GENT CITY CEMETERY FREWIN, WILLIAM SIDNEY W S WARRANT OFFICER CLASS III (P.S.M) 3RD BN. Grenadier Guards 1066403 22.06.1940 My Father in law is the son of William Sydney and is wondering if anyone has any information or pictures of his Dad from around the time of his death. Thanks Steve Groocock
Hi welcome to the forum Has you father-in-law or anyone else applied for a copy of PSM Frewin's service records? If not see post 2 here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/brigade-guards/37127-researching-guardsmen-foot-guards.html I'm afraid I can't think of any way of obtaining a photo other than asking GG RHQ if they hold a squad photo or similar. However this is in the War Diary of the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards for Dec 1939, which your father-in-law might find of interest It's transcribed in post no 8 of this thread: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/grenadier-guards/32554-war-diary-3rd-battalion-grenadier-guards-bef-sep-1939-jun.html#post365122 http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/365122-post8.html I'm sorry that I haven't yet completed transcribing the diary but will post the rest up as soon as I can. Regards Diane
GENT CITY CEMETERY FREWIN, WILLIAM SIDNEY W S WARRANT OFFICER CLASS III (P.S.M) 3RD BN. Grenadier Guards 1066403 22.06.1940 My Father in law is the son of William Sydney and is wondering if anyone has any information or pictures of his Dad from around the time of his death. Thanks Steve Groocock Have you got a copy of Guards VC by Sarkar? This is a Bn history of sorts of their time in France during 1939/40 and its rather good. Copies start at £7.00 here: Sarkar - Guards VC - AbeBooks From the Author Why 'Guards VC' is a vital contribution to WW2 history.My grandfather, former Guardsman HH Smith was captured with, and saved the life of, Lance Corporal Harry Nicholls VC, also of the 3rd Grenadier Guards, near Pecq on May 21st, 1940. My grandfather never discussed his wartime experiences and it was at his funeral in 1983, in fact, that I heard of his connection with such august events.Since then, despite having also written nine RAF/Luftwaffe Battle of Britain related books, I have been researching the events befalling the 1st Guards Brigade (3rd Grenadier, 2nd Coldstream and 2nd Hampshires) between September 1939-June 1940. Naturally the emphasis is on the period May 10th, 1940, the date the German invasion of the West began, and June 1940, i.e. after the Dunkirk evacuation. The VC-winning action of May 21st is reconstructed in great detail using not only the contemporary records of BOTH sides, but equally the first-hand accounts of British and German survivors. The same applies to the other VC won on May 21st, by CSM George Gristock, 2nd Royal Norfolks. All of the actions fought by 1st GB are re-fought in similar fashion, and thus give us an idea of what it was really like for a typical BEF unit during the Fall of France.As this research proves, however, it was not the rout that many today think it was, and the BEF fought both bravely and determindly against overwhelming odds.Finally we present an up-to-date battlefield tour of the Pecq site, and report on our last visit during which many relics were discovered. 100 photographs illustrate 'Guards VC', many of German origin, and nearly all are previously unpublished.I can guarantee that you will be amazed at the amount of fighting that went on before Dunkirk, and hope that this book is an appropriate tribute to all concerned.
The above books lists Frewin as 'Died of Wounds'. The real key would be to ID when he was wounded. I think its safe to assume he died close to where he is buried which suggests to me he was a PoW and medically evacuated by the Germans to Gent.
War Diary transcript now completed to end of May. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/grenadier-guards/32554-war-diary-3rd-battalion-grenadier-guards-bef-sep-1939-jun.html#post365122
