Just been doing some work on a soldier of the 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regiment, 2nd Division, who was killed on 27th May 1940. On this day his battalion was in action at Festubert (see attached) but he is now buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, near Poperinghe in Belgium! Bit odd?
Hi Paul, Any chance you can post the earlier entries in the diary? I wonder where the unit was withdrawing from before the 27th. I noticed 8 other ranks on the 27th went missing-I wonder if he was one of them? There is only 50 miles between them by road so would this be considered to be a large distance back in 1940? Andy
His unit battalion had been at Festubert for several days, and prior to that was at Tournai. Not connection at all with the place where he is buried.
Owen is your man for this, I think.... Hardly, cos if Paul don't know, I'm sure I don't. Just searched for 2nd Dorsets for 27/05/1940 on Geoff's SE. 001 BENTON H 57262712ND BN 27/05/1940DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT 002 CLARKE DH 57262122ND BN 27/05/1940 - - 11/08/1940DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT 003 HAMILTON JR 1216132ND BN 27/05/1940 - - 28/05/1940DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT 004 HILLW A 51035202ND BN 27/05/1940DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT 005 NOLAN J 57264122ND BN 27/05/1940DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT 006 ORPWOOD JW 57225402ND BN 27/05/1940DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT 007 SWINCHATT LD 57262312ND BN 27/05/1940DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT A couple up at Dunkirk, a couple near Bethune, two on Dumkirk memorial & Paul's chap at Dozinghem. Could he have died in an ambulance on way to be evacuated?
Either that or he got lost from his unit and joined another-There seems to have been quite a lot of Ad-Hoc units thrown together towards the end of May.
Could be, but there doesn't seem to be any suggestion that the battalion fragmented prior to 27th May. Unusual, to say the least.
A bit of a mystery. Then again, there were quite a few bizarre post-war movements of bodies by the CWGC - the reasons behind which have been lost in time (either that , or the CWGC couldn't be bothered looking up the reasons when I've enquired!). Sometimes a clue can be found on the epitaph on the headstone (such as on one not too far from Hill's grave), but unfortunately, in this case, there's just a 'standard' epitaph from his wife & kids. Dave
No clue from his neighbours I suppose? Mostly in date order. They were either buried shortly after death or relocated as an entire row, by the look of the dates. A.1. PRIVATE-TAYLOR-MIDDLESEX REGIMENT-28/05/1940 A.2. GUNNER-SCOTT-ROYAL ARTILLERY-24/05/1940 A.3. DRIVER-COONEY-ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS-25/05/1940 A.4. DRIVER-DUNN-ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS-25/05/1940 A.5. CORPORAL-GILL-ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS-25/05/1940 A.6. PRIVATE-HEAD-ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS-25/05/1940 A.7. DRIVER-BACKHOUSE-ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS-25/05/1940 A.8. SIGNALMAN-TONGE-ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS-25/05/1940 A.9. GUNNER-BROWNLIE-ROYAL ARTILLERY-25/05/1940 A.10. LANCE CORPORAL-ANDREWS-ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT-26/05/1940 A.11. LANCE CORPORAL-MOORE-ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT-26/05/1940 A.12. CORPORAL-DAWSON-ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS-26/05/1940 A.13. DRIVER-SUMMERS-ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS-26/05/1940 A.14. WARRANT OFFICER CLASS II (C.S.M.)-PEARSON-SUFFOLK REGIMENT-27/05/1940 A.15. FUSILIER-BUTLER-ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS-27/05/1940 A.16. SERJEANT-BEHAGG-ROYAL ARTILLERY-27/05/1940 A.17. PRIVATE-ARMSTRONG-BORDER REGIMENT-BETWEEN 28/05/1940 AND 31/05/1940 A.18. LANCE CORPORAL-HILL-DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT-27/05/1940 A.19. PRIVATE-WILSON-BEDFORDSHIRE AND HERTFORDSHIRE REGIMENT-BETWEEN 10/05/1940 AND 31/05/1940 A.20. TROOPER-ORTON-ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS-21/05/1940 A.21. PRIVATE-SLATER-DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY-30/05/1940 A.22. FUSILIER-DAVIES-LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS-28/05/1940 A.23. PRIVATE-CHAMBERS-SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTS AND DERBY REGIMENT)-BETWEEN 10/05/1940 AND 31/05/1940 A.24. A.25. PRIVATE-KELLY-NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT-BETWEEN 27/05/1940 AND 31/05/1940 