Aire sur la Lys 22nd to 23rd May 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by hervé62, Oct 8, 2010.

  1. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Hi everyone,

    I sent a plan of the bridge Dessoly commented to Rich for putting this page, good evening, regards, Hervé.Écouter
    Lire phonétiquement

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    Hi all

    I have downloaded a couple of award citations from the National Archives that relate to 228 Coy RE in 1940.

    The OC Major A J Page received the MC for his 'cool and inspiring leadership' during the fighting near Aire.

    L/Cpl Ruthven received the DCM. The citation says. 'Ruthven, becoming annoyed with enemy fire, mounted the bowstring girder of the bridge, and executed a dance on it. This operation so heartened the rest of the party that the charges were completed with great energy.'

    Surely this quite an unusual citation?

    Sgt Ellin received his for 'intrepid leadership'.

    The Page citation really helps describe what was going on in Aire at the end of May 1940. I hope the GHQ CRE war diary will yield some more info.

    Hope this is of interest to everyone.

    Sam
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. hervé62

    hervé62 Junior Member

    Good evening Sam and all,

    Yes, I am surprised at this first quote, but why not!
    I think we need further information to get a broader view of events occurring at Area 23 May 1940.
    I find this quote funny, very British, thank you for having put it online.
    Good evening, regards, Hervé.
     
  4. hervé62

    hervé62 Junior Member

    Good evening,

    I sent pictures of bridges Rich tonight, good evening to all, Sincerely, Hervé.
     
    dbf likes this.
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Good evening,

    I sent pictures of bridges Rich tonight, good evening to all, Sincerely, Hervé.

    ...and I forgot to post them. Sorry !:unsure:

    [​IMG]

    Bridge Wittes Guarlinghem

    [​IMG]

    Bridge to Boëseghem

    [​IMG]

    Bridge Dessoly Aire

    ...and one final photo - This wide angle view is a gem Hervé. Presumably, looking towards the town it shows the updated view of what the advancing Germans saw ?

    [​IMG]

    Wide shot of the bridge and new bridge Dessoly following enlargement of the canal.
     
  6. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    Hi all,

    Rich/Herve - Many thanks for uploading the images.

    I attach a document I looked at this weekend at the National Archives Kew Demolition of bridges in France Report (WO 197/95).

    The document list all the bridges blown by 228 Coy RE in the Aire area.

    I hope it's of interest.

    Herve - Do you think the Bridge Dessoly is included on this list?

    Apologies for the quality of the photographs. I could always transcribe the documents if they are too hard to read.

    Sam
     

    Attached Files:

  7. hervé62

    hervé62 Junior Member

    Good evening Sam, Rich and everyone,

    Thank you to Rich for putting the photos online, I'll do more later with good light ...
    As I said, I must return to Thiennes to photograph the drawbridge.
    Sam: the documents are very interesting although it is difficult to me to read them.
    Pictured 8932-01:
    1 and 2: bridge railway between Lillers and Hazebrouck: there are several ...
    3: it is Thiennes, congratulations Sam, the destroyed bridge was rebuilt by the U.S. in 1944 and still exists today. It is a source of controversy for several years as elected he would replace it but who will pay?
    In the meantime, it was closed and reinforced repeatedly.
    I promise you any pictures soon.

    Pictured 8933-01
    4: it is indeed my view, the bridge Dessoly, congratulations Sam!
    7: this is indeed the bridge Wittes, I have attached a photo of the new bridge today, following enlargement of the canal.
    10:? I do not understand ...
    Thank you Sam, good evening, regards, Hervé.
     
  8. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    Hi Herve,

    10:

    Pont Levis at Thiennes on Aire-Thiennes Road 23/5/40. Prepared for demolition by the French. Taken over and fired by HQ 228 Coy RE under fire in the presence of the enemy.

    I have some further info about the fighting near Aire that i will upload asap.

    Sam
     
  9. hervé62

    hervé62 Junior Member

    Good evening Sam, good evening to all,

    I noted that the bridge Thiennes would be destroyed by the French before the British arrived to defend it, is that correct?
    It was destroyed in fierce fighting took place in the village, the farms were burnt down by enemy fire, British soldiers were killed .....
    I await the result, thank you in advance and good evening.
    Sincerely, Hervé.
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    From Dunkirk 1940: Whereabouts Unknown by Tim Lynch page 128

    To the north, Untersturmfuhrer Schulze approached the outskirts of Aire at the head of a small motorised column containing his reinforced platoon of SS-VT and a few anti-tank guns. He had been tasked with securing the Aire bridge and in the pitch darkness he tok his troops into the town. About halfway along the street, Shulze found his path blocked by a vehicle and realised it was part of a column stretching down the road and creeping forward. Assuming they were tanks of 3rd Panzer outside their sector he tagged along behind as they made their way through the town. The stop/start movement of the tanks infuriated him and, impatient to get on with his mission, he climbed aboard the nearest tank and rapped on the turret with his pipe only to be greeted by a torrent of French.

    Wisely keeping quiet, he dismounted and ordered his men to unhitch the anti-tank guns and move them to the side of the street. They opened fire at point blank range and gunned down the crews as they tried to seek shelter in the houses lining the street. Recovering well, the French fought back and destroyed Shulze's vehicles but without inflicting any German casualties. Leaving a trail of 20 burning tanks along Air'es main street, Shulze withdrew.

