Hello everyone, it's been a while! So thanks to 'A certain member' of the forum (we all know who) I was provided with copies of my grandfathers battalion War Diaries from the weeks leading up to Dunkirk (a fascinating read, strange to find yourself wishing you could shout through the pages back at those officers as they write) I have a couple of questions possibly some of you may be able to help with... I still don't know exactly which company Pte. J. Moles was in, only that he was in 1st Battalion QORWK, is there anyway I can find this out? Is there official documents with registers etc.? Also I am continuing my research into my grandfathers Dunkirk experience, however I'm trying to uncover more about what happened once he was loaded onto 'The Royal Sovereign' paddle steamer. I have discovered he was admitted to 'The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital', sadly no records have been kept at the hospital though! Finally... (I'm going on a bit) once James had recovered from his gunshot wounds, he was issued with a wound stripe, a sidearm and a promotion to Lance Corporal I believe! Given that he was unfit to return to the fighting, he was apparently given an office job in 'Q Department' in a building somewhere in London helping with the internment of refugees into Ireland!?!? So my question is, does anyone know of where or what this job would have entailed, I know nothing about any of this which is sad! And finally, what would have happened to James' regiment? As he couldn't return to fight with the RWKs would he have been put into another regiment!? Sorry for going on everyone, very passionate, very excited! P.s. Incomprehensible situation occurred earlier this year, I met up with the grandson of an SS Germania officer who was fighting near Foret de Nieppe (where James was) ... Isn't it strange how 72 years and 3 generations on, to strangers meet with a smile and a handshake rather than bullets and artillery! Quite emotional! Cheerio for now Christian
And finally, what would have happened to James' regiment? As he couldn't return to fight with the RWKs would he have been put into another regiment!? He's have stayed in his Regiment I suspect & still worn their cap badge but the Battalion went on to fight elsewhere without him. To explain in simple terms, the Regiment is the family & the individual battalions are their offspring. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The 1st Battalion was part of the 4th Infantry Division of the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1940, returning to England via Dunkirk. It remained in Britain until 1943, leaving to take part in the Tunisia Campaign, the Italian Campaign and the Greek Civil War that broke out after the German withdrawal in 1944.
That's pretty special, I assumed people were moved around depending on circumstances! It's nice to know he would have been able to continue wearing the badge! Thank you
Have you sent off for his Service Records from the MoD ? If you have they will tell you exactly who he was with.
I have his service book etc. but I haven't sent off to his records as I have heard that they can be very vague with their replies!? I was also concerned that they may not provide me with anything different to whats in his book. Would you advise I do this anyway?
I still don't know exactly which company Pte. J. Moles was in, only that he was in 1st Battalion QORWK, is there anyway I can find this out? Is there official documents with registers etc.? I maybe worth checking the units pre-deployment war diary if one exists. There maybe a nominal roll of names in it-A very long shot so depends on how many stones you want to look under. I haven't sent off to his records as I have heard that they can be very vague with their replies!? They are the foundation to any research in my opinion. Isn't it strange how 72 years and 3 generations on, to strangers meet with a smile and a handshake rather than bullets and artillery! Nice
Posted to London - It is most likely he would have remained badged to his parent regiment. For pay and rations he would be on local unit nominal roll. His parent regiment would maintain a non established roll. That is a list of 'extra regimentally employed' personnel working away who are not on the battalion establishment but listed as non established.
Fantastic! Thank you for that, i shall take a look at getting his records from the MoD! Fingers crossed!
