British Soldiers shot for retiring without permission

On top of all that you keep seeing other troops retreating while you are told to stay - I'd be looking for the first excuse to do one. Everyone a hero in my book for what they endoured.

Exactly!

I'd quite possibly be one of the first to head for the boats. "Sod this for a game of soldiers".

 

Going back to the start of the thread Andy, do you know what Evans got his MID for ?

I find it interesting that the BEF journals contain many accounts of sniping and shootings by disguised fifth columnists but the documented accounts all seem to point to Guards officers.

 

Doing the sniping???

Or are they the ones reporting all the "fifth columnists"?

 

The diary refers to him as a Bosch sniper and two DWR chaps (A PSM and Cpl I think)went out and got him.

Ref Evans: In short, no mate. I'll check the MiD below tomorrow if I remember just incase its him.

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

I can't find where I read about a officer being shot when turning the men around either.

 

surely though if someone had said " I'll fire on you if you retreat beyond Point X ", then you would retreat another way or make sure you were not seen passing point X ??

 

oh and the unidentified Officer in Warhem was identified in recent years as Maj McCorquedale who had originally been buried as UNKNOWN MAJOR COLDSTREAMS with a date of death and wa sidentified by his son after a visit

 

How long ago was that John? I think I saw his grave when I was there last year with Rob.

 

I can't remember exactly sorry Drew, I know when I first went there 25 years or so ago it was unidentified, then I read within the last 10 years, I believe via the CWGC annual report, that his son had visited the cemetary, found the grave marked : unknown Major coldstreams with the same date of death as his dad and had the eureka moment which lead to the CWGC reapraising things and naming the grave, he is also, of course, still commemorated on the Dunkirk memorial.

 

All

I've attached the 1st Suffolks diary for 31 May 1940 for information.

It was reconstructed from memory as the original was lost in the retreat.


Stuart

War Diary 1 Suffolk Regiment, May 1940, Sheet Four

May 30
Enemy shelled a ?certain amount during day and night.

May 31
0600 hours
Enemy commenced heavy shelling along whole Battalion front with artillery and mortar fire.

1100 hours
ROYAL ENGINEERS Company on right of Battalion withdrew in face of mortar fire but were collected by Major BAKER and led back to position again. Meanwhile some enemy got across in centre of Battalion area by means of a pontoon bridge, and began spreading out along canal bank but were held up and driven off except in the centre of the position. The Battalion was at this time organised into Battalion H.Q. and three rifle companies (A, C, and H.Q.). This was on account of casualties. The majority of the M.T. has been disabled and the only kit left was arms, equipment and personal kit.

1900 hours
Fighting died down and the front appeared to have stabilised. Orders were received to commence withdrawing to the beach at LA PANNE, where boats were waiting to take off the troops. The withdrawal commenced at 2130 hours. At about the same time, the enemy commenced shelling the beaches very hard, but did not attempt to attack while the withdrawal was proceeding.

 

Sorry to bring this up again, but I couldn't find in this thread which 246 Coy Officer was shot by Lt Jones of the Guards?

I may just be being blind...

 

Cheers mate, I was being blind!

 

Two things that perhaps you can help with.
One Where did the info about the 246 Field Co RE running away from fire? I cannot find any mention of it anywhere in my Corps papers.

Nor in the History of the Company. (246 Originated in Cardiff as a T A company) by the way. I have also searched the short history, and found nothing there either.

What I did find, was an excellent write up praising the company for its efforts in the invasion, and after. With a performance that warranted a mention in the RE History. A rare honour!

The with my Dorset humour..... with a great big grin. I have to say that we younger men were not around then, in the earlier BEF. It rather reminds me of Spike Milligan's book.

My part in beating Hitler Or something like that.

 

Sapper, what does the Company's History say on this period?

 

Stone me DBF, I only asked!....

There are numerous examples of men taking off under fire. There are some examples of a whole regiment being broken up, and distributed amongst other regiments.... because of the behaviour of the troops in that Regiment.

Even after they were moved, many of them still did not come up to scratch...I am NOT going to name them, You can research if you wish... I have no wish to awaken old sores. Just to say they were an infantry regiment.


PS One other thing ....My memory at 86, is pretty poor with current affairs, though excellent about our youth. So make a little allowance for that...

There will come a time when you will suffer from short term memory loss, It start off by being unable to name folks you have known for a long time... And worsens over time...I would suggest that there a great many here already experiencing that phenomena Another thing you may like to consider is this.... Will you be as active and able when you reach my age? For many are old at the age of 65. Then again, you may not be as l.ucky as me!!!! You may fall off your twig and never get there.
Sapper

 

Interesting to note that James Langley would later join SIS as liason with MI9 - the Escape and Evasion department - and then commanded Intelligence School 9 (IS9).

Lee

Transcript of on-camera interview of James Langley, Dunkirk - The Story Behind the Legend:








YouTube - Dunkirk - The Story Behind The Legend 2/4