1868592 Lance Corporal Leonard PADIN, 1 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers: 11/06/1940 - 14/06/1940

Hi
I am looking for info on 1st field squadron RE in France in 1940.
My uncle Lcpl Leonard Padin (1868592) was killed between 11-14th June at St.Vallery en Caux. He was 32 years of age when he died. He had been a regular soldier before WWII.
Regards
John

Casualty Details | CWGC
LANCE CORPORAL LEONARD PADIN
Service Number: 1868592
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Royal Engineers, 1 Field Sqn.
Date of Death: Died Between 11 June 1940 and 14 June 1940
Age 32 years old
Buried or commemorated at ST. VALERY-EN-CAUX FRANCO-BRITISH CEMETERY
Grave Reference: A, 6.
Location: France
Additional Info: Son of Thomas and Edna Padin; husband of Jessie Padin, of Stoke-on-Trent.
Personal Inscription: "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN" HIS LOVING WIFE JESSIE, MOTHER, DAD AND FAMILY

 

Wigjohn
Drop Drew5233 a PM (personnel Message) he is our resident 1940/BEF expert and may be able to help you in your research

 

Leonard Padin is third from the right (standing), in this pre-war photo.

 

1st Field Squadron RE were attached to 1st Armoured Division. Their 2nd Armoured Brigade and the 1st Armoured Support Group fell back on St Valery with 51st Division.

Your Uncle is likely to have been with the Division as they retreated. St Valery surrendered on the 12th, suggesting that perhaps he died of wounds after the surrender.

 

View attachment 44055
Leonard Padin is third from the right (standing), in this pre-war photo.

It's an interesting thought that the 1940 tank crews had all been expert horsemen such a short time before.

 

CWGC :: Certificate

Lovely photo - I hoped you don't mind I've hosted it as it deserves to be.



The 1st Field Squadron was as Rich says with the 1st Armoured Division and they were the only field squadron in France during 1940.

They arrived in France along with other units of 1st Armoured Division on the 16th May and the squadron consisted 8 Officers and 293 Other Ranks and they come under HQ 1 Arm Div in the Orbat not the DSG.

Other than the above I can't find anything else at the moment.

If you can get to the National Archive the war diary is WO 167/340 1 Armoured Division 1 Field Squadron Royal Engineers

 

Thanks for all the info.
I will have still to learn how to host the photos full size!

 

John

If you want to Look at the war Diaries from that period I have copy of them. Also Have Group photo around 1940 of squadron etc.

 

Any chance you can post the picture?

 

Looking at the pictures with my dad today. They were not 1940 but 1938 and he also has pictures of them training building bridges etc.at Chisel Beach, Chatham England. He must be one of the few left from the 1 field squadron. Captured at Saint Valery encaux. I can not figure out how to post to this site. Any Ideas.

 

This picture was taken between 1938 & begining may 1940

 

1 Field Squadron R.E. at Chatham between 1938 & begining may 1940

 

1 Field Squadron R.E. between 1938 & Beginning may 1940 at Chatham

 

Great photo's

 

1 Field Squadron R.E. @ Chisel Beach Portland Weymouth 1939

 

1 Field Squadron Tent Camp. Training 1939. Sapper R.C. James

 

Chatham Barracks 1 Field Squadron between 1938 & begining may 1940.

 

This a photo of L/cpl Leonard Padin with his sister. Pre WWII.

 

Thanks Bill for the photos, i will have to study them carefully, to see if my uncle is on them. I have very little info on 1st Field Squadron, any info you can provide will be really helpful.