Captain C.A. HOOD, 140th Field Regiment R.A., P.O.W., 1940

Can't see that it mentions his unit at Cassel. The only RA units I know that were there then were:

209th Battery (reinforced), 53rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Worchestershire Yeomanry and 5th Royal Horse Artillery.

Just checking a book....

 

He must have been in one of the groups that attempted to leave Cassel on the 29th May. Brig Somerset was in charge at Cassel and gave the order that on the evening of 29th May they would try to reach Dunkirk after being surrounded. Only one or two groups reached the beaches with most of the defenders being captured.

I have the route somewhere in my PC that they followed out of the town, it was initially east past 'Dead Horse Corner' then at a junction (I think) the groups were to head north. Shortly after the breakout started the Germans realised what was happening and opened fire on them in the area of the junction.

 

Hi
Capt C A Hood is my husband's grandfather - we would love to know more - we have this article from the Surrey comet - but nothing else - all family records were destroyed.
He was HAC - if that helps.
best wishes
Hen

 

Diane,

Another good post.

Hen,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

You will still be able to apply for the service record, through your husband.

Also one of our members may hold copies of the war diaries which would shed light on the locations etc.

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website is the website thast will point you in the right direction for obtaining the service record.

I wish you well with the research.

Regards
Tom

 

Hi
Thank you!

His DOB was 19th Dec 1905
He worked before and after the war as a Stockbroker for the Union Discount Co (the Company that lent Bank to Bank money)
He joined the HAC while there and when Princess Anne was born let off the 21gun salute to celebrate her birth!
The HAC seem to have been very supportive of his wife in his absence.
Apparently he helped several escapes - would love to know more about this, and also how he got home.
His small children did not recognise their father on his return!

Many thanks
Hen

 

Had a PM from Hen and have supplied her with the POW details from Ancestry.

Am going to Kew next week and will check to see if there was a returning POW report. As an officer he may well have done. If so, we will have a unit and hopefully more details.

Cheers - Rob

 

Diane
OOPS - forgot to say I will dig out his photo and will post - he was rather dashing!

 

Rob

You are a star - thank you SO SO much!!
Best wishes
Hen

 

Diane,
Having carefully read the article..there is much missing from 30th May to July...I will dig this out too and post Surrey Comet version....fabulous though to have Winter section - we have never seen that!!
Can't believe you only posted this yesterday!
Thank you!
Hen

 

Hi D

Must not count our chickens yet.

Capt Hood's POW details.

Name: C. A. Hood
Rank: Captain
Army Number: 95963
Regiment: Royal Artillery
POW Number: 560
Camp Type: Oflag
Camp Number: VII-B
Camp Location: Eichstätt, Bavaria

 

Hen

I know it's not the period you are looking at, but I found these entries in the 2 May 1947 issue of the London Gazette.

The War Office, 2nd May, 1947

The following Officer is awarded the Efficiency
Medal (Territorial), 3rd Clasp: —
ROYAL ARTILLERY.
Capt. C. A. HOOD (95963).

The following Officers are awarded the Efficiency
Medal (Territorial), 2nd Clasp: —
ROYAL ARTILLERY.
Lt. (Hon. Capt.) C. A. HOOD (95963)-

 

I've been checking for a while now and I can't find any ref to the Honourable Artillery Company serving with the BEF as a unit. I can't find any casualties either (Still got the Dunkirk Memorial to check).

I suspect he was either a Staff Officer attached somewhere within 48 Div or 145 Inf. Bde under Brig Somerset, CO at Cassel or he was with another RA unit during his time in 1940 France.

Regards
Andy

 

Andy

11 RHA were an Honourable Artillery Company unit. They have one casualty on the Dunkirk Memorial.

Might be worth checking.

Cheers - Rob

 

I only have 1 RHA, 2 RHA and 5 RHA listed in the BEF's Orbat. What rank was he Rob?

Any RA chaps can check what Battery's were in 140th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery ?

I've just had a mention via PM from Hen that he may have been in the above unit. They were part of I Corps in 1940 as Corps Troops so it is possible some of them could have been at Cassel under the command of Brig Somerset.

Cheers
Andy

 

Cassel Cemetery holds at least two casualties from 140th Army Field Regiment, RA and quite a few east and west of Cassel so it looks a bit promising.

I would as a matter of fact look to order his service records as has already been suggested-It will cut out any guess work and give you the facts.

Cheers
Andy

 

Andy
3 Sep 39
140 (5th London) A Fd Regt
Batteries
366 (10th London), 367 (11th London)
Rob