2 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with the BEF 1939 to 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by Drew5233, Jul 25, 2012.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    IWM Image Caption reads: The BEF arrives in France, September - October 1939: Men of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers disembark from the former passenger ferry ROYAL SOVEREIGN at Cherbourg.
    [​IMG]

    WO 167/758 2 RIF war diary dates this image as 16th September 1939
    [​IMG]
     
    DParks and dbf like this.
  2. skimmod

    skimmod Senior Member

    thanks Drew, great image.
    Wondering how many men could have travelled on one of these ships?
    A full battalion or just a couple of companies?
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    The diary also states they travelled on SS Manx Man and the ship carried 1,376 souls. Either the IWM has got the name of the ship or the battalion wrong.
     
    DParks likes this.
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    It looks as if the 'Manxman' was pretty full as it included 13 Inf. Bde. HQ and a party of nurses (the adjutant seems to regret that they weren't in uniform !)

    He does state that 'D' Coy and HQ Coy embarked on a different vessel so the photograph is likely to be of them disembarking from Royal Sovereign.

    2nd Northamptons who were later to form part of 5 Div with 2 Inniskillings sailed on 19th October on the luxurious Canterbury. Their diary includes a plan of the life-saving equipment provision. They seem to have been able to travel as a complete battalion

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Richard_McNab

    Richard_McNab Junior Member

    I'm afraid you've got the wrong SS Manxman there. It is confusing, because there have been a series of them, as well as HMS Manxman which was a Royal Navy minesweeper. The SS Manxman which ferried soldiers from Southampton to France throughout September 1939 was a twin funnelled steamer and there are some good pictures of it at Isle of Man Steam Packet Company - Ship Postcards - Page 3: 1915-1939

    SS Manxman went on to be the last ship to evacuate troops out of France after Dunkirk, sailing out of Cherbourg on June 18th. 1940.
     
  7. Koen

    Koen Member

    Lieutenant Colonel Lefroy, F.J
    Major Butler Beauchamp Henry
    Major Verschoyle, H.D.E.
    Major Vining, R.E.D
    Captain Cumminghem, F.H
    Captain Knox, R.H.A
    Captain Maxwell, G.F
    Captain Meade, Laurence Owen Michael
    Captain Miller, J.B.A
    Captain Nugent, P.G.H
    Captain Shaw, D.M
    Lieutenant Dawson, D
    Lieutenant Duncan A.H
    Lieutenant Chambers J.H
    Lieutenant Morrow R.M
    Second Lieutenant Dane, Richard Cecil Allen
    Second Lieutenant Cundy-Cooper, A.S
    Second Lieutenant Foulkes, G.I
    Second Lieutenant O'Donnovan, T.J.M
    Second Lieutenant Wise, J.A.R
    Second Lieutenant Tyrell, R.J
    Second Lieutenant Cocksedge, Geoffrey William Horace
    Second Lieutenant McCausland, J.K
    Second Lieutenant Coates, J
    Second Lieutenant Kerrich, Hugh Richard
    Second Lieutenant Lyons, J.W
    Second Lieutenant Megans, W.M
     
  8. Koen

    Koen Member

    [​IMG]
    Men of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers disembarking at Cherbourg from the steamer 'Royal Sovereign', 16 September 1939.

    [​IMG]
    Bren gun carriers of 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers pass through Chapel St Aubin near Le Mans, 24 September 1939

    [​IMG]
    A 3-inch mortar of 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in action, 4 November 1939.


    [​IMG]
    General Georges of the French Army, accompanied by Lord Gort, inspecting the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Bethune, 23 April 1940.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2020
    DParks and Drew5233 like this.
  9. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Lieutenant Colonel Lefroy, F.J
    Major Butler Beauchamp Henry
    Major Verschoyle, H.D.E.
    Major Vining, R.E.D
    Captain Cumminghem, F.H
    Captain Knox, R.H.A
    Captain Maxwell, G.F
    Captain Meade, Laurence Owen Michael
    Captain Miller, J.B.A
    Captain Nugent, P.G.H
    Captain Shaw, D.M
    Lieutenant Dawson, D
    Lieutenant Duncan A.H
    Lieutenant Chambers J.H
    Lieutenant Morrow R.M
    Second Lieutenant Dane, Richard Cecil Allen
    Second Lieutenant Cundy-Cooper, A.S
    Second Lieutenant Foulkes, G.I
    Second Lieutenant O'Donnovan, T.J.M
    Second Lieutenant Wise, J.A.R
    Second Lieutenant Tyrell, R.J
    Second Lieutenant Cocksedge, Geoffrey William Horace
    Second Lieutenant McCausland, J.K
    Second Lieutenant Coates, J
    Second Lieutenant Kerrich, Hugh Richard
    Second Lieutenant Lyons, J.W
    Second Lieutenant Megans, W.M

