Bresle & Somme Front Then and Now from 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by JERICHO, Oct 28, 2011.

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  1. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Great stuff Jericho!
     
  2. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Jericho, These are indeed top quality 'T&N' images, the more so considering that the backgrounds in many cases are not especially visible. You must have put a lot of time into these.

    Have you ordered the photos on line or have you been to the IWM viewing rooms ?

    The photos all seem to be the work of the then Lieutenant Keating. I like his work because he seems to have had an eye for vehicles.

    He took quite a lot of 'phoney war' pictures but doesn't seem to have been close to the action until the fighting moved further south.

    This is Keating himself (IWM F4776) photographed on the Bresle front 7/6/1940. It would seem likely that the Royal Enfield WD/C was his personal transport.

    RE WDC C68144 C5107 1940 Capt Keating Bresle Front 7.6.40 IWM F4776.jpg

    If you can identify this location, complete with wooden building then I believe that a 'then & now' with WD/C from the appropriate contract could be arranged.

    The 51st Div stag's head is visible on the truck behind.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2020
  3. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    That's quite a challenge Rich! Not a lot to go on re location.
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    That's quite a challenge Rich! Not a lot to go on re location.

    It was a bit 'tongue-in cheek' but Jericho has worked miracles with the locations so far. If anyone can do it, he can !:)
     
  5. BrianM59

    BrianM59 Senior Member

    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"

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    71 years after in Foucaucourt-Hors-Nesle, near Rambures
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    Cruiser Mk III tank 'going off to meet the enemy at Quesnoy', 30 May 1940
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    71 years after in Quesnoy le Montant, near Franleu
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    The '10' would indicate 5th RTR if I read my Zaloga right and would have been white on a green background. 5th RTR were at Quesnoy at the end of May 1940. I'd hazard a guess and say that if the caption is right, then this is part of 1st Armoured Division's attempt to reduce the Abbeville bridgeheads on 27th May that ended in disaster.
     
  6. BrianM59

    BrianM59 Senior Member

  7. BrianM59

    BrianM59 Senior Member

    just found this entry from an interview with Sgt Huggins of 10th Hussars. "We arrived at Ramburellles (about 5 miles from Foucaucourt) at about 0730 hours on Sunday 26th May. Our A Squadron tanks were dispersed around the small village green and under the boundary wall of a large country house where we camouflaged them with tree branches and other greenery".
     
  8. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

  9. sapper117

    sapper117 Junior Member

    These photos of the 7th Bn A&SH are superb. My Grandfather was "A" Coy Comdr and on the 5th was sited in Quesnoy. Early in the morning he was called back to Franleu with his Coy as the German attack had swept in from the flank and was pushing in on franleu. Unfortunatly he stopped at a crossroads and was hit by a sniper and died of wounds on the 11th June. Incidently when his body was brought into franleu the RAP and RAMC staff had been pulled out leaving no medical backup to provide aid to the wounded - who were left in the care of the Padre. That day the 7th Bn took casualities proprotionat to the WW1 losses.
    I still become very upset everytime we have reports of the great triumph of Dunkirk as we never hear of the sacrifice of the 51 Hd - which with the LoC troops and the Armoured div attached must have been closer to a Corps than Div
     
  10. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    hello,
    new picture of a small town of Somme with Royal Signal men's
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    stolpi likes this.
  11. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    That last one is superb Jericho.
     
  12. chesterflyer

    chesterflyer Member

    Brilliant Photo Jericho, do we know where this is?
     
  13. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    the town was St Maxent
     
  14. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    7 Panzerdivision after crossing the Somme Canal between Hangest and Condé Folie
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    Jonathan Ball and Owen like this.
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Well done on the latest Then & Now of the Grand Vallee.
    I was there in summer of 2010 & tried to get that then & now shot.
    Mine didnt quite work out.
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I want to go walk about with you !
     
  17. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    No problem, if you want to come in Somme Valley and Bresle Valley please contact me
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    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 !

    Sadly just field returns and a nominal roll of sorts.
     
  19. JERICHO

    JERICHO Junior Member

    hello, and happy new year 2013

    Men of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders inspect a German 37mm anti-tank gun captured at Boencourt, 26-29 May 1940.[​IMG]

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