Jim's War Diary

Discussion in 'General' started by Fact Not Fiction Films, Sep 2, 2010.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Definately not convinced now. I just had a quick read through the WD for Sept and the Battalion moved from Gravesend to Aldershot to Southampton to Cherbourg.
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Fantastic!! He unfortunately never refers to his first name, looks likely this was the battalion he started with though. He later states that his officer was captured and that he was claimed by Lieut. Sutton and he joined the Pioneer Section. He then moved to the 2nd Echelon detachment in Calais where he finished his service. All fascinating stuff!!

    This doesn't make sense, as Calais was captured befor Dunkirk was completely evacuated. The nine months is cutting it fine too. Most were in France from Oct to May.

    The units aren't too clear either unfortunately.
     
  4. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    FNFF, interesting story, any chance of posting a few pages to wet our appetite?
    I was chatting to a quite well known author of Aviation history books on Sunday and his last couple of books were printed at a cost of about £2 each! He was fed up with going through a publisher and went direct to a printer but cost per copy would obviously depend on quantity. The books are excellent quality, hard-bound with B/W plates and colour dust cover. I am considering having a small run (maybe 500) book printed on another subject if it can be done for that kind of cost. Obviously printing costs have come down considrably with new technology.
    Just had another thought, I have a mate who is a printer/designer and perhaps he could do a small print run.
    PM me if you are serious about printing.

    Mike
     
  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    If he was in India, he must have been 1st Battalion. It sounds like he came out to be called up as a reservist when the war started.

    Carvin tallies with 4 Div which tallies with 2nd Bn (my great-uncle and future great-aunt were just down the road).

    Lt Sutton was a post-Dunkirk officer. Even had a bridge named after him in Italy; definitely Pioneer Pl. It makes sense that he would claim Mr Miles after Dunkirk if the former's officer had been captured on the other side.

    The Calais reference is confusing. When did he finish his service - at the end of the war or before?
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Andrew,

    Who do you think he was with in France? 2 Bn?
     
  7. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The names point to 2 Bn before and after Dunkirk. 2 Bn mention some missing and POWs detached to other duties.

    It is possible he was detached to something around Calais then moved to Dunkirk with them. My gut feeling is that Calais is a typo and should actually be somewhere this side of the Channel where he was moved to a second line unit, perhaps when the bn went overseas; there's been no suggestion he went with, has there?
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Only whats posted on here.
     
  9. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    Thanks to everyone who is helping me with this, i really appreciate it. I am going to re-read the section where he is said he was claimed by Liet. Sutton try and make some sense of it all. The entrees for Lofts and Mellish look most definately like they were with him at the time in Dunkirk. He mentions finding them wounded or dead during his time in Dunkirk and both in the same section which would add up with the fact they were declared dead on the same day. This is most definately the right battalion. I have been in contact with Jims sister-in-law to try and get some more information from her, see whether she can find out any army numbers from Jims daughter. Ill keep you posted. In the meantime, I will try and scan in some pages from the diary to maybe help in the quest. Thanks again
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    They didn't die until 1943.

    If you are in contact with a relative and you are serious about finding out the facts, I would pay to get a copy of his service records.
     
  11. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    mmm.. good point. I will try and get his service records then, hopefully that will make it all clearer. Thanks
     

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