I have unearthed this photograph of No 10 platoon, "C" Coy, Royal Norfolk Regiment that appears to have been taken in India during the late 1930's. I am posting it here as some of the men in the photograph appear to have played a part in events that occurred in France with the 2nd battalion in May 1940. I will post a picture of each soldier individually and will add what little research that I have gathered about each of the them. Please feel free to add anything that you might know about any of them.
Starting at the top left back row the first soldier is named as Pte Howlett. He appears to be the oldest soldier in the company and has four medal ribbons on his uniform. These appear to be for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the GSM.. My research indicates that this man is Frederick John Howlett who served with the Norfolk Regiment in the Great War with the service number 14538, he re-enlisted in 1919 and was given the service number, 72417 and was later renumbered 5764949. He is unlikely to have been still serving in 1940 as he would have completed 22 years service by 1936/37.
The next soldier is named as Pte Gray. Without further research and corroborating evidence it is impossible to be sure of this man's identity but it may be 5770222 Pte Frank Robert Gray who was killed in action on the 27th May1940, age 28.
Pte DiGesso or D'Gesso. As yet no information available. The Digessos seem to have been London based with an Alexander being born in 1903 in Hackney, a James Frederick also born in Hackney in 1908 and an Antonio James born in 1909. They seem to have been of Italian extraction. The second photograph shows DiGesso with the 1st battalion boxing team in India. Photograph courtesy of Lionboxer.
Pte Sayers. There is a Pte F Sayers, 5772602 of the 2nd Royal Norfolk Regiment listed as being a POW in German hands.
Pte Watson. There is a 5770390 Pte F.N. Watson, 2nd btn, Royal Norfolk Regiment listed as a POW in German hands. The 0390 part of his army number would suggest that he was an early enlistment as Pte Howlett's service number was 5770222.
Pte Brudnell. FreeBMD shows that four lads with this surname were born between 1913 and 1919, three of them in Grantham in Lincolnshire.
Pte Yaxley. Yaxley appears to be a surname with strong Norfolk links and there are a fair few Royal Norfolk Regiment soldiers with this uncommon surname, several of whom became casualties. There were two soldiers serving with the 2nd battalion who were killed in action in France in 1940. Both were brothers, the sons of Albert and Sarah Anne Yaxley, of Irstead, Norfolk This may be 5768528 L/Cpl George Albert Yaxley, the husband of Louise Ellen Yaxley, of Irstead. George was reported killed between 26th and 27th May 1940, age 34. It is highly likely that he was murdered by his SS captors. He is buried in the Le Paradis Cemetery George Albert Yaxley married Louise Ellen Brown in Devonport in 1932.
Middle Row. Pte Blythe. The POW lists show a soldier of the Royal Norfolk Regiment 5775142 R.P. Blythe was a POW in German hands. A soldier called R.P. Blythe with the service number 5947277 served with the 2nd battalion Beds & Herts in Palestine in 1936-39. A Reginald Peter Blythe was born in Dover in 1915. A Robert P Blythe was born at Downham, Norfolk in 1920.
Quickfall. This unusual surname seems to be concentrated in Lincolnshire. The POW lists show that a Pte J Quickfall 5770543 of the Royal Norfolk Regiment was a POW in German hands. Again the service number is very low suggesting an early enlistment.
Pte Sergeant. Shades of Catch 22 with this one and I wonder if he ever became Sergeant Sergeant. No identification found as yet.
Pte Lebbon. There were four lads with this unusual surname born in Thetford, Norfolk between 1913 and 1919.
Pte Punyer. Another unusual surname. A Pte J Punyer 5770024 (another low number) was listed as being a POW in German hands. Punyer appears to have been a member of the 1st battalion athletics team in India.
Pte Nichols. Not positively identified but a Pte J.H. Nichols, 5773182 Royal Norfolk Regiment is listed as being a POW in German hands.