    Lt-Col Lefroy, Major Vining, Major Vershoyle and RSM Strawbridge, and a few others were all captured on 27th May 1940

    Beauchamp Butler, who took over command, later became CO of the 1st Bttn Royal Irish Fusiliers, and was killed during the attack on San Salvo on 27th October 1943,

    best
     
    DParks likes this.
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Great pictures Koen- Have you identified who the OC of the carrier platoon is from the war diaries-I suspect it's the 2nd Liuetenant sat in the front?
    [​IMG]
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Also interesting to see that their battle dress was changed in France.
     
  12. Koen

    Koen Member

    Great pictures Koen- Have you identified who the OC of the carrier platoon is from the war diaries-I suspect it's the 2nd Lieutenant sat in the front?


    Thanks Drew. I had a look at the RIF war dairy and found the identitie of the carrier officer it was 2nd Lieutenant Meade. In may 1940 he is a Captain.
    I also think that he is the officer in the front.

    Also interesting to see that their battle dress was changed in France.

    It's also interesting that they embark with camouflage covers on there helmets.

    Regards Koen
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Rich Payne knows a bit about the covers. IIRC they were told to remove them because of the risk of gas being soaked into them. I may have even posted a standing order on here to that effect. Either way ask Rich ;)

    Well done on IDing the officer !
     
  14. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    We did have a discussion about the covers. They were apparently sewn onto the helmets so couldn't be removed quickly for decontamination. We saw a later photo with a net in place - they were OK as they were removable.

    Quite a number of units went to France wearing Service Dress but there is little sign of it after the end of 1939 (Shame !)
     
