My wife's father who became 2nd Lt Edward Robert Lynch T/87356 who joined the TA on 17 May 1939 to serve in the RASC and was posted to 11th MAC, and was promoted to Acting Sergeant by 28 Aug 1939. He was discharged for the purpose of being appointed to a commission 1 Sept 1939. He then embarked for the BEF with 6th MAC on 10 Jan 1940. He went on leave for 10 days in the UK for 10 days from 28 April to 9 May 1940. Arriving back for all the fun starting on 10 May. He arrived back in the UK 27 May 1940 (obviously one of the first out from Dunkirk) and in his record it says he was struck off the strength of the BEF. He was hospitalised on 27 May 1940 and was eventually discharged from the Army on 21 Mar 1941 due to ill health. I know he had a bad time like everybody else during the retreat to Dunkirk. But his Army Service record shows no movements for him or this unit between 10 May to 27 May when all the action happened. Is there a 6th MAC War Diary available to fill in the gaps? Or does anyone know of the movements in the retreat from Belgium. I heard a IWM recording of an RASC driver with 6th MAC who said they retreated to a Church in a village that sounded like Crombique which was a medical clearing station, to ferry wounded to a hospital ship on the mole in Dunkirk.
Do you know what MAC stands for? I've been up since 5am and my brain has stopped working. I think I know the Casualty Clearing Station that you are on about. It's a big red building used as a nursery today but still bares the shrapnel scares on the fighting. It was the one closest to the Mole that I'm aware of so I'd presume it was that one. No idea on Crombique though, Rich Payne may have some ideas on that. Andy
Good effort Brian - Sadly nothing showing up though in the WO 167 series. The only files with a ref to Ambulance are Ambulance Car Company unless he was attached to a RAMC unit then they'd be in the WO 177 files I think.
Found it ! WO 177/1644 6 M.A.C. 1939 Aug.- 1940 May, 1941 Jan.- Dec. Right I'm off to have my dinner !
Drew Thanks for the information on the 6th Motor Ambulance Convoy my father in law was in. Do you have WO 177/1644 6 M.A.C. 1939 Aug - 1940 May, or do I need to go to Kew to copy it?
You'd either need to go in person or get someone to copy it for you. I could do it but not until December at the earliest. Cheers Andy
Andy I went to Kew yesterday and have now got the War Diaries for 6th MAC from Aug 1939 to end of May 1940. It seems the Diary for May 1940 was destroyed by fire at Crombeke on 29 May 1940. However Captain D.C.Williams RASC 6th MAC re -wrote them and there is also a letter written by Lt. R.E. Bath of 'B' Section 6th MAC on the Destroyer Trowbridge on 30 May 1940 which fills in some graphic details and recommends certain soldiers for conspicuous gallantry. It seems they saw a lot of action from 10 to 30 May 1940. On 26th May, my father in law 2nd Lt Lynch, was in command of A section sent to Crombeke evacuating the wounded after seeing an enemy plane shot down by AA fire and they saw about 6 RAF fighters bring down a couple more bombers and apparently the morale of the men was high after that. But it seems that the bombing was relentless and soon wore the men down. My father in law was evacuated on the Hospital Ship as sick and a Sgt Sadler took over his section on 27 May.
Correction to my above post Lt Bath embarked 30 May 1940 from Dunkirk on the S.S. Royal Daffodil to Margate. Then wrote the letter at Trowbridge in Wiltshire, not the destroyer.
