I'm currently reading the most excellent book (That Rich P Recommended) 'ASSIGNMENT TO CATASTROPHE,VOLUME 1, PRELUDE TO DUNKIRK JULY 1939-MAY 1940, BY MAJOR -GENERAL SIR EDWARD L.SPEARS KBE,CB.MC.' Here's some info on Spears-Quite an interesting life he lived. (I'm only half way through the first volumne and I have really lwarmed to him) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Spears He was Churchill's personal representative to Paul Reynaud in 1940. It's a great insight into all the politics of what happened and reveals some real gems of info. Anyway: I may have missed this in the previous books I've read but Spears writes in his book that the Irish and Welsh Guards that were sent to Boulogne on 22nd May were the last two regular army battalions in England. Is this true?
After I checked all regular battalions on the Orders of Battle looks that could be true. Couldn't find any regular battalion based in the Great Britain between 22nd May and the beginning of evacuation.
An extract from Winston Churchill's Telegram to Paul Reynaud's dated Friday 24th May 1940. "As for the request that we should send more troops to the harbours, this is impossible, for, alas, we have none left."
PPCLI , RCR & R22eR were a Regular units of the Canadian Army, they were in the UK at that time. They were earmarked for the 2nd BEF.
The 1st battalion of the Rifle Brigade and the 2nd battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps left the UK for Calais on May 23rd 1940 to join the TAs of the 1st battalion of the Queen Victoria's Rifles and the 3rd battalion of the Royal Tank Regiment, which had arrived in Calais on 22nd May. All four battalions took part in the siege of Calais before surrendering on the afternoon of 26 May, with the vast majority taken as prisoners of war. - John
On the 12th June Churchill was in France discussing the current situation and trying to persuade the French to stay in the war. During the conference the British delegation tell the French that Britain has 30 divisions now in training at various stages. Again they ask the French for artillery (American guns) support for British divisions before they will send new divisions to France as they have none.
Owen, Hi your right again from "Dunkirk The necessary Myth" this makes ref to the only regular Bn left in the U K as a Canadian One
There is possibility that there was one regular battalion left in Britain, 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers. It was based in Indian before the war but according the some info I found it returned to Britain in late September 1939. Unfortunately I couldn't confirm this from some other source. Hope someone will be able to provide more info.
2 RWF left Bombay on 6 June 1940, arriving at Liverpool on 16 July. However, 2 RWF personnel on home leave were posted to 1 RWF in September 1939. That's from The Red Dragon, the regiment's WW2 history.
2 RWF left Bombay on 6 June 1940, arriving at Liverpool on 16 July. However, 2 RWF personnel on home leave were posted to 1 RWF in September 1939. That's from The Red Dragon, the regiment's WW2 history. Thanks for clearing that up, idler. Cheers
There is possibility that there was one regular battalion left in Britain, 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers. It was based in Indian before the war but according the some info I found it returned to Britain in late September 1939. Unfortunately I couldn't confirm this from some other source. Hope someone will be able to provide more info. 2nd South Lancs where the same, they were brough back from India but didnt form part of the BEF Correction, 2nd South Lancs left Bombay onthe 5th June 1940, arriving back at Liverpool on the 17th July. It was one of the 4 Battalionas that had returned from India that then formed the 29th Inf Brigade, which was then sent to Sussex on defensive duties