Hi everyone, Just a quick update for those interested, I have found out that after Dunkirk and after a period in hospital, my grandfather was posted to LDRD which I believe stands for London District Reception Depot!? The next step is to uncover some info on what exactly this department did! Exciting times Cheers
Hi Christian, here's a report on MV Royal Sovereigns activities extracted from "The Epic of Dunkirk" by E Keble Chatterton (1940). The General Steam Navigation Company’s ship “Royal Sovereign” Master, Captain T. J. Aldis and The Chief Engineer, Mr A. Sinclair, of the “ Royal Sovereign ” won the D.S.C. That Captain Aldis managed to make no fewer than 7 voyages and carried at least 11,ooo troops on six voyages from Dunkirk is an amazing record. “May 26th whilst laying in Southampton Roads received orders to get ready to proceed at two hours notice. “May 27th at 1320 received orders to proceed to Dover and at 1500 hove up and proceeded on passage. 2340 passed through Folkestone gateway. “May 28th 0020 received visual signals from Dover to anchor in Downs. 1150 saw first raid carried out on shipping, but raider successfully driven off. 1740 received orders to sail at 2030 for Dunkirk, using prescribed route. “May 29th 0250 arrived off East Jetty Dunkirk and anchored, whole west side of town in flames. 0445 hove up and proceeded to Eastern Jetty. 0455 in berth and commenced embarking troops. 0535 ship filled with troops, each man having been given a lifebelt and received instruction on same. 0540 Clear of harbour. 0858 reported floating mine to patrol vessel. 0925 stopped by examination vessel and ordered to Margate Pier. 1010 anchored off Pier. 1215 arrived alongside Pier. 1330 left Margate Pier. 1735 arrived off La Panne and witnessed a heavy dive-bombing attack carried out with heavy losses to shipping. 1800, hove up anchor and proceeded to assist M.V. “Bullfinch” laden with troops and ashore. 1815, “Bullfinch” afloat and proceeded. 1820 commenced embarking troops from beaches. “May 30th 0410, hove up and proceeded lower down beach. 0430 embarking more troops. 0530 vessel full, and proceeded to Margate. 1025, arrived off Margate. 1135 alongside of Margate Pier disembarking troops. 1300 left Margate. 1735 anchored off Dunkirk on naval instructions. 1820 anchored and commenced embarking troops. “May 31st 0130 hove up and proceeded. 0315 stopped at Dyck buoy to pick up four survivors of a French steamer, which had been bombed. 0710 arrived alongside Margate Pier. 0830 anchored off Pier. 1805, hove up and proceeded towards Dunkirk. 2210 anchored off Pontoon Pier at Dunkirk. 2240 ordered by H.M. ship to La Panne, hove up and proceeded. 2315 anchored off La Panne. “June 1st. 0220, troops on board, terrific bom¬barding and shelling of beach taking place so hove up and proceeded. 0615, anchored off Margate Roads. 0745, hove up and proceeded to Pier. 0830, at anchor under 1 hours’ notice. 1315, left for Dunkirk. 1520, attacked and bombed by enemy aircraft, three bombs dropped; avoiding action taken. 1552, attacked and bombed by aircraft three bombs being dropped, again took avoiding action, and by doing so definitely saved ship. Now came under heavy fire from enemy position at Gravelines Pier, and as two ships appeared to be blocking channel returned to Margate for instructions. 1730, arrived Margate Roads. 1900 vessel under 1 hours’ notice. “June 2nd 0115 received orders to sail. 0140 received orders not to sail. 1800 left anchorage. 2000 passed Hospital ship * Paris ’, having been bombed and ship’s company in lifeboats, but all very cheerful and proceeded to Dunkirk. 2100, heavy firing from shore batteries. 2130 arrived at Dunkirk and commenced embarking French troops from middle pier in harbour. 2205 cleared harbour with more than complement of troops. “Monday, June 3rd. 0155 arrived at Margate Pier and commenced disembarking troops. 0203, anchored off Pier. 1200 returned to Pier. 1400, four seamen and two catering staff leave ship. 2015 left for Dunkirk. 2055, dense fog, visibility reduced to nil, but continue towards Dunkirk. “Tuesday, June 4th. 0115, had slight collision with unknown steamer off No. 3 Dunkirk buoy. 0220 arrived at middle pier in harbour. 0255, overladen with troops and left pier, cutting our own forward ropes. Heavy gun-fire continuously; leaving harbour saw crew of unknown vessel being rescued by small boats. 0600, arrived Margate after 1 hour’s dense fog, and disembarked troops and at 0700 departed to anchorage. 2000 hove up and proceeded to Southampton. 2355 ‘ Royal Sovereign ’ lightvessel abeam. “June 5th 0925, anchored at Netley.” There is also a personal account of one of the second officers at BBC - WW2 People's War - M/V Royal Sovereign Hope this helps Gus
my neighbour Ruth Graham was a nurse at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in 1940, she was on night duty and was surprised to find that all the patients had gone and all 40 beds were empty. She was told that she was to prepare to receive the war wounded from Dunkirk. They came on a troop train, she received nearly 40 in Dawson Ward (she thinks, it was a long time ago). The train dropped off groups at different hospitals all along the south coast. Gas gangrene was a problem and one soldier died from it. He was only 18. Another one called Blakey aged 40 survived, but told afterwards how he knew from the looks on the nurses faces that he was not expected to make it.
