Lieutenant Colonel R B Littledale 2 King's Royal Rifle Corps

Can anyone tell me more about the CO's death other than what's in the war diary page attached. His death is not mentioned in Swift and Bold and I only have Vol. 6 of the annals of KRRC.

 

‘Lieutenant-Colonel Littledale went forward with Major Bernays (O.C. ‘D’ Company) and the Anti-Tank Battery Commander and an escort of machine-gun carriers. They went down the main road, and rounding the bend on the southern edge of the village a German anti-tank gun opened up at point-blank range.

Colonel Littledale and the Anti-Tank Battery Commander and the Colonel’s driver were killed outright; Major Bernays, managed to back his scout car, and got the rest of the party away. Colonel Littledale’s death was a great blow to us all. During his month in command he had shown himself a very able Commanding Officer, and a man whom every Rifleman had grown to love.’

The same source continues:

‘At dawn next morning ‘A’ Company sent a patrol to Airaines and found most of the enemy had gone. The village was occupied and 22 prisoners taken. Colonel Littledale’s half-track was found. The bodies had been removed by the French to a civilian hospital. The Mayor said that they would like to have a public funeral of the “British Officers and Tommies” who had given their lives for the liberation of their village. The funeral was arranged for the next day ... eye witnesses say it was a most impressive sight. The whole village turned out and marched in procession behind the coffins, which were draped in Union Jacks. The flowers were piled high on the graves, and it seemed that every family in the village had given a wreath or a bunch of flowers to pay tribute.’

The final words, which appeared in a tribute published in The Times, rest with “Billie” Stephens, his old Colditz comrade and fellow escaper:

‘He was one of the finest, most loyal and most unselfish men I have met during my entire life. His wonderful example and his absolute single-mindedness to his duty were a great help to us all ... He died for his ideals: he would ask for no finer ending.’


Lot 717, 18 May 2011 | Dix Noonan Webb

 

Crikey - Thanks Clive ! I work with the drivers grand daughter.

 

Hi Drew,

here is a document that talks about lt col LITTLEDALE.






Cordially, Franck

 

I had mounted an exhibition on the release of Airaines and on the "travel" of the lt col LITTLEDALE