For reference: Found in I Corps Commander Royal Engineers Troops WO167/130. Dated September 1939. Lt. Col. G R Pim MC Capt. C L Richardson Capt. R R L Hutchinson Lt. B L L A Collins Lt. R A Barron S/Sgt H Bingham S/Sgt C G J May S/Sgt E J A Doe S/Sgt G E Gale L/Sgt G Batts Cpl D W Heath Dvr C B Lothian Dvr A J Thomsett Rfm F Pedleham Rfm E Fletcher Rfm S Proud Rfm A Edgar Rfm L E Moth
According to the units War Diary the unit embarked on HMS Wakeful at 1900 hrs on 28th May 1940. The men settled down below decks and fell to sleep hoping to be awoken as the ship arrived at a port of the English coast. At 0120 hrs on 29th May 1940 HMS Wakeful was struck by a torpedo in the region of the boiler room and sank in 15 seconds. So far I can only find four members, including the Commanding Officer of I Corps Commander Royal Engineers who were killed on HMS Wakeful. The units original War Diary was also lost on HMS Wakeful. Oostende New Communal Cemetery 001 CHALLINOR J 1985735 HQ 1 CORPS TROOPS 29/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS Dunkirk Memorial and Cemetery 002 PIM GR 10243 1 CORPS TROOPS 29/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS 003 SYMONDS NRJ 1865797 HQ 1 CORPS TROOPS COY 29/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS 004 THOMPSETT AJ 1866291 HQ 1 CORPS TROOPS 29/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS
Dunkirk Memorial and Cemetery 001 BATTS GJ 1872573 HQ I CORPS TROOPS 29/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS 002 DOE EJA 1868039 HQ I CORPS TROOPS 29/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS 003 GALE GE 1865260 HQ I CORPS TROOPS 29/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS
Dunkirk Memorial and Cemetery 001 EDGAR A 6911677 ATTD HQ 1 CORPS TROOPS, 29/05/1940 RIFLE BRIGADE 002 PEDLEHAM F 6910790 ATTD HQ 1 CORPS TROOPS COY 29/05/1940 RIFLE BRIGADE 003 PROUD S 6911069 ATTD HQ I CORPS TROOPS, 29/05/1940 RIFLE BRIGADE
Another possible casualty from I Corps CRE Troops Lance Corporal William Small Royal Engineers - CWGC :: Certificate
Drew Interesting to note that they had Members of the Rifle Brigade with them, also it does not note if they were attached to the actual Hq or worked from it. Is there any more info on its movements and units or was that lost with the war diary?
I would guess that Rifle Brigade was just a section attached for protection from when they left Aldershot. It still happens today-My old Squadron had a DWR Platoon attached with Warriors for protection in Iraq.
Some more information on the men listed above. S/Sgt Bingham was the Chief Clerk S/Sgt's May and Doe were Foreman of Works S/Sgt Gale was Draughtsman L/Sgt Batts and Cpl Heath were Clerks On the 4th September Riflemen Pedleham, Fletcher, Proud, Edgar, Moth reported as Batmen to the unit at Aldershot.