Incheville battle 1940

Hello,

I am search any information concerning the battle of INCHEVILLE, a small town on the RIVER BRESLE. A several battle beetwen the german forces and 4 Borders Regiment and Sherwood Foresters during one week. ( 8 june and 15 june 1940).

BBC - WW2 People's War - The 4th Battalion, The Border Regiment in WW2

70 wargraves in Incheville Cemetery



many thanks for your cooperation

 

PM me on Sunday morning with a link to this thread. I suspect I'll have a fair bit of infomation for you.

Cheers
Andy

 

I'll post the 1/5 Sherwood's Account later and the Brigades diary if I have that.

Owen- You need to space the details to make 'em searchable :p

 

Hello, many thanks for all informations

001 ATKINS T 4742633 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 27.


002 BELL R 3601091 4TH BN 09/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW C, GRAVE 2.


003 BOWMAN JS 2756844 4TH BN 06/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW D, GRAVE 23.


004 BROWN DW 2756559 4TH BN 13/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW D, GRAVE 22.


005 CHOLERTON AE 4977697 1/5TH BN 06/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 7.


006 DOBSON S 3596922 4TH BN 08/06/1940 - - 09/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 2.


007 DONALDSON J 33188014TH BN 13/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW C, GRAVE 4.


008 DUNCANS27566054TH BN 08/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW D, GRAVE 18.


009 ECCLES R 3132108 8TH BN 08/06/1940 ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS
ROW C, GRAVE 6.


010 FRANCIS AE 4976388 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 2.


011 GASCOIGNE S 2062209 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 3.


012 HEALD A T/112704- 11/06/1940 ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS
ROW A, GRAVE 7.


013 HUNT WG 3598093 4TH BN 06/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 1.


014 HUTCHINSON WG4976138 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW A, GRAVE 1.


015 JOHNSON F4976718 1/5TH BN 05/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 10.


016 KEILY AJ4970551 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW A, GRAVE 3.


017 MARTIN J 3600006 4TH BN 14/06/1940BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 10.


018 MCGREGOR AG 2753098 4TH BN 10/06/1940 - - 13/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW C, GRAVE 5.


019 MCGURK C 2932812 4TH BN 10/06/1940 - - 13/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW D, GRAVE 20.


020 NASH W 4977645 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 25.


021 PAGAN F 3600900 4TH BN 10/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 9.


022 PANTON J 2758725 4TH BN 08/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW D, GRAVE 21.


023 POLLARD A 4975391 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 5.


024 POTTER GA 4977096 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 14.


025 REILLY G 2757915 4TH BN 10/06/1940 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
ROW D, GRAVE 17.


026 RIGBY EN 3599356 4TH BN 07/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 22.


027 RUSHTON E 3600829 4TH BN 06/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW A, GRAVE 8.


028 SALT J 4976647 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 13.


029 SMITH TG 3127101 4TH BN 07/06/1940BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 8.


030 STABLER WS 3601192 4TH BN 10/06/1940 - - 13/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 7.


031 STONE F 4976940 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 11.


032 TINKLER HK 3595707 4TH BN 08/06/1940 - - 09/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW B, GRAVE 21.


033 TUPHOLME GW 4976968 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW A, GRAVE 4.


034 TYSON H 3600580 4TH BN 06/06/1940 - - 10/06/1940 BORDER REGIMENT
ROW C, GRAVE 3.


035 WILCOX WA 4743394 1/5TH BN 08/06/1940 SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)
ROW D, GRAVE 28.

 

Any chance you can rotate the pictures

 

Hi all,

below the pictures of Incheville
the hotel's "Canard Musicien" before



the hotel's "Canard Musicien" after

Information for the latter is for sale, it has been closed since about 1995

The bridge "Pont Rouge" before


The bridge "Pont Rouge" after

houses in the background are on the town of Beauchamps

 

the church,


the Hotel du Commerce, now the hotel Marronnier

Headquarters of Border Régiment during the Battle

the Hotel du Commerce, seen from behind




The interesting part is on the left of the photo, where you can see the factory bike "Maillard", opposite the road "Canard Musicien" and on the back of the church.
The highest house in the village is the town hall

 

My dad was in the 1/5th Sherwood foresters a company I think his cousin (g a potter) and best friend (g w tupholm) were killed apparently by friendly fire don't know how but he was captured at St Valery 4 days later 12th June
If anyone has any info I'd love to hear i'd love to hear it
Thanks fred

 

Hi Fred

Would this be your father?
Name: J Waining
Rank: Private
Army Number: 4976861
Regiment: Sherwood Foresters
POW Number: 16085
Camp Type: Stalag
Camp Number: XX-A
Camp Location: Torun, Poland
Record Office: Infantry and Army Educational Corps Record Office, York
Record Office Number: 20

Many men were captured at St Valery and a search of this forum will throw up many references to it.

Have you applied for his service records - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records#how-to-apply-for-service-personnel-records - other members may also have a copy of a Liberation Questionnaire that he may or may not have completed in 1945.

TD

 

Hi Fred

Welcome from a fellow new member.

By way of background, as I understand it, following rapid German advances, 1/5 Sherwood Foresters were incorporated into an ad-hoc formation, "Beauman" Division - formed from various units and men from depots and reinforcement camps in the area.

The Sherwood Foresters were part of "A" Brigade - which comprised 4th The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regt), 1/5 Sherwood Foresters, 2/6 East Surrey Regt (to 03/06/40) & 4th Border Regt (from 04/06/40) - which was then sent as re-inforcements to the 51st Highland Division.

I'm afraid I cannot add much about the actual action at Incheville, but I had read that it involved "D" Coy, 4th Border Regt, which defended the bridge there but were cut off. On 7 June, "D" Coy were holding the village, south of which was an important bridge. They were subject to heavy fire and surrounded by German forces. On 8 June a company from 1/5 Sherwoods were sent up to re-inforce the Borders. They hung on for several days. Tragically they came under friendly fire (presumably to dislodge the German troops) and the Sherwoods were decimated; many of the survivors were captured as they tried to escape.

Subsequently "A" Brigade (I assume the remnants) and 154 Brigade of the 51st HD were formed into "Arkforce" whose task was to secure the lines of communication and the route back to Le Havre. In the event the main forces of 51st HD was unable to evacuate and were forced to surrender on 12 June. However, "Arkforce" managed to escape and evacuated a day later via Le Havre to Cherbourg.

If you do not already have them, I would suggest that you obtain your dad's service and POW records, as these would help you and also provide further detailed background. In addition you could also obtain a copy of 1/5 Sherwood Foresters' War Diaries (WO167 / 824) - forum member Drew5233 (Andy) may be able to help you (see The Barracks area of the site).

Out of interest, my own dad was in the R.E. and part of "B" Brigade of "Beauman" Division, fighting rearguard actions eventually being part of the final evacuations on 17 June.

Hope this helps
Steve

PS - I see TD has already covered the points re service records / POW questionnaire above

 

Sorry for the much delayed response,
Tricky Dicky-Yes this was my Dad, he was in Torun camp itself for about a year after that he worked on a farm at a place called Kulm-Rossgarten (Rosgarty today) went on a trip to Poland in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the death march found the village (the farm was struck by lightening in 1946 and burnt down) followed his (we think) death march route back into Germany.
Have about 20 photos of the boys on the farm
Thanks for your help
Sjw-thanks for your help wasn't sure if he'd been in A Brigade or not he wouldn't talk about it just bits we only discovered the above mentioned photos after he'd died