Does anyone have any info about this RA unit during the retreat at Dunkirk please? Through Google I have found it was outside Dunkirk when the Germans caught up with it, but not much more. Jules.
There is a paperback regimental history: Lancashire Gunners at War: The 88th Field Regiment, 1939-1945 by Stephen Bull. I have seen it for silly prices in the past but they seem to be more realistic at the moment.
Thank you! I see there's a couple on Amazon for around £20 which isn't too bad. Could do with another book
There is some basic information on the 88th on my website: RA 1939-45 88 Fld Rgt I also have the book mentioned above. If you want something specific I can look it up for you.
Thanks Derek that's great Could you tell me if there is any mention, during the retreat, of any men being taken POW please? There is some basic information on the 88th on my website: RA 1939-45 88 Fld Rgt I also have the book mentioned above. If you want something specific I can look it up for you.
Yes there is. On the 27 May, F Troop of 352 Battery were overrun when the Germans outflanked them through a wood. Around 20 were captured including Gnr Foulkes who later died in captivity and Lt Sturton who was killed later during an escape attempt from a train. The regiment was somewhere in the region of Leysele. There must have been one or two others captured as well as the book states that on return to England most of the regiment reassembled although a number were captured or wounded mainly from F Troop. There were only 7 fatalities during the campaign.
Jules the diary for when your next at Kew is WO 167/499 88 Field Regt. There are no battery diaries covering this period.
The Regiment were defending the Bergues-Furnes Canal Line from 29th May and the final elements of the regiment withdrew through Les Moeres on 1st June and eventually headed for Dunkirk between 2130 and 2300hrs on the same day. The next diary entry is dated 6th June in Oakhampton, Devon.
009 CHALKER FV 2731718 88 FIELD REGT 01/06/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY PLOT 6. ROW B. GRAVE 12. 014 FOX GW 1073911 88 FIELD REGT 08/06/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY PLOT 2 ROW 18 GRAVE 22. 015 GARDNER GB 3702720 352 BTY, 88 FIELD REGT 09/06/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY SEC. B. ROW 2. GRAVE 18. 020 GREGSON GD 34650 88 FIELD REGT 29/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY COLUMN 7. 021 GRINHAM EG 943152 88 FIELD REGT 29/05/1940 - - 02/06/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY COLUMN 12. 023 HILL JH 858312 351 BTY, 88 FIELD REGT 31/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY COLUMN 12. 033 RIDLEY F 906880 88 FIELD REGT 02/06/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY PLOT 1 ROW 1 JOINT GRAVE 37. 039 TYRER A 878684 351 BTY, 88 FIELD REGT 16/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY GRAVE 3. 045 WOODWORTH AD 858580 88 FIELD REGT 31/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY PLOT 2 ROW 13 GRAVE 24. Using Geoff's search engine, I found 9 casualties for this period. Gardner is buried in the UK in Okehampton, where Andy said they returned to. Possibly died of wounds after returning. The rest are buried in Europe.
Chalker is interesting. The war diary has him killed near Dunkirk. He must have still been alive when the regiment left France and evacuated to Lille by the Germans. Gardner is buried in the UK in Okehampton, where Andy said they returned to. Possibly died of wounds after returning. The Regiment redeployed to Poole on the 10th June.
Thanks very much Andy. I copied a few of the diary pages around this date and saw Lt Sturton - who was taken as a POW - listed in the officers field returns. I thought he was taken straight to an Oflag in Biberach, but looking at the dates that can't be the case.
Thanks very much Andy. I copied a few of the diary pages around this date and saw Lt Sturton - who was taken as a POW - listed in the officers field returns. I thought he was taken straight to an Oflag in Biberach, but looking at the dates that can't be the case. I believe all the PoW questionaires for NWE are now online at Ancestry. It could be worth asking someone who's signed up to do a quick look up for yo u to see if he filled one out.
I believe all the PoW questionaires for NWE are now online at Ancestry. It could be worth asking someone who's signed up to do a quick look up for yo u to see if he filled one out. Might have answered my own question about the location as one of the files places him at Oflag VIIC in Laufen in June 1940. Were the questionnaires filled out whilst at the camps or much later do you know?
I'm sure they were done when liberated, Brian (ADM199) told me that most Ptes and NCO's never put much on them as he thinks they just wanted to get home and the Officers ones tend to be more detailed. I think it was mainly done to find out any possible war crimes etc.
In that case, I think I can rule out any questionnaires for Lt. Sturton as he was shot and killed whilst trying to escape during a transfer to Warburg in 1941. Thanks again Andy for your help.
In that case, I think I can rule out any questionnaires for Lt. Sturton as he was shot and killed whilst trying to escape during a transfer to Warburg in 1941. Thanks again Andy for your help. Have you checked war crimes files? Did he have anyone with him who that survived the war? They may have filled one in giving the circumstances of his death?
Yes there is. On the 27 May, F Troop of 352 Battery were overrun when the Germans outflanked them through a wood. Around 20 were captured including Gnr Foulkes who later died in captivity and Lt Sturton who was killed later during an escape attempt from a train. The regiment was somewhere in the region of Leysele. There must have been one or two others captured as well as the book states that on return to England most of the regiment reassembled although a number were captured or wounded mainly from F Troop. There were only 7 fatalities during the campaign. Hi Derek - I've come back to this part of my research about Michael Sturton. I copied the pages of the 88th Field Regiment Diary around this date when I was last at Kew, but there is no mention of this battery being overrun in these diary entries. Would it be possible for you to tell me more about this incident please? Thanks. Jules.
