Alfred James Ditch Royal Artillery / I bty, 2nd Reg / Nieppe Bois

Hi, would anybody be able help in my bit of family research. I am trying to piece together a picture of Alfred James Ditch, KIA 27/5/40, service no 831145, RHA, 1Bty, 2 Reg. buried in Nieppe- Bois cemetery.
I would like to know how he died and are there any pictures of graves from that cemetery.
Thank you very much

 

I'd suggest starting here for some background on what was going on in the area.
I'm not aware of anything specific on 2 RHA other than what would be in the regiment's war diaries but there are plenty here who might.

 

Krrc60, I think you have asked in the right place.
Take a look at the 'Hornchurch plaque' thread to see what these guys (and girls) can do!

Good luck.

Mike

 

Hello,

Ramacal should have a picture of that headstone, we were in that cemetery a few weeks ago. I'd change the title too, to Include Royal Artillery as this will attract the Gunners

Andy

 

2 RHA
Have a look here.
Rob
Artillery Regiments Page

The Regiments detailed are;
1st Royal Horse Artillery
2nd Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Royal Horse Artillery
4th Royal Horse Artillery
5th Royal Horse Artillery
102nd Royal Horse Artillery
106th Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery Batteries
57th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery
65th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery (Norfolk Yeomanry)

 

There doesn't seem to be that much of a mention of the regiment in Ellis's France and Flanders apart from when the Regiment reached Mont des Cats on the 28th May they only had two guns left.

He's the only 2 Reg casualty over a three day period 26-28 May on Geoff's search engine.

 

Thank you all for getting back so promptly. Very much appreciated.

 

Thank you all for getting back so promptly. Very much appreciated.


You'll get more if you put Royal Artillery in the title

 

Welcome Krrc60 - The photos were only taken a couple of weeks ago. As Andy stated, change the title of the thread. I almost missed this post.

Name: DITCH, ALFRED JAMES
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Horse Artillery
Unit Text: 1 Bty., 2 Regt.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 27/05/1940
Service No: 831145
Additional information: Son of Alfred and Esther Ditch, of Westminster, London; husband of Evelyn Ditch, of Godreaman, Aberdare, Glamorgan.
Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 18.
Cemetery: NIEPPE-BOIS (RUE-DU-BOIS) BRITISH CEMETERY, VIEUX-BERQUIN

 

Good one Rob...I really should photograph 'all' the headstones on my travels.

 

Andy

I agree, it would be the logical thing to do, but time wise not always possible.

Lucky to get this RA headstone as we were there for your placing of memorial crosses.

Cheers - Rob

 

On the 20th May 2 RHA was covering the rearguard of 3 Division moving back via Oudenarde to Dottignies. A few days later they were with 42 Div south of Lille. They were now down to 16 guns and were grouped with 52 Field Regt. At this time they were at Verhoek and then withdrew to La Paradis and then to Monts des Cats where they were reduced to just 2 guns.

If Gnr Ditch was with 2 RHA then the Battery is wrong. There was no 1 Bty in any RHA unit as all RHA Btys were lettered. The Btys of 2 RHA at that time were H/I Bty and L/N Bty.

 

Hi, please forgive me if this has been posted in the wrong place, and that i have started another thread. I could not change the title of my original enquiry to include Royal Artillery ( not that good on the pc!)

Alfred James Ditch no 831145. This service number, was it issued for the war or was it pre war?

A big thanks to all that have helped me out.

 

Cheers Derek,

The plot thickens some what. I think the next logical step would be to apply for his service records assuming you have £30 spare to confirm his unit and possibly correct CWGC details. On the plus side you won't need to get a NOK approval as he died over 25 years ago.

If thats a route you want to go down you can apply for them here:
Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

Cheers
Andy

 

Thanks Andy,
did not know time rules applied to records, another avenue to persue
Dave

 

No dramas mate,

I take it you looked at this link: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/22814-british-soldiers-murdered-%EAt-de-nieppe-nieppe-forest-1940-a.html

that Andrew (idler) posted above. The chaps I wrote about were murdered the following day after being captured. Their unit had withdrawn the day before (27th) after fighting in and around the woods. I'll add a few pictures below from the area. There's quite a few large French bunkers along the top road of the wood too.

A

 

Taken from probable British Defensive Positions long gone. The area the Germans advanced across to the forest. Looking South.


Two shots of French bunkers on the northern border of the forest. Sadly all the ports and doors were bricked up.





I said to Rob (Ramacal) when we were there I'd love to have more time to walk around the forest-I suspect there is still a lot of history in there uncovered as yet. Unfortunately Neippe was a flying visit to find the murderer site and graves.

A.

 

Bumped for Dave incase he has missed some of the above info and if anyone can add anymore.

I have 2 RHA's diary now so will have a look through that when I get a chance and see what they were doing in the Neippe de Forest area. IIRC they went to Mont de Cats from here.

Can someone add 2 RHA to the title too

Perhaps: 831145 Gunner Alfred James Ditch, 2 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery?

 

2 RHA's War Diary for most of May upto Alfred's death.