Isieres ambush

Recently found in my mother's papers a grave number for her younger brother Pte Robert Alexander Wallis of the Ox and Bucks. He died on 19/05/40 after being shot by a sniper in the Belgian village of Isieres, where he and eight others are buried.

We believe he and the others, from the Cheshires, were in bren carriers and had stopped to ask the way to Dunkirk when they were directed into the ambush by a village fifth columnist. He was later hanged in the village square.

I've been poking around and wonder if, since nine men died, there were three bren carriers. Three of the others were Captain K.S.B. Lucking, 2nd Lt M.R. Williams and a Lance Corporal G.H. Nursaw. At least, that's what it seems to be from the photo of the graves.

Could this have been a squadron of a reconnaissance battalion of a division? However, I thought recce squadrons were drawn from cavalry regiments.

Another puzzle: Bobby (as he was known in the family) wrote home on 13/11/39 as Lance Corporal and his address as Carrier Section HQ Company, 1st Batt Ox and Bucks, c/o Army Post Office. Yet he is Private on his War Grave certificate.

I have applied for kinship to get his service record but any help to verify the above or suggestions to track this down would be very welcome.

Geoff Bennet

 

Back just an hour or so later!

Now believe Ox and Bucks were part of 1 Corps, 48th (South Midland) Infantry Div,143rd Infantry Brigade and that the 4th Battalion Cheshires (Machine Gun) were under the command of the division. Any help to anyone who knows more than me?

Geoff

 

Sounds like he was only an Acting L/Cpl.
Trying him out with his first step on the rank ladder.

Agreed - Either acting or Unpaid.

BRB with some more info-I need to look at some books.

 

001 ATHERTON DH 4128160 4TH BN 17/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT
002 HOGGETT A 4128671 4TH BN 19/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT
003 JOHNSON TW 4128600 4TH BN 18/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT
004 LUCKING KSB 42126 4TH BN 19/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT
005 MCCORMICK PA 4128606 4TH BN 18/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT
006 NURSAW GH 4124961 4TH BN 19/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT
007 TAYLOR ST 4128499 4TH BN 19/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT
008 WALLIS RA 5383464 1ST BN 19/05/1940 OXFORD AND BUCKS LIGHT INFANTRY
009 WILLIAMS MR 38500 4TH BN 19/05/1940 CHESHIRE REGIMENT

 

From Crookenden's The History of the Cheshire Regiment in the Second World War 1939-1945:

During the move back, the Platoon appears to have been joined by by a number of infantry stragglers separated from their units. One man of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Private R. A. Wallis, joined the Platoon in a bren carrier and subsequently undertook to reconnoitre the river bank beyond the railway. Whilst doing so, the carrier was hit by several anti-tank gun shells at short range from across the river and the driver was killed.
There is no mention of any carriers with 14 Pl, it's all trucks. The 'move back' was that from the river line to alternative positions on the high ground at La Cavee to the north - away from Isieres. It does say that German troops were believed to have used civilan clothes to infiltrate the position.

There's an interesting turn of phrase regarding CSM Bradley's anti-sniper patrol:
This was silenced after a patrol under the C.S.M. had been sent out to deal with it, although no sniper was actually found with arms in his possession.
Are they suggesting that they found and silenced an unarmed sniper (I'm not condemning them, btw)? It seems unlikely that the village fifth columnist would have been strung up in Isieres if the Germans were around?

Owen - any chance you could post the next page or two of the report if you've got them, please?

Edit: The impression in the history is that the deaths were separate incidents rather than a single ambush.

 

You've all beaten me to it. Anyway the 1st Ox Bucks were heading for and digging in, in reserve on the 19th May east of the R. Escaut at Saint-Maur. Not much else to add really from my side.

 

Gents, you are amazing. More info in an evening than I've found in a month! Thanks
Can someone tell me how to print out the thumbnails?

Geoff

 

Geoff,

To answer a couple of your questions...

You are right in a way to say that "recce squadrons were drawn from cavalry regiments." In the BEF in 1940, Recce was carried out at divisional level by 'divisional' cavalry regiments, but this was not universal. The 50 Div used the 4th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in this role and they were most certainly not cavalry.

It appears from what you and Idler say that your uncle was in the Carrier Section, HQ Company. Army Council Instructructions of the day dictated that Infantry battalions should have ten Carriers, usually found in an HQ Platoon.

Best,

Steve.

 

Steve: Thanks! Not being military (sorry chaps!) I'm grappling with lots of stuff. Some I understand but the more detailed is a puzzle for me. I think I've got the story of Bobby's death straight. I'd now like to find out, if poss, how he got separated from his unit.

