Need help to obtain information on dead soldiers in Eecke churchyard

Discussion in '1940' started by Augustin194024, Sep 22, 2022.

  1. Hello,

    I am looking for information on how these men died:

    1461685 Gunner Robert William Dixon, 226 Bty. 57 (1/5th Bn. The East Surrey Regt.) Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, died between 29 May 1940 and 2 June 1940, aged 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Dixon; husband of Kathleen Dixon, of Streatham, London.

    69346 Captain Peter Norbert McCall, Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C., died on 27 May 1940, aged 26. Son of Peter and Catherine McCall, of Newton Heath, Manchester. B.A.

    1448179 Gunner Jack Mason Ratledge, 57 (1/5th Bn. The East Surrey Regt.) Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artilery, died between 29 May 1940 and 2 June 1940, aged 23.

    all helpers appreciated thank you
     
  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    How did a serviceman die? That is quite a common question but difficult to find the answer.

    Captain McCall may be the easiest as he is an officer, the units war diaries will quite often mention officers who are casualties.

    Dixon and Ratledge are 'other ranks' and are unlikely to be named in diaries (although they could be) unless there was something particular. The other problem is that there is no precise date and both were reported missing before being recorded as 'presumed killed in action'.

    War diaries will tell where and what the units were doing at the time.

    Have you seen this?
    Royal Artillery/Royal Horse Artillery - Roll of Honour, 1939-47
     
  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    All between May- June 1940. These dates correspond with the withdrawal to/from Dunkirk.
    My immediate reaction would be to look up these Regiments on the usual search engines to see if they went to France/Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force.
    Perhaps you have a good idea already.
    Others on here may have better suggestions or help you further.
    It may help to know where you found the information that you have and reveal why you are researching them.
    As to the somewhat open question "how these men died" do you mean where and when or literally the cause of death.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2022
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    They are all buried here.
    Eecke Churchyard
     
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  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    57 (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) - The Royal Artillery 1939-45 They were in the BEF
    This covers two out of three above however you need to define which Regiment Captain Peter Norbert McCall, Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C., was in.as it is not given by CWGC. He died in the withdrawal to Dunkirk

    To get further you need their Service Records or more importantly as you know where they were, the Regiments War Diary entry for that time period.
    Others on the forum might be able to help.

    Roll of Honour - Lancashire - Manchester University - WW2 Surname M

    It might get difficult after this as even his entry in the London Gazette isn't popping up and may not give his Regiment.
     
  6. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    RA Other Ranks casualty cards don't add anything but thought I'd add them just in case

    GBM_RAM_DEATHS_CF_01777.jpg GBM_RAM_DEATHS_NR_02279.jpg
     
  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    The fact that they all lie in the same local churchyard with dates spanning 29th May to 2nd June suggests that they were all found and buried by locals after the event which caused their deaths.
    Only their Regimental War Diaries could suggest what occurred, but I am afraid I can't help any further.

    Perhaps someone else may be able to suggest your next action to locate the relevant pages from the Regimental War Diaries.

    I wish you luck in your endeavours.
     
  8. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Last edited: Sep 26, 2022
  9. Hello,

    I am looking for any type of information on the village of Eecke in the North of France in May-June 1940 which seems to me to have been in the middle of the fighting. I am trying to determine the role of the village and the reason for the 11 military casualties in the village during this conflict with the help of documents, photos, records. Any help would be appreciated.

    Thank you for your help.
     
  10. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Unfortunately, most of the casualties are unidentified. The only easily identifiable unit is 226 Battery of 57th Anti Tank Regiment. The fact that Captain McCall is listed as belonging to a Training Regiment of the Royal Tank Regiment might suggest that he was a recent arrival. Are there any local records relating to burial of the bodies ?

    Eecke.jpg
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    See the other thread.
    Need help to obtain information on dead soldiers
     
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  12. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

  13. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

  14. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Best not start another thread asking similar questions. It confuses members. Please just stick to the other one :).

    Lesley
     
  15. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    ...and best to start a thread stating what you know.
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Merged threads & edited thread title.
     
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  17. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

  18. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    The Twitter posting above seems to provide a clue but not having an account I cannot see exactly what has been posted. For the benefit of those of us who do not use this media facility I will persist a little longer.
    The clue seems to be 133 Field Ambulance so I will begin researching them online but not being able to visit the NA my resources are limited. Never the less, things often turn up from obscure places.

    My first request from the forum is: does anyone have their War Diary which we could refer to.

    British Expeditionary Force order of battle (1940) - Wikipedia

    https://www.britishmilitaryhistory....tes/124/2019/05/44-Infantry-Division-1940.pdf

    If these burials were caried out by 133 Field Ambulance what happened to the burial records, were they lost in the evacuation or did the unit evacuate in great haste without completing them. It would also be a reason why the local clergy had no record, if in fact this is the case.
    Time is a great healer or revealler of facts so I will go away to do other things and leave the pot to simmer..

    Back in awhile.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2022
  19. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Eecke Churchyard

    The Wiki posting above mentions number of burials 10 identified burials 7
    It would seem that four are WW1 and three WW2.
    The burial cards show 11 for 1940.
    Next move I will look again at the CWGC site and read the Registrations, just to get it clear in my mind.

    By all means jump in if you can help to resolve this query.
    133 Field Ambulance awaits verification.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2022
  20. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    This whole thread seems to come from CWGC records. The Cemetery details unlike CWGC Cemeteries does not give any background information regarding where the casualties came from or events that occurred in the locality. Equally there is no evidence that I can find online regarding local research.
    The surrounding area was widely fought over being near Cassell enroute to Dunkirk.
    The local population may have completely changed over the years with no one having memory of events of 1940.
    Nevertheless things do eventually turn up with time.

    Perhaps a forum member might locate the War Diaries of 226 Bty. 57 (1/5th Bn. The East Surrey Regt.) Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery and solve the mystery.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2022

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