  15. Koen

    Koen Member

    Second Lieutenant Dane, Richard Cecil Allen KIA 28/05/1940
    Second Lieutenant Kerrich, Hugh Richard KIA 23/05/1940
    Provost Marshal Serjeant Hilliard, Leslie Thomas KIA 29/05/1940
    Serjeant Gildea, Thomas James KIA 17/05/1940
    Serjeant Lamont, John 19/09/39
    Lance Serjeant Quinn, Francis KIA 23/05/1940
    Corporal Allen, Robert Hugh KIA 22/05/1940
    Corporal Harvey, William John KIA 27/05/1940
    Corporal Kelly, John KIA 27/05/1940
    Corporal Palmer, G. A KIA 29/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Hanna, Joseph KIA 27/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Hill, Patrick KIA 30/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Lee, Dennis KIA Between 10/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Lance Corporal Lynas, Mark KIA 18/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Macmillan, Robert KIA 25/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Monteith, Thomas KIA 26/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Nally, Patrick KIA 21/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Smiley, William KIA 23/05/1940
    Lance Corporal Wilkinson, Frederick KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier Beatty, Charles Edward KIA Between 27/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Bogle, Robert KIA Between 25/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Burnett, John WilliamKIA Between 26/05/1940 and 31/05/1940
    Fusilier Carlin, John KIA 27/05/1940
    Fusilier Conlon, Joseph KIA Between 18/05/1940 and 08/06/1940
    Fusilier Crawford, John 30/12/39
    Fusilier Donaghy, Edward KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier Dummigan, James KIA 27/05/1940
    Fusilier Galloway, John KIA 28/05/40
    Fusilier Gavin, Henry William KIA 28/05/1940
    Fusilier Granaghan, Felix KIA Between 30/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Green, John KIA 29/05/1940
    Fusilier Griffiths, Samuel Edward Mckay KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier Harkin, Patrick Joseph KIA 29/05/1940
    Fusilier Henderson, Thomas John KIA Between 18/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Houston, James KIA 01/06/1940
    Fusilier Jack, Richard KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier Keenan, Patrick KIA Between 27/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Kerr, Thomas KIA Between 01/06/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Laughlin, James KIA 29/05/1940
    Fusilier Lyons, Francis John KIA Between 18/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Maitlan, Cecil Thomas KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier Metcalfe, Arthur John KIA 30/05/1940
    Fusilier Moore, Samuel KIA 29/05/1940
    Fusilier McArthur, Henry KIA 27/05/1940
    Fusilier McCutcheon, Joseph KIA Between 18/05/1940 and 08/06/1940
    Fusilier McDade, Edward KIA Between 10/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier McDaid, Patrick KIA Between 01/06/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier McDevitt, James Joseph KIA Between 27/05/1940 and 31/05/1940
    Fusilier McGowan, William George KIA 29/05/1940
    Fusilier McKeary, Samuel James KIA 26/05/1940
    Fusilier McKeown, John Joseph KIA 28/05/1940
    Fusilier McLucas, J KIA 27/05/1940
    Fusilier McManus, James KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier McMaw Willie KIA 27/05/1940
    Fusilier Neeson, John KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier Neill, Cecil Robert KIA 29/05/1940
    Fusilier O'Shaughnessy, James KIA 03/06/1940
    Fusilier Robinson, James KIA Between 24/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Robinson, Robert KIA 29/05/1940
    Fusilier Savage, Vincent KIA 23/05/1940
    Fusilier Sheriff, John Aubrey KIA Between 24/05/1940 and 05/06/1940
    Fusilier Stevenson, John James KIA Between 25/05/1940 and 26/05/1940
    Fusilier Stevenson, Walter KIA Between 30/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Thompson, Charles Wesley KIA Between 29/05/1940 and 30/05/1940
    Fusilier Tracey, Joseph KIA 27/05/1940
    Fusilier Treanor, Charles KIA 30/05/1940
    Fusilier Wharram, George KIA Between 10/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Williams, Phillip KIA Between 27/05/1940 and 04/06/1940
    Fusilier Wilson, Herbert KIA 27/05/1940
    Fusilier Wilson, Patrick KIA 31/05/1940
    Fusilier Winters, John Joseph KIA 27/05/1940

    :poppy: CWGC Casualty Details :poppy:
     
    borderclan likes this.
  16. Koen

    Koen Member

    Can somebody tell me where I could find a list with names of the men that served with the Bn during September 1939 and June 1940?

    Regards Koen
     
  17. Koen

    Koen Member

    [​IMG]
    Men of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers write letters home from their billet in Chapel St Aubin near Le Mans, 24 September 1939.

    [​IMG]
    Men of the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers training on a French 25mm SA 34 anti-tank gun, 4 November 1939.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2020
    DParks, Drew5233 and Rich Payne like this.
  18. Whiskey7

    Whiskey7 New Member

    Thanks for the great pictures. I am looking to find out as much information as I can about my Great Uncle Cpl. William John Harvey 6979362 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was killed on 27/05/40. We are planning on visiting his grave in Esquelmes War Cemetery next month. If anybody can point out how I would find with Company he was in and their location around the time of his death, it would be most appreciated.

    Eric
     
  19. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2254006/HARVEY,%20WILLIAM%20JOHN :poppy:

    Interesting that he is buried at Hainaut and his unit was some distance away on the date of his death at Hollebeke. A quick look through the missing men file has him on a nominal roll and confirmed dead in 1941 (not the date of his death) for administration purposes. Without any proper research and assuming you don't have a copy of his service records I would take an educated guess that he died shortly after being captured or died of wounds received in a earlier engagement whilst in the care of the RAMC. I think he may have died after being captured though as there is no obvious evidence that the battalion was fighting in Hainaut.

    CWGC's historical info on the cemetery does state 'Casualties buried in various places in the neighbourhood were brought to Esquelmes by the Belgian authorities in September 1940.' Looking at the large selection of cap badges in the cemetery I think there may have been a German field hospital situated there.
     
  20. Whiskey7

    Whiskey7 New Member

    Andy,
    Many thanks for the information, most useful!

    Regards,

    Eric
     

Share This Page