    Even as Aire came under attack, orders were issued to lift anti-tank mines so that the British and French troops still on the far bank could withdraw, but it was too late. During the night, attacks were made against all the bridges along the brigade front. Inexperience showed as defensive positions were set up on the north bank of the canal but with few among the support troops now thrust into the front line appreciating the importance of placing defences on the far bank and approaches. Fear of being trapped when the bridges were blown was understandable, but the alternative ment the Germans had to launch only one attack to get across instead of encountering a defence in depth. It was a problem Gawthorpe had tried to tackle but with limited success. All along the line, footbridges had been left standing to allow the last men trapped on the far bank to rejoin their comrades. It was these that the Germans now targeted, one being blown even as German engineers attempted to remove the charges.
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Just a little more on Aire from BEF Order of Battle by Alan Philson

    On the 22nd May No.2 Company, 9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers from 23rd Division arrived at Aire just as the Germans were attempting to seize the bridge, the bridge was successfully blown up and the Company took up defensive positions on the canal bank under heavy fire.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  12. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    Just a little more on Aire from BEF Order of Battle by Alan Philson

    On the 22nd May No.2 Company, 9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers from 23rd Division arrived at Aire just as the Germans were attempting to seize the bridge, the bridge was successfully blown up and the Company took up defensive positions on the canal bank under heavy fire.

    Cheers
    Andy

    Hi Andy,

    Do you think this is the counter attack mentioned in the attached page from the POLFORCE report (WO 197/118)?

    Sam
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    From Dunkirk 1940: Whereabouts Unknown by Tim Lynch page 128

    Hi,

    Could this image from the IWM collections show some of the French tanks mentioned in the quote above? The IWM captions reads:

    Abandoned Renault R.35 Light Tanks of the French Army in the village of Aire.

    May 1940

    Sam
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    It could be. Bare in mind (Without checking) there was probably at least four comapnies with the Battalion plus HQ. I don't have 9 RNF's WD but I do have the 5 Dragoon Guards which I'll check.

    ps You did well to find that account in the 197 series.

    Andy

    Edit:

    And that picture ! One for Herve to find a 'now' picture of perhaps?

    The 5 DG diary is quite detailed with lots of dated reports but there is only a brief mention of B Squadron being sent to Aire to support Infantry on the 23rd May. There is no mention of any fighting etc.

    One of my books states that counter attack was on the 24th and it was after the Germans had breached the canal and were at Morbecque.
     
  15. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    Hi,

    Here are another couple of pictures of Aire in May 1940 that might be of interest to Herve.

    Sam
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    Hi,

    I have found an interesting report about the bridge at Arques in NA/PRO 106/221 - 2 DIV Actions of Leave Details during period 17-30 May 1940. This report is mentioned on page 603 of Hugh Sebag-Montefiore's Dunkirk: Fight to the Last Man and is referred to as the 'St. Omer Report'.


    This bridge was is mentioned in 228 Coy's War Diary as a scene of a 'premature explosion' in which there were a number of casualties. The 228 Coy troops had been sent as a covering party (The War Diary says, 'Detachment from No 1 section sent to Arques as covering party').

    The St. Omer report says:

    'On arrival at the bridge I found an R.E. Demolition party had blown a foot bridge adjoining the main bridge, and had prepared for demolition the latter. They had sustained some casualties in killed and wounded by blowing this foot bridge, and they were lying in a room of an adjoining hut. Whist making my reconnaissance, a furious air battle was taking place overhead'

    I hope this is of interest.

    Andy/Rich - Do you know of a document called 'Gawthorpe's Report'. It is also mentioned in page 603 of Hugh Sebag-Montefiore's Dunkirk?

    Sam
     
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Gawthorpe was a Brigadier - not sure who with at the moment.

    He was the CO of 137 Bde and ordered to hold the canal line. The report maybe in WO 167/394 137 Brigade Headquarters if not listed anywhere else at Kew.
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    WO 197/95 Demolition of bridges in France and Belgium: reports by Royal Engineer Officers

    Might be worth looking at too.
     
  19. Somersetchap

    Somersetchap Member

    WO 197/95 Demolition of bridges in France and Belgium: reports by Royal Engineer Officers

    Might be worth looking at too.

    Hi,

    Thanks.

    I've looked at these two.

    In terms of the 'Gawthorpe Report', the citation in Fight to the Last Man says:

    Brigadier J.B Gawthorpe '137 Brigade: A Formation of the TA in the First Year of Thw War 1939/1940'

    There is no NA reference and he says it was highlighted to the author by staff by the Duke of Wellington's Regimental Museum. Perhaps I'll ask there. It's likely to be an important document in terms of understanding the fighting in Aire.

    Thanks again

    Sam
     
  20. hervé62

    hervé62 Junior Member

    Good evening Andy and Sam,

    Thank you for everything you do for me, I have a problem with the photos because they are very small ...
    I'll watch almost as soon as possible and send to Rich, this evening, photos of bridge Thiennes.
    Good evening, regards, Hervé.
     

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