I plan to put together a folder for my son and his sons. Bobby was largely forgotten until his two big sisters, my mum and her big sister, died over Christmas. That seems ungrateful -- and a tragedy. In fact, the big sister signed his papers because he volunteered under age and their parents refused. The sister, Amy, went to her grave feeling she'd sent him to his death.

Their mum, also called Amy, went to her grave thinking he'd been hit by the anti-tank shell but survived and was wandering around Russia with amnesia. So it seems right somehow that somebody makes the effort to get the story right. Especially as all the seven brothers and sisters have now gone.

Thanks for all your help. Don't stop now, please.

Best
Geoff

 

Geoff,

Your Uncle Bobby's service records may be a good source of information and you should also have a look at the 1 OBLI War Diary (WO 167/805) covering this period for what the battalion was doing and how he may have found himself adrift; albeit it may not contain detail specific to your uncle. This Diary is available for viewing at the National Archive in Richmond, SW London, but Andy - handle Drew5233 (above) - may have a copy. You will need to send him a PM (a forum based personal message) to see if he can help!

Other sources are:

1) Regimental/Military Museums and there are two dealing with the OBLI (under 'Greenjackets') -
http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000078-Soldiers-of-Oxfordshire-Museum.htm , and

2) Regimental histories - but I can't yet find one for the OBLI at present.

Happy hunting!

Best,

Steve.

 

My learned friends:

During my hunt for Pte Bobby Wallis I have carefully noted all the websites, etc, that have been suggested or recommended to me. So carefully, in fact, there's one I can't read!

It looks like iromemories, or ivomemories or any combination of those letters or, even, none of them. Does it ring bells with anyone?

Cheers
Geoff

 

Hello Geoff,

Try www.inmemories.com

Best,

Steve.

 

Hi Geoff

I think you already have the Cheshire history report by Crookenden.

2Lt Williams was with 5 Pln situated immediately North of 15 Pln at Papignies Railway Station. They were ambushed on the Papignies Rebaix road and Williams and six men killed - " the same road as Cpt Lucking was killed on (according to Crookenden)". As you know my father believes that Lucking was ambushed by German motorcycle troops. So I think it likely that these actions were quite separate from the incident in which your Uncle died.

Your Uncle appears to have volunteered to reconnoitre between the river bank and the railway line. This is a very narrow area, only about 100 yards to about 300 yards wide in front of 15 pln and nowhere more than 500 yards in front of 14 pln (and horribly dangerous).

These hand written reports of the action from 13 14 and 15 plns Cheshires might help.

I notice that 15 pln report does mention a British "armoured car" (on the left ie North towards 5 Pln) being fired on by a German 2 pounder AT shell. The "armoured car" could be a Bren carrier or some other vehicle from 4/7 DG (I think they also had a number of Bren carriers) or it might be your Uncle's(?).

I see that Crookenden says that your Uncle's Bren Carrier was hit by AT shell from across the river - it is not clear if this was in front of 15 or a bit further South in front of 14 pln Cheshires.

The British also had AT unit from Worcester Yeomanry in support but I read their War Diaries and brilliant though this Regiment was, from the point of view of getting any meaningful info, it is useless. (just one page covers all their activities from 10 May to 30 May!)

Maybe 4/7 DG war diary might help but I don't have it. Did they use "armoured cars??"

As I promised, I will ask my father when he is in better health if he remembers anything.

(sorry can't get the hand written reports to upload - so I will sent them to you by email)

 

Thanks, Steve. That's the one. Good job I'm not trusted with a weapon . . .

Thanks, too, Peccavi. As you say, I've seen Crookenden, the OBLI and Cheshire regts company diaries and Ellis but nothing from the platoons. So, I'm really looking forward to anything you can offer.

As I said in another thread, I've pretty well pinned down how and where my man died. I'm now searching for how he got where he was. He was with the carrier section of HQ company so what was he doing with C Coy when HQ were already the other side of the river and on the move? C Coy were out of contact most of the day and had to dump all their kit after being surrounded.

Anyway, with everybody's help the layers are slowly being peeled away.

Thanks all.
Geoff

 

Search going really well. Thanks to all for help so far. Any ideas where I can find map of troop positions along R Dendre north from Ath to Lessines?

Seen the one in Crookenden but need one that goes further south and covers other units like 4/7 Dragoon Guards, Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. I think what I'm really looking for are the 5 Bgde maps for the 17,18,19 and 20 May, 1940.

Cheers
Geoff

 

Think I've got the immediate circumstances around my man's death right. But the wider picture is more elusive. The attached is where I'm at and I submit it for you all to consider with learned eyes.