Were pioneer companies deployed with the divisions of II Corps BEF?

Discussion in '1940' started by James K, Nov 13, 2019.

  1. James K

    James K Active Member

    Or were they simply located with the "Labour Divisions" in the BEF LoC area?
     
  2. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The odd mentions in RE war diaries suggest that AMPC companies were used where needed anywhere up to the Gort Line. Each Corps had an AMPC company attached (61 Company with 1 Corps, 60 Company with 2 Corps and 78 Company with 3 Corps). They were '2nd Line' therefore but certainly not Lines of Communication troops. This Ford Popular destroyed on the quayside at Dunkirk belonged to 60 Company AMPC under 2 Corps.

    Ford Prefect 60 Coy AMPC 2 Div.jpg
     
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  3. James K

    James K Active Member


    II Corps, exactly what I was looking for. thanks. Gort Line?
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The defensive line along the Belgian border which was re-inforced by the BEF between September 1939 and 10th May 1940. Lots of pillbox and other constructions as well as road widening to accomodate military traffic...
     
  5. James K

    James K Active Member

    Thanks. I looked it up. I wonder how things would have been different if we'd stayed behind prepared positions? Although once the Germans flanked us after taking the Sedan the end would have been the same.
     
  6. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    We're into the "What ifs", James and this forum doesn't like those :peepwalla:. It's something that I've thought about quite a lot though...I think it quite likely that they could have held Army Group B on the line but as you say, once Sedan had been breached they would have risked being outflanked anyway. Would they have been able to mount an effective southwards counter attack or would they have been cut off more effectively than they were when retreating through Belgium ? If the Maginot / Gort Lines had not been broken then there would have been a very real risk of a repeat of the Great War...Maybe it was for the best that the BEF was forced to withdraw completely ?
     
  7. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Churchill was against anything that would result in a WW1 type stalemate hence his opposition to the suggestion of a Breton Redoubt to retain a European mainland toehold.

    It's strange how blind spots occur. In 1870 France is undone by a Prussian breakthrough at Sedan. In 1940 France is undone by a German breakthrough at Sedan and in 1944 nobody seems to be keeping an eye on the Ardennes. *oh they won't try that again"
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2019
  8. James K

    James K Active Member


    As things turned out OK in the end perhaps what did happen was the best possible outcome
     
  9. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    As Dr. Pangloss would have argued
     

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