Hello, I am looking for information about the 2nd Bn InnisKilling Fusiliers during May 1940. I'm looking for which clothing and equipment they are wore. Did the soldiers still wore the P22 Tunic they wore on their arrival in France (September 1939) or did they wore the new BD. All information about the battalion in May 1940 is welcome. Sorry for my English Cheers Koen
Hope these picture help. Battledress in April 1940 picture, SD in 1939 photo. General Georges of the French Army, accompanied by Lord Gort, inspecting the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Bethune, 23 April 1940. Men of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers disembarking at Cherbourg from the steamer 'Royal Sovereign', 16 September 1939.
Welcome to the Forum Koen, Don't worry about your English, it's better than a few posters here! The 2nd RIF were on the right flank of the RSF during the action along the Ypres-comines canal that I am studying in great detail at the moment. There is an account written by a German officer of how the RIF positon was overrun due to a culvert under the railway that gave the Germans a chance to get behind them unseen. It descibes the ensuing fight quite clearly, which lead to this entire position being taken and the canal front being breached. The culvert still exists and I am going for a crawl in a caving suit with a head torch in a few weeks time.... Photo's to follow....
Hope these picture help. Battledress in April 1940 picture, SD in 1939 photo. General Georges of the French Army, accompanied by Lord Gort, inspecting the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Bethune, 23 April 1940. Men of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers disembarking at Cherbourg from the steamer 'Royal Sovereign', 16 September 1939. Hello, So these pictures show that the SD was no longer worn in May 1940. So the soldiers who died in my home town wore the Battle Dress. Cheers Koen
Welcome to the Forum Koen, Don't worry about your English, it's better than a few posters here! The 2nd RIF were on the right flank of the RSF during the action along the Ypres-comines canal that I am studying in great detail at the moment. There is an account written by a German officer of how the RIF positon was overrun due to a culvert under the railway that gave the Germans a chance to get behind them unseen. It descibes the ensuing fight quite clearly, which lead to this entire position being taken and the canal front being breached. The culvert still exists and I am going for a crawl in a caving suit with a head torch in a few weeks time.... Photo's to follow.... Hello, I can't wait to see those pictures Cheers Koen
Hello, Is it possible to find out which soldiers of the 2nd RIF were captured in May 1940? Does Somebody know what PSM means? Regards Koen
Hi Koen, PSM stands for Platoon Sergeant Major. Its an old rank that doesn't exist anymore which was a Warrant Officer class 3 or WO III. There's a couple of threads on here about that rank that you should be able to find via the forums search engine if you want to know more. Andy
Hi Koen There are files for enquiries into missing personnel, if that is what you mean. PSM - http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/allied-units-general/21613-warrant-officer-class-iii-psm.html
Detecting your browser settings Piece reference WO 361/101 Scope and content: British Expeditionary Force, France: The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; missing men Covering dates 1940 Jan 01 - 1944 Dec 31
Hi All, just returned from my trip to the Hollebeke area and have confirmed through local sources, 1940's aerial photographs and a bit of undergrowth rummaging the point at which the Inniskillings position was overrun. The manuscript written in 1941 says... Towards the end of the morning a German patrol searching a bit further north along the Rosebeke spring makes a remarkable discovery. Moving protected by the hedge along the railway they find that by using the narrow Rosebeke they can cross the railway ending up in a trench cut across the canal and whose bottom is not visible to the sentry that lies on the canal bottom, at the other end a one meter wide drain allows the Rosebeke water to flow to the other side but the Rosebeke is dry and the path is only a few meters long. The battalion commander decides to send a platoon that crawls silently across and regroups on the other side of the impassable canal. They then infiltrate behind the “tommies” that are still facing East and surprise them with a bayonet charge from the rear, the remainder of the battalion can now advance, there is no longer a defence at the Cortewilde lock. The 1st battalion immediately exploits this success, by supporting the neighbouring regiment that has been blocked since morning in front of Houthem by the Scottish 3rd battalion that with its rifles and machineguns is defending the village that borders the same canal and another floodgate. The tunnel under the railway still exists (see attached) but the canal has been filled in (about 1950) and a pipe exists there now (under where the photo is taken from) This oversight by the Inniskillings was certainly a significant factor in the collapse of the Ypres-Comines canal defensive line. (a massive thanks to Hugh, who was able to introduce me to loads of very interesting locals and translate for me!)
Hugh lives right in the middle of everything, owning the farm that the 1/9 Manchesters set up their machine gun post in and also the barns used as a forward dressing station. Speaks all the languages too! Damn good fellow, putting up with me for 3 days! The manuscript was written in 1940/1 by the oldest son of the owner of the Palingbeke (White House) which was one of the German key objectives during the fight and also the scene of bitter fighting with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. It's rather flowerly and a little dramatic in places, but it gives some great details. The Germans who attacked this line were stationed there afterwards, so he had days to talk to them about what happened.
Unless the War Diary holds that information you will have a struggle there. The only way of having an 80% chance of getting it right is knowing which units were opposite them at the time. On the 26-28th along the Ypres Comines canal the 2RIF faced the 31st Infantry Division which contained the 12th, 17th and 32nd infantry regiments. I doubt any were captured by the Inniskillings due to the nature of the action. But it's a good a place to start as any.
The War Dairy does not mention the enemy unit. It only mentions shooting at a group of German scouts, capturing the wounded and taking papers, rifles and ammunition from the dead. I think the unit that I am searing for is the 31st ID. I would like to confirm this.
May 17th around 1600 hours. They fought a cyclist patrol of 15 men strong near the canal in Hal. The Germans lost 5 men, 3 dead 2 wounded. Regards Koen
