Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum which has already provided some fascinating details regarding my uncle's unit during the war. I am conducting some family history and would be very grateful if anyone can provide more information about my uncle's regiment. I have read the excellent article on this forum about his regiment 5 RHA, which took part in the defence of Hondeghem May 1940. Unfortunately, he was taken POW on 30 May at Watou and spent the rest of the war in camps in Poland and Germany. How could I confirm that he took part in the above action? What happened to 5RHA? Were some evacuated at Dunkirk or were most captured? Hope someone can answer some or all of the above questions. His details are below. Thank you in anticipation. John H Soppitt 5 RHA 797035
Hello and welcome to the forum. Do you know or can you find out what Battery he was in? I suspect he may have been K Battery or RHQ if he was captured in Watou, its just over the Belgium border and not that far from Cassel/Hondeghem. I believe 5 RHA (I'm not a Arty expert) only had two batteries K and G and G Battery was attached to 51 Div IIRC. I have both 5 RHA diaries from 1940 so give me a week or so and I maybe able to find something else out for you. Do you have any pictures of your uncle? Regards Andy
Hello Andy, Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately i don't have any information for which battery he was attached. He joined the RHA as a regular in the early 1930's and served in India. He was called back up just before the outbreak of war. The only photograph I possess is from his time in India. I do have his POW number which is 1157. Thanks Les
Great Pic Les-Bare with me as a recent house move has created mayhem with all my stuff but I will look him and the Regt up for you. Regards Andy
Thanks Andy, it's very kind of you and i much appreciate it. His POW number was 11157 not 1157 as i originally posted. Les
All I could find was this page Les that mentions him in the war diary as a War Substansive Bombardier: It doesn't narrow what unit he was in any further but he would have been fighting in the area of Cassel and Hondeghem at the end of May. Have you see the thread I started about K Battery at Hondeghem? Regards Andy
Hello Andy, Thanks for the information and the time you have taken to look up my uncle. I have read your thread - it was really a fascinating account. I met my uncle Jack on a few occasions and i had no idea of his experiences. I have researched his POW records and the International Red Cross provided a breakdown of the camps he was interned during the war. I can remember my mother talking about her brother Jack who had really bad time as a POW. I think he may have been part of the forced marches and chainnings due to him refusing to work. Thanks again, Les