A.26. FUSILIER-CLARKE-ROYAL FUSILIERS (CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT)-BETWEEN 19/05/1940 AND 31/05/1940 A.27. DRIVER-SHEPHERD-ROYAL ENGINEERS-27/05/1940 A.28. PRIVATE-WEST-GREEN HOWARDS (YORKSHIRE REGIMENT)-BETWEEN 29/05/1940 AND 04/06/1940 A.29. PRIVATE-BARNES-ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT-BETWEEN 26/05/1940 AND 31/05/1940 A.30. CAPTAIN-ORTON-ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT-28/05/1940 A.31. PRIVATE-HOLLEY-EAST SURREY REGIMENT-28/05/1940 A.32. GUNNER-DODDS-ROYAL ARTILLERY-28/05/1940 A.33. PRIVATE-CRAGGS-GREEN HOWARDS (YORKSHIRE REGIMENT)-BETWEEN 27/05/1940 AND 23/06/1940 A.34. GUNNER-GRAY-ROYAL ARTILLERY-26/05/1940 A.35. CORPORAL-PARSONS-BEDFORDSHIRE AND HERTFORDSHIRE REGIMENT-25/05/1940
There was a CCS at Krombeke (utilising the church and the school if anyone's interested) that cleared out on 29th/30th May 1940. I believe that most of the burials in Dozinghem cem. originate from here (hence the dates). Maybe L/Cpl Hill made it this far before dying? (Which, as the day after he died, his unit was at Watou, may not have actually been as far away as is immediately apparent). Dave
Although 2nd division was fighting to the south, the diary of HQ RE 2 Div shows that Div HQ moved north to Poperinghe on 28th May. Was he one of the few who went with them, possibly wounded ? Could the date be incorrect or were there already movements the day prior ? The local archive on line has several photographs of abandoned vehicles in the road outside the chateau at Couthof (Couthouve ?) Enlarging the rear doors of the water tanker shows the crossed keys of 2nd Division. Poperinge Verbeeldt Rich
I'm glad that it was of interest Paul. I came across your original post when 'Googling'. That happens more and more with this forum ! I've looked further at the diary for 21 Field Park (the Fd Pk for 2 div) and they were ordered to move to Poperinghe at 14.00 hrs on 27th May and were at Reningelst by 20.00 hrs. I don't have diaries for the Field Ambulance units attached to 2 div but I wonder if they also pulled back in line with HQ, beginning on the 27th ? Rich
Just thought I would add to this as I have come across something very similar! 2Lt. MAITLAND-MAKGILL-CRICHTON of the 2nd Bn RSF. Was reported killed in the offical records on Hill 60 on the 27th May 1940. I have an first hand eye witness account of him being killed by a snipers bullet going through the lense of his binoculars as he scouted out the counter attack that allowed the battalion to get away. However he is not buried with the rest of the soldiers killed in this attack, but is buried GAURAIN-RAMECROIX WAR CEMETERY 44kms away from Hill 60. So I did some further digging and think I have a clue. After the battle when they were burying the fallen, several of those reported dead were found to be "only just" alive by the locals who were forced to carry out the work. A German ambulance took these soldiers away and that's where the story ends. I can only presume that, neat Tournai was a German field hospital set up just after the Battle of Arras and that these soldiers were declared dead on their arrival. Don't know if it helps, but I was satisfied with the result of my investigation.
Looking at the random collection of cap badges in the cemetery I would support the theory of him dying of wounds sustained in an earlier action after being treated at a CCS or Field Hospital. If anyone wants to ID the RAMC unit I'd be happy to copy the diary and see if they were near or using the Cemetery on 27th May.
According to Army Medical Services, Campaigns Vol.1 7 Field Ambulance was working out of Poperinghe on the 27th May. Quite a few further possibilities along the route of where he may have been going-assuming he was being evacuated wounded. He may have been treated at Bailleul by one of the following units before being moved further north: A light section of 1 Casualty Clearing Station was at Bailleul 2, 3 and 5 CCS were at Steenvoorde. Alternatively he could have been en route to one of the following CCS's: 6 CCS at Abeele 8 CCS at Bray Dunes 9 CCS at Hondschoote 11 CCS at Coxyde Another possibility is he may have been heading straight to the beaches and evacuation as 7 Field Ambulance reached Bray Dunes on the 28th May.
For info, the role of 2nd Dorsets at Festubert is covered in "Straight on for Tokyo".Written by Geoffrey White one of the Btn. Commanders just after the war.Has recently been republished and can be bought from the Keep Military Museum,Dorchester, for £15.I have not seen a copy but this is a new edition with 400 pages and packed with photos.The title alludes to the Dorsets next mission to relieve the Royal Berkshires at Kohima.
