Private Robert Pearson, POW. 1st Bn Black Watch.1940

Discussion in '1940' started by alex crawford, Nov 23, 2008.

  1. Rotherfield

    Rotherfield Senior Member

    Hi
    I had a very good friend who sadly passed away some years ago now, his name wa John Boyd and I believe he was in the 51st H.D. with the Argyl's he often told of his Regiment being sent back to an area around a small villahe called Fran Lue (I think thats how you spell it) they were told to defend the perimiter until told to make their way back to Dunkirk, they fought there for 7 days until an English Officer (POW) appeared and told them that everybody had left Dunkirk some days before they were on their own, they then decided to give upo and became POW's, te ones that did not make it were buried in the mall farm orchard there but have now been tranferred to the small churchyard. John was very bitter about that as he saw it as a betrayal of the Generals and that his mates died needlessly
    Mike (rotherfield)
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Mike,

    The 51st were never near or heading for Dunkirk as far as I'm aware-Not sure why the officer was telling them about Dunkirk either. The 51st were under the command of the French at the end of May and were heading to the Somme - away and miles from Dunkirk. Can't find anywhere called Fran Lue on google maps in France either.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  3. chesterflyer

    chesterflyer Member

    I had a very good friend who sadly passed away some years ago now, his name wa John Boyd and I believe he was in the 51st H.D. with the Argyl's he often told of his Regiment being sent back to an area around a small villahe called Fran Lue (I think thats how you spell it) they were told to defend the perimiter until told to make their way back to Dunkirk, they fought there for 7 days until an English Officer (POW) appeared and told them that everybody had left Dunkirk some days before they were on their own, they then decided to give upo and became POW's, te ones that did not make it were buried in the mall farm orchard there but have now been tranferred to the small churchyard. John was very bitter about that as he saw it as a betrayal of the Generals and that his mates died needlessly
    Mike (rotherfield)

    This place is called Franleu and it is where 7th Argylls were fighting supported by A Coy 7th Northumberland Fusiliers. I think this was 5th June 1940.
     
  4. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    Their's a little about it here -


    BBC - WW2 People's War - Retreat to Dunkirk: With the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

    very fitting extract from above-

    There are many individual stories to be told of the thousands who lost their lives in "meaningless" little skirmishes across France. They do not appear in major Hollywood films, BBC documentaries or important text books on the war, but every single individual did what they could and they could do no more.
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Reading this thread again I would follow Brian's advice-Get or check the BW missing men files (I don't have them yet) and try to ID what camp he was in. Knowing the camp I would then do a war crimes file search for that camp to see if he was shot or look at other PoW's Questionnaires from that camp. I suspect at least one would have mentioned his death if the Germans were involved in it.
     
  6. Lucy Reeves

    Lucy Reeves New Member

    I know this is an old post but felt i needed to add my bit. I'm just helpling my daughter research any ancestors who fought in ww2 for school. George Pearson and Robert Pearson were my great uncles, i have George's medals here and some other bits. I have a few bits from Robert but not as much. Hoping you may have more information on them both.
     

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