Transcript of Journal - Belgium/France May 1940

[Rich Payne]

His loss makes sense because he seems to have been with 3rd Troop and there is a reference later the next day to them being wiped out with the exception of one motorcyclist.

[Owen]

Rich, shows that you've read it closer than I have.

Just found this which is of similar interest, refering to A Sqn.

4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards - Main Page

Brigadier H.R.C. Frink, DSO- Brigadier Frink joined the 4th Dragoon Guards in 1918. He was a brilliant natural horseman. In 1922 the 4th Dragoon Guards was amalgamated with the 7th Dragoon Guards.
In 1938 the Regiment was mechanised and in 1940 went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force stationed on the Belgium border with ‘A’ Squadron under the command of Major Frink, equipped with light tanks and carriers. When the German army invaded Belgium the Regiment crossed the frontier on Friday May 20th. However to maintain continuity in the front line orders were given to withdraw from WAVRE 25 kilometres SE of Brussels in a westerly direction engaging the enemy in support of our infantry.
Because the Regiment had lost so many vehicles due to enemy action or breakdowns one Squadron was formed - 4h/7th DG Sqn. under the command of Major Frink attached to the 5th Inskilling DG on May 26th.
They reached BAILLEUL May 28th 40 kilometres S of DUNKIRK, traversing ground the scene of the WW1 battlefield
The 4th/7th Squadron arrived on the outskirts of DUNKIRK on 1st June "and destroyed vehicles and guns. Forgot to remove my gin bottle" and next day June 2nd "All took lunch down to the beach for the day……. (Lt) Riley produced a bottle of red wine – not quite the right temperature but very welcome".
The Squadron dug in and "Most of the day spent examining sea life at a very close angle from the bottom of a trench so deep that the water came in"
They were subjected to constant bombing attacks from a large number of enemy aircraft and shelling from behind DUNKIRK and anxiously looking at the sky to know whether they would get away with it till dark. "Morale of the men was excellent".
"Formed up with the ‘Skins’ Sqn and marched to the Mole about 9 pm. Everything worked like clockwork – no shelling or bombing at what would have been a perfect target. Think largely due to the appearance of six Spitfires in the evening, the only ones we had seen. All on board by 10.30 pm. and so to FOLKSTONE. An unpleasant nightmare dispelled by a view of the white cliffs at dawn".
The obituary in 1975 reads as follows – "At the end of 1940 he went to the 25th Dragoons which he commanded with immense distinction in the Burma campaign where he was awarded the DSO.
After commanding the 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade at the end of the war, he was obliged like everyone else to revert to his substantive rank and he commanded the 4th Hussars for a year until he was promoted once again to command the 8th Armoured Brigade.
Light hearted he combined charm and cheerfulness. It was impossible to be bored in his company and no party was complete without him. He always appeared to be in good spirits, was adored by the soldiers who would do anything for him, and had the courage and powers of leadership that manifested themselves particularly during the war"

[louisaj]

thanks for your comments, links and information. My head is buzzing somewhat, but in a nice way!!

The information I have regarding my Grandfather is as follows:
Name: Ernest Henry Jones (known as Tony)
DOB : 15th April 1913

From his release book:
Army No... 404199 Present Rank... W/Sergeant
Unit, Regt or Corps... Royal Armoured Corps
Trade on enlistment... Clerk (trade tests passed, Clerk Gp c C1 I)
Date of Last Enlistment...24 Sep 1930(crossed out) Rejoined from reserve 3rd Sept 1939
Service Trade... Clerk C I

Do you think he did/could have written the journal, or is it unlikely? I am also assuming he is the Sergt. Jones of the 4th Troop listed at the start of the journal, although that means he wrote about himself in the 3rd person, ahh, who knows?!

Anyway, I have attached a photo of him taken in 1940 in Whitby, Yorkshire, where my Nan evacuated herself to.

thanks again

Louisa

[Owen]

Can't really help with much else , just to say HCR Bolckow didn't survive the war either.
CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name:BOLCKOW, HENRY CUTHBERT RAYLTON
Initials:H C R
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Major
Regiment/Service:Royal Armoured Corps
Unit Text:4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
Age:46
Date of Death:17/01/1944
Service No:13746
Additional information:Son of Henry William Ferdinand and Bessy May Bolckow, of Marton-in-Cleveland.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:N.E. of church.
Cemetery:MARTON-IN-CLEVELAND (ST. CUTHBERT) CHURCHYARD

[louisaj]

Owen, you have been more than helpful. Thanks to you and everyone who has responed, we have a much clearer idea of what was happening at that time and I can pass it on to my daughter, another generation who will not forget.

[Rich Payne]

Louisa, It's quite possible that he was the author. He was a clerk when he enlisted and kept the trade and he was a pre-war Regular. A clerk in the Regimental Office would be privvy to all sorts of things and would have been responsible for keeping the maps up to date.

Whoever wrote it knew about the missing marked maps and virtually accuses Major Scott of theft - I can't imagine that a brother officer in a Cavalry Regiment would do that !

A crewman in a vehicle with failing radio contact would be hard-pushed to know what was going on 50 yards away so the journal was obviously written by someone in contact with HQ and with the more senior officers.

I'm sure that it was written by someone used to making reports and writing in the third person so he does rather fit the bill. I would suspect though that it probably means that he isn't the Jones of 4th Troop.

It's nice to see a picture of him. Have you been able to find the motorcycle picture yet ?

Rich

[louisaj]

Rich... I am going to see my Nan today, I will have another look for the motorcycle picture. I am also going to get her to sign the forms so I can request his service history, hopefully, that will give me some more information.

I am a bit at the thought of him practically accusing the Major of theft, I hope non of the Majors descendants get wind of it!!

Will post later with any news.

Thanks Louisa

[louisaj]

Rich, I didn't find the picture, it's so frustrating as we can all remember it, apart from my nan!.
My aunt is away at the moment, but I will see if she can shed some light on it when she comes back.
I did find a great picture that had been made into a postcard (see attachment) My Grandfather is front row, 2nd from left. No idea where or when it was taken though.

I also found 2 pages of 'orders' for 30th July 1941 and 9th April 1943. They are typed by him as his initials are typed in the bottom left hand corner. He kept these as they have the birth announcements of his daughters on. The papers list who had undergone punishments and why, who has been on courses of instruction, who has been exposed to chemical warfare etc as well as births and marriages.

The entries regarding him state he belongs to 'HQ', but i don't know where.

Its so interesting for me, hope i'm not boring you all!

[Owen]

Going by the uniforms that's pre-war or very early in the war.
They are wearing Service Dress. By 1940 they'd be wearing Battle Dress.
Those orders from 41/42 , could they be when he was with 22nd Dragoons?
Any names mentioned we could look up?
Sounds even more like he was a clerk at HQ as Rich says, makes him privy to info not generally known by "Other Ranks".

Locations??
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards: Service

1929England: Shorncliffe
1931Tidworth 2 Cav Bde
1935Scotland: Edinburgh
1936.104th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
1937England: Aldershot 2 Div
1938.08mechanised 1939Aldershot 4 Div
1939.09France & Belgium recce regt, 2 Inf Div, BEF
1940.06UK 1 Armd Recce Bde
1940.12UK 27 Armd Bde, 9 Armd Div
1940.12.30cadre detached to form22nd Dragoons

[Owen]

Just looked here,
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards [UK]
it might be worth trying to obtain a copy of these.
Second World War:
Stirling, J.D.P. The first and the last : the story of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, 1939-1945. London ; Glasgow : Art and Educational Publishers Ltd., 1946.
Actions of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, May-June 1940. Dorking : Rowe's, printers, 1941.