See below.

However, amazingly, from my own point of view, I found mention of 6 of my Chindits who had previously served with 8 Warwick's. They had all been called upon to give witness statements for comrades who fell, disappeared in may 1940. So, obviously chuffed about that.

 

I've added some Nominal Rolls from WO361/55 to the following thread:

8th Royal Warwicks, Calonne, 21.05.1940 account of action??

 

For anyone with an interest, here is what I have written about the 8th Warwick's who became Chindits, from the info I discovered at Kew yesterday. Thanks again to Andy for the detailed description of events 20-22 May 1940:

8th Warwick's at Dunkirk

 

I can now give an update on my uncle Harold Thomas as I have recently obtained his service record. I wonder if anybody could help me expand on the following:

1. He commenced his officer training with the 165th OCTU on 15th September 1939 in Dunbar. He received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Warwicks on 13th January 1940.
   

• How were recruits allocated to different OCTUs?
  
  
• Was there anything specific about the 165th OCTU?
  

2. As I have indicated in previous posts he was reported ‘missing’ on 21st May 1940 after the horrendous fighting involving the 8th Battalion. However the records contain a letter to Harold’s father from a Sgt. Lloyd (War Office?) dated 10th October 1942 -Harold was still reported as missing in April 1942 - which includes the following:


“...I am directed to inform you that a report has been received from a prisoner of war, through the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva, to,the effect that your son was last seen wounded near Tournais, and in the absence of any evidence since he was reported missing which would indicate that he survived, the Department has, with deep regret, reached the conclusion that he lost his life. It is consequently being recorded that 2nd Lieutenant H.L.J Thomas,is presumed to have died of his wounds on or shortly after 19th May.”

• Does anybody know of any action in the Tournais area on 19th May in which he could have received fatal wounds? Certainly, 19th May, seems from the War Diaries to have been a day of digging-in rather than engaging the enemy.
  
  
• I have been informed by the CWGC that when his grave was discovered in Calonne Cemetery in 1945 it was dated 21st May and was subsequently adjusted to 19th May because of information held by the War Office. My assumption is that this was the report of the POW.
  
  Does anybody know if these testimonies are available?
  

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.