4 Border Regiment on the Somme 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by JERICHO, Sep 20, 2012.

  1. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    In May 1940, the Border Regiment, was in the Somme in the west north west of Amiens, south of the Somme river to block the German advance and thereby prevent cross the canal.

    Men of the 4th Border Regiment travel in the back of a lorry, May 1940
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    source IWM

    4th Battalion Border Regiment on the Somme Front, May 1940- A requisitioned lorry carries men of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment on patrol
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    source IWM

    Now in 2012
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    this is a guess, but this picture may be the next
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    in my opinion I think these photos are the result of previous

    4th Battalion Border Regiment on the Somme Front May 1940 Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment take up defensive positions by the roadside
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    source IWM

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    BORDER / QUEENS BAY IN SOMME BATTLE

    "On 24 May Major Asquith, commanding 'C' Squadron, was ordered to seize the bridges at Dreuil, Ailly and Picquigny, using three troops, with the 4th Borders and 'B' Squadron in support. On the right Lieutenant Viscount Erleigh of 2 Troop, with only two Mark VIC tanks, advanced on Dreuil, and when a mile from the objective, his leading tank was fired at by an anti-tank gun. Returning the fire, the tank spun round and withdrew. A machine gun then opened up on Erleigh's tank from a water tower. It was silenced for a time with fire from the Besa, but it soon reopened on the Border infantry, who suffered casualties. Small arms fire then started from various directions, with a fire fight ensuing, but no progress could be made against the dug in Germans. Erleigh's two tanks then attempted an outflanking movement. Sergeant Bunn on the left met no opposition; the Border infantry in the centre were involved in a melee with bayonets, rifles and machine guns; Erleigh on the right was blocked by a wood. The two tanks withdrew when they heard that a cruiser troop was coming up, but it failed to arrive at 1 p.m. 2 Troop, out of ammunition and petrol, was ordered back into reserve. For this action Viscount Erleigh was awarded the Military Cross.

    In the Centre, 3 Troop with TSM Ayling found the bridge at Ailly destroyed, but two platoons of the Borders managed to cross and , covered buy fire from the tanks, engage the enemy. Eventually they had to withdraw under increasing pressure, but gave the tanks more targets as they came back. Ayling was awarded the Military Cross.

    On the left, Lieutenant Gavin's 4 Troop made for the bridge at Picquigny, meeting a French officer who told them that the Germans were in great strength. The Border Company who had taken another route ran into an ambush in a wood, taking many casualties and having their lorries set on fire. Gavin went to their aid, engaging parties of enemy infantry, driving them out of the wood and coming under heavy anti-tank and machine gun fire for Picquigny. He took up a position to cover the Border survivors, as about fifteen wounded straggled back during the day, to be evacuated in French ambulances. At 8 p.m. Gavin withdrew, taking thirty more Border survivors back on his tanks, with nine others making their way on foot.

    Major Asquith with squadron headquarters had followed Erleigh's and Gavin's troops, engaging some German infantry near Picquigny. Lieutenant Nicholson's Cruiser Troop form 'B' Squadron, with only two runners, was under command, and Asquith sent him to Erleigh's support. When Nicholson arrived, one tank having broken down en route, Erleigh had withdrawn, so Nicholson also retired, hitting a mine and coming under anti-tank fire, but without sustaining any serious damage"

    Hi,
    I think this photo was taken with the previous but I do not know the source
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    Morris-Commercial CS8 15cwt truck of 4th Border Regiment in the Somme sector, 14 May 1940.
    source:IWM

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    4th Battalion Border Regiment on the Somme Front, May 1940 A soldier of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment stands by his requisitioned and well camouflaged lorry
    source:IWM
     
    Five-Five likes this.
  2. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    To help you visualize the scene with aerial pictures from1946

    DREUIL LES AMIENS near Amiens (suburbs)
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    AILLY SUR SOMME on the west of Dreuil
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    PICQUIGNY on the west of Ailly
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    NOW IN 2012

    DREUIL LES AMIENS bridge

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    AILLY SUR SOMME bridge
    the first
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    the second
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    PICQUIGNY bridge
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    Five-Five likes this.
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

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    Five-Five likes this.
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

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    Five-Five likes this.
  6. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Interesting thread Jericho. It's nice to see so many linked photographs collated in one place.
     
  7. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    And such great diary reports from Drew.
     
  8. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    Hi

    many thanks Drew, it's very interesting for me, you are the best:rolleyes:

    best regards
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    You're welcome and thanks for the great pictures.

    I'd check the Border History too but its pap-I think it only has one page covering the BEF.
     
  10. allan steward

    allan steward New Member

    I'm interested in the experiences of 4 Border in France between November 1939 and June 1940. Can whoever posted the 2012 colour photo tell us where it was taken? - have now found the caption I missed first time - "71 years after in the small town of BOUGAINVILLE near MOLLIENS DREUIL"
     
  11. DIDW

    DIDW New Member

    Great thread, tracing my Grandfather's footsteps with a A Coy, 4th Bn The Border Regt, before this capture approx 10 Jun 40.
     

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