8th Royal Warwicks, Calonne, 21.05.1940 account of action??

Emanuel1940 · Apr 20, 2014

Drew5233 said:

Vol.5 Page 10:

20th May 1940

The relief of 143rd Brigade was scheduled to take place that night but from early morning there were indications that the enemy was going to attempt to cross the river on the division's front. By midday the villages behind the front were being heavily shelled and under cover of a smoke screen a party of Germans, disguised as civilians, crossed the river by means of the remains of one of the demolished bridges and got into the Calonne area. More enemy infantry had crossed in the Bruyelle area and the 8th Warwick were heavily engaged all day and driven back from the line of the river, reports came through of bridging activities screened by the high ground south of Calonne. Further south a crossing was made between Bruyelle and Hollain where the enemy established a bridgehead in the woods. Another group crossed the river front of 145th Brigade at the junction with 2nd DINA and a counterattack was launched by 4th Ox and Bucks into the area and the enemy driven back over the river by late afternoon. 7th Warwick were relieved after dark by 4th Brigade but 8th Warwicks relief was postponed to allow the situation on the river line to be cleared up.

21st May 1940

2nd Division took over responsibility for the sector from Bruyelle to Calonne and 143rd Brigade withdrew, 8th Warwick who were still holding out in Antoing attempted a counterattack on Calonne over open ground without any support and the attacking force were slaughtered. The battalion was taken under command by 5th Brigade until they could be relieved. The conterattacks south of Bruyelle were better organised and had artillery support, 1st Ox and Bucks from the south and 1st Camerons from the west drove the enemy back over the river and re-established the forward posts on the river line as far as Antoing where what remained of 8th Warwick were still holding out. From prisoners taken during the counterattack the enemy facing the division was identified as 35th Infantry Division. After dark, 5th Glosters and 2nd Warwick were relieved by 8th Worcester and 1st Ox and Bucks but 8th Warwick were still stuck in the Antoing area. At some point during the night the Germans on the west bank alarmed at the casualties they had suffered during teh day withdrew from their bridgehead in the Calonne area back to the east bank.

22nd May 1940

Apart from shelling the morning passed fairly quietly, some attempts were made to infiltrate across the river in 144th Brigade area but these were repulsed without difficulty. During the morning it was found that the enemy had withdrawn and 8th Warwick were finally relieved by troops of 2nd Division, less than 400 men of the battalion could be found after its losses in the two days of fighting. Afternoon brought news of a further withdrawal, this time back to the line of frontier defences, as the French to the south were already holding this line it involved pivoting on the junction with them at Fort Maulde. To allow the artillery to withdraw early it was agreed with the French that they would provide artillery support into the divisional area during the withdrawal which went ahead without any interference from the enemy.
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From Which book do these quotes come from?

Secondly 2nd Lt. William Arthur King who was killed by a stray bullet so this document suggests attended Emanuel School and was in the Emanuel O.T.C. I attach a few photos he appears in. Sorry for the quality of the photos, low resolution.

Does anyone have a photo or more information on William Arthur King?

Many thanks everyone.

Daniel.

Drew5233 · Apr 21, 2014

Daniel - The British Expeditionary Force Order of Battle 1940 by Philson.

bamboo43 · Nov 15, 2015

Sorry to hi-jack this thread chaps, but can someone confirm for me that the 8th Warwick's served at Home for the rest of their existence after returning from France in 1940?

Many thanks

Steve

Rich Payne · Nov 15, 2015

Steve, it certainly looks like it if I'm reading Malcolm Bellis's 'Divisions of the British Army' correctly. I can't see any gaps. 8 R. Warwicks seem to have remained in the UK after the fall of France.

9/39 - 7/44 - 143rd Infantry Brigade - 48th (South Midland) Division - (UK 5/40 - 8/45)
7/44 - 8/44 - 211th Infantry Brigade - 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division - redesignated 114th Infantry Bde September 1944 - UK Only
9/44 - 8/45 - 114th Infantry Brigade - 38th (Welsh) Division - UK Only

Tricky Dicky · Nov 15, 2015

From Cunliffe they stayed in the UK until they departed for Port Said 6 Dec 1945, and later onto Korea.

