Just spent a few days in the WW1 battlefields around Ypres with some friends and finally got a chance to photograph this WW2 memorial I came across near Dadizeele, commemorating an action there in May 1940. It mainly records Belgian units but appears to have a 12th Lancers cap badge on it. Any thoughts?
Looking at that Offical History , Paul. The 12th Lancers, holding Ypres till infantry arrived, had found there only a few Belgian engineers preparing bridges on the west of the town for demolition, for on this front Belgium had signified her neutrality by preparing defences which faced France. while the 12th Lancers made touch with the Belgian Army nar Roulers. The Belgians were found to be swinging back in a north-easterly direction so that the gap between them and the 50th Division was widening. For the time being it was covered by the 12th Lancers with a detachment of the 101st Army Field Company of the Royal Engineers, If I remember rightly weren't 12th Lancers holding the area to the east of the Dunkirk perimeter? Those are too late and wrong area, here you are. But throughout the day messages in regard to the Belgian front grew more and more disquieting. The first was sent by the Needham Mission at Belgian Headquarters half an hour after midnight of the 24th and reached General Headquarters early in the morning. It read: Position serious Belgian front between Menin and canal junction N.W. of Desselgham … Enemy penetration on this front everywhere exceeds one mile. Belgians are NOT repeat NOT counter-attacking this morning but may later in day ….[30] At half past six the 12th Lancers were ordered to watch the left flank of II Corps north of the River Lys and to get into touch with the Belgian forces on the Halluin–Ypres area. By nine-forty that morning (25th) the Lancers made contact with the enemy near Lendelede and touch was established with II Corps south of the Lys Canal and with the Belgians near Iseghem. They found that Courtrai was still held, but the enemy had crossed the canal near Harlebeke and were advancing westwards on the north bank; enemy infantry were also met in Moorseele.[31] Meanwhile a further report had come in from the Needham Mission: Heavy German attack developing against Belgian 4 Corps front east and west Courtrai. Enemy report captured Lendelede …[32] A liaison officer sent from Lord Gort's Command Post to Belgian Headquarters confirmed the seriousness of the situation and reported urgent appeals from Belgian Headquarters for Britis air cover.
Camilla's dad Bruce Shand won his first MC sometime around then with 12th Lancers. They used Morris CS9 armoured cars see IWM photos O 594 & O 617 THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE 1939-40. © IWM (O 594)IWM Non Commercial Licence Morris CS9 armoured cars of 'C' Squadron, 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales' Own) at Villiers St Simon, 29 September 1939. THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE 1939-40. © IWM (O 617)IWM Non Commercial Licence A Morris CS9 armoured car of 'C' Squadron, 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales' Own) receives attention parked in a farmyard at Villiers St Simon, 29 September 1939.
Thanks for that - nice photos. I had imagined for some reason they would have Vickers Light Tanks, but those Morris CS9s are very much '1940'.
Can't find citation but Shand's MC listed in London Gazette Friday 5th July 1940. Gazette: Archive View=
Not really related , but probably of interest, another '12th Lancers MC' could (loosely) be the one attributed to Lt.David Arthur Smith (Royal (Monmouthshire) Engineers) who was attached to the XII Lancers at the time of his bridge blowing exploits (the particularly famous one being the one at the Menin Gate). Dave
Owen- Any chance you can edit those IWM pics back in please ? Your wish is my command . Photos put back into post #4.
Many thanks-I will do some more digging when I get home from work. 12 Lancers didn't leave Southampton until the 15th October 39. I should be able to get a accurate date for the pictures using the Regts history and diaries. Thanks
So those captions are wrong in date then? Also I cant find Villiers St Simon. Had a quick skim through the Regts history and war diaries and the two main places they appear to be at during the 'Phoney War' are Houdain and Hebuterne with a couple of trips to Lannoy.
I just posted an interesting report of action and the death of a L/Cpl Humphrey on 21st May here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/29909-12th-lancers-6.html#post536883
Location is Villers-Sir-Simon (Nord pas de Calais) , given in the war diary as location for C Squadron effective 20th October 1939. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...:0x40af13e8163d000!8m2!3d50.318103!4d2.492656 Is this the farmyard ? I'm not convinced by the shape of the arch but the rest could fit. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.3...4!1sR6e8c0cKKK7d5jDkWQ5_dg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
?? Nothing matches up, top of arch is different, windows & chimney doesnt match, there's an entire barn missing as well as roof being different .