Bresle & Somme Front Then and Now from 1940

The legend of th picture said :
4th Battalion Border Regiment on the Somme Front, May 1940- A requisitioned lorry carries men of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment on patrol.





71 years after in the small town of BOUGAINVILLE near MOLLIENS DREUIL

 

I like it well done a good then and now picture.

 

That can't have been an easy one to find. The farm has not improved with the years.

Nice One !

 

Excellent then and now. I wonder how many of those children are still around?

 

Excellent stuff-what a great 1st post ..... Let me see if I can match the picture to the war diary !

 

I think the picture was taken on the 23rd May. The battalion was moved from Rouen to Ferrieres near Ameins and I would think they would have travelled through Molliens Dreuil enroute.

 

As we've discussed on another thread, the Arm of Service marking '160' with the Lines of Communication bar above indicate 5 Reserve Motor Transport Company RASC.

Is there a diary for that transport unit Andy ? It looks like they didn't have the pick of the vehicles !

 

I did wonder if anyone and checked Andrews book.

WO 167/1089 5 Reserve Motor Transport Company Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) 1940 Mar.-June

 

Hi,Thank you for your comments

Another picture from IWM said "A camouflaged A13 Cruiser tank and other vehicles of 2nd Armoured Brigade at Foucaucourt, 26-29 May 1940"



71 years after in Foucaucourt-Hors-Nesle, near Rambures


Cruiser Mk III tank 'going off to meet the enemy at Quesnoy', 30 May 1940


71 years after in Quesnoy le Montant, near Franleu

 

Double excellent !

I'm just about to go out but I'll try and ID the unit later - I have all the armoured diaries too unless its the Brigade HQ.

Edited the title again due to more excellent pictures - Perhaps a dedicated 1940 Then and Now thread is required in this section?

 

Have you been out doing these today Mathieu?

They are excellent. I tried doing something similar on a trip to France and only managed one. I managed to get lost and hold up the coach on the other occasions I went looking for a photo location.

 

Hi
The crew of a Cruiser Mk IV tank work to repair one of its tracks in the town of Blangy, 26-29 May 1940


71 years after in Blangy/Bresle

 

I love a good then and now photo. It looks like the house has lost a bit of weight since then.

Keith

 

Another picture from IWM said "A camouflaged A13 Cruiser tank and other vehicles of 2nd Armoured Brigade at Foucaucourt, 26-29 May 1940"



61 years after in Foucaucourt-Hors-Nesle, near Rambures



I suspect this is a 2 Brigade HQ Tank as 2 Dragoon Guards, 9 Queen's Royal Lancers and 10 Royal Hussars war diaries don't list any of them at Foucaucourt-Hors-Nesle. However 2 Dragoon Guards were at Rambures for a few days and 9 QLR's diary staes that 2 Armd Bde HQ were at Foucaucourt for a period of time in May.

 

If someone cares to tell me who were using Mk III and Mk IV Cruiser tanks I'll try and ID the other two pictures.

 

I suspect this is a 2 Brigade HQ Tank as 2 Dragoon Guards, 9 Queen's Royal Lancers and 10 Royal Hussars war diaries don't list any of them at Foucaucourt-Hors-Nesle. However 2 Dragoon Guards were at Rambures for a few days and 9 QLR's diary staes that 2 Armd Bde HQ were at Foucaucourt for a period of time in May.

Spot-on Andy. There is a '3' AoS sign visible under the camouflage netting and it will be on a red background indicating HQ 2nd Armoured Brigade.

BEF officers were of course well known for their habit of only choosing chateaux with well-stocked wine cellars as headquarters. A little too well known as they were soon on the wrong end of air-strikes until they realised.

 

Hi all

Men of the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division, 7 June 1940


71 years after in Millebosc


Men of the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division




Men of the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division,

 

I really am glad you found this forum

There is no obvious entry in the battalions war diary that matches the pictures and date. I'm just about to get ready for work so I'll do a more detailed look later.

Keep 'em coming

 

Thats fantastic. The Cruiser tank at Quesnoy reminds me of my Grandfather Major WCW Potts 7th RNF mentioning using farm implements to make road blocks in the villages they were defending near the Somme and prior to St Valery