number 1 infantry base depot

[mudblood]

has any one ever heard of this place 2number 1 infantry base depot" ?
my grandad was mobilized on 2-9-39, rejoined the 1st ox and bucks on 4-9-39, BEF 2-10-39 and then this depot on 8-10-39
im guessing that this place is in France/Belgium and that he was on of the advance units of the BEF as his reg did not sale untill the new year,
any one shed any light, cheers all

[52nd Airborne]

At the outbreak of the war the battalion was at Hyderabad Barracks in Colchester. They soon moved out to form a camp at Berechurch Park (A few miles outside Colchester), where the reservists join the battalion.

On the 25th September the Battalion got orders to move to Ramillies barracks in Aldershot. On the 1st October the battalion moved to Southampton, and immediately embarked to Cherbourg. Upon landing in France the battalion spent most of the day waiting around Cherbourg railway station before being forwarded by train to Sable.

The Battalion ended up in Bonessay, where billets were found in Barns. The Battalion spent 5 days at Bonessay before moving North. Arriving on the 12th October in Wingles, where the Regiment stayed until the 29th October.

[mudblood]

do you know where the battalion would have been during the month of may 1940 ? all i have is 17th may , seignies, south of brussels, thanks again for your great help

[Rich Payne]

That would be the forest of Soignies (Foret de Soignies). 1 Ox & Bucks were part of 48th Division at the time and the Division appears to have advanced as far as Soignies supporting the units on the Dyle Line (along the River Dijl). They were behind the 1st and 2nd Divisions of 1 Corps.

From memory, Soignies was chosen as the heavy tree cover provided some protection against air attack.

The Battalion would have advanced into Belgium on 10th / 11th May and were at Soignies on 15th May according to the map on p.48 of Ellis's Official History (there is a link to an on-line copy somewhere on this forum (Where is it Owen ?)

[Owen]

Here Rich.
HyperWar: The War in France and Flanders, 1939-1940 (UK Military Series)

Map on page 48.
Here>>> http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/U...landers-vi.jpg

[Bodston]

I've just picked up a copy of the War Chronicle of the Ox and Bucks 1940-42
This is Volume 2 of their War Chronicle and only begins with the reformation of the Regt after Dunkirk. So not much use to you here. It does deal with the training and deployment of the Regt on home soil, so any info you require between June 1940 and 1942 should be in there.

[52nd Airborne]

Originally Posted by mudblood

do you know where the battalion would have been during the month of may 1940 ? all i have is 17th may , seignies, south of brussels, thanks again for your great help

The red dots on the attached map shows the locations of the 1st battalion during May

1st Battalion.JPG

[mudblood]

top job gents cheers all

[mudblood]

does your regimental war records show when the battalion started to drift apart and start to loose contact with its men? my grandad was reported as pow by 16-6-40, as far as we can tell his truck broke down and they flagged down another truck but it turned out to be German. so weather his group was one of the last to leave there position we dont know

[52nd Airborne]

Originally Posted by mudblood

does your regimental war records show when the battalion started to drift apart and start to loose contact with its men?

That pretty much started in the middle of May.

Mudblood, I strongly suggest you purchase this book. Book Details It might be expensive, but it will be worth it. If you're going to look for Vol 2 (1940 -1942) drop me a PM.