TD

bamboo43 · Nov 15, 2015

Thanks to both of you. I'm attempting to track down the overseas posting of a draft of men from this battalion that ended up as reinforcements for, wait for it, Chindit 1. Probably around 30 or so men and most likely from around early 1942. I'll take a look at Andy's Excels now and pick out a war diary.

Cheers

Staffsyeoman · Jul 4, 2016

Sorry to drag this up again, but I have been trying to tally some medals to the Royal Warwicks that my father (an officer in the regiment in WW2) and I gathered in the 1980s and 90s, and I am trying to round out their stories, and the online sources have proven not fruitful. (I should stress I am not fishing with a view to selling them; they have been sat at my mother's for safekeeping since we lost Dad and I am recovering them)

I have a 1939-45 Star, Defence and War and a GVIR (1st Type) Efficiency Medal to 5104336 Cpl W SHELDON 8/R WAR R. Another Sheldon (related?) shows up as a Royal Warwick and a 1940 prisoner, but not him. I wonder what happened to him - and if he qualified for a Dunkirk Medal. Suggestions welcomed.

MarkN · Jul 30, 2016

Drew5233 said:

20th May 1940

From Page 32...

Major Kendall wrote,

was a loverly chateau, deserted by its occupants, and broken open and pillaged by the refugees who had passed that way. Across the threshhold lay a huge St. Bernard, shot through the head.... Inside, drawers and cupboards were turned out in indescribable confusion, furniture and statuary was smashed and overturned, the cellar had been ransacked and wine and winebottles stained the floor.... The QM (Major C Harding, OBE, MC, TD) managed to rescue about two dozen bottle of very good wine which he doled out at intervals late....in various acceptable circumstances.
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You have to admire how stealing by refugees and others is called pillaging and ransacking whilst when British officers steal it is rescuing.

Rich Payne · Jul 30, 2016

Even within the British Army, there are differences - Other Ranks loot, NCOs requisition and Officers impress...

Another aspect of accounts of 1940 that interests me is that apparently 'peasants' were quite common in France and Belgium but you'll never see an account of a 'Peasant family' in wartime Britian - even the poorest of the poor Scottish subsistence farmers were 'Crofters'....

Had 'peasant' come to mean simply a small farmer who speaks an unintelligible language or was rural life so very different in Europe when compared with the British Isles ?

jerrymurland · Aug 6, 2016

A Battleground Europe book on the Escaut is coming out in November 'Battle on the Escaut 1940'. See the Pen and Sword Website. 8/Warwicks and the fight around Calonne is given a lot of space.

bamboo43 · Dec 29, 2017

Not sure if this listing fits this thread. But here is a Roll of A and C Company's 8 RW's.
Taken from WO361/55 file at Kew:

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8th Royal Warwicks, Calonne, 21.05.1940 account of action??

Emanuel1940 Member

Attached Files:

Grave.jpg

Emanuel OTC King 1st from right.jpg

Emanuel OTC King 2nd from left.jpg

Emanuel OTC King 4th from left front row.jpg

Emanuel OTC King on far cycle.jpg

Emanuel OTC King second from right near row.jpg

Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

bamboo43 Very Senior Member

Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

bamboo43 Very Senior Member

Staffsyeoman Member

MarkN Banned

Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

jerrymurland Junior Member

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8th Royal Warwicks, Calonne, 21.05.1940 account of action??

Emanuel1940 Member

Attached Files:

Grave.jpg

Emanuel OTC King 1st from right.jpg

Emanuel OTC King 2nd from left.jpg

Emanuel OTC King 4th from left front row.jpg

Emanuel OTC King on far cycle.jpg

Emanuel OTC King second from right near row.jpg

Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

bamboo43 Very Senior Member

Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

bamboo43 Very Senior Member

Staffsyeoman Member

MarkN Banned

Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

jerrymurland Junior Member

bamboo43 Very Senior Member

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