263 Field Company - 1940 death help

Discussion in '1940' started by clock378, Dec 21, 2012.

  1. clock378

    clock378 Junior Member

    263 Field Co RE.

    I am trying to find any information regarding my relative who died on 20th May 1940.
    Sapper Henry Ward of Cosham.

    I have found the CWGC details and photo of his grave, but wondered if anyone has any war diary photos from around the time of his death or anything else from the Company records that may be of interest?

    this is my 1st ever posting on this site, so thanks

    Hoping you can help
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here is his CWGC details-It's always a good starting point for others:

    CWGC - Casualty Details

    Historical info on the cemetery from CWGCl:

    Pont-de-Metz Churchyard contains 33 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War (13 of them unidentified), all soldiers who died in May 1940, when the Germans broke through to Ameins, in one of the many small delaying actions which helped to gain the time required for the withdrawal of British Expeditionary Force to the Channel ports. There is also one First World War burial in the cemetery.


    As far as the units war diary goes that's a non starter. I have a copy but it only covers April 1940.
     
  3. clock378

    clock378 Junior Member

    Many thanks for your prompt response. I am still trying to get used to these sites.
    regards
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    263 Field Company were part of 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division, a second-line Territorial Division that was in France on labour and training duties and was not expected to see combat. However, they were thrown into the line as gaps opened up.

    You may just find some clues in WO167/258 - CRE (Commander, Royal Engineers) 12 Div.

    It's quite difficult to follow the activities of the various corps as most literature will only mention regiments by name. I'd suspect that they were attached to 36th Infantry Brigade.

    I'd recommend getting hold of a copy of Tim Lynch's 'Dunkirk 1940, Whereabouts Unknown' as it deals with the 'Untrained troops of the labour divisions...sacrificed to save an army'. It will certainly give you a good idea of the situation these territorials found themselves in.

    9780752454900 - AbeBooks
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    12 Division from 10th May to 20th May 1940

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  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  7. clock378

    clock378 Junior Member

    Thanks for this info. I will get used to my search in time.
     
  8. clock378

    clock378 Junior Member

    Thanks for this info. the little I can get from any surviving members of the Ward family are very limited as they are my age (79) and the older family have all gone.
    Regards.
     
  9. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I suspect that we all wish we'd started researching sooner but there is no doubt that the internet has made some things much easier.

    If you do get the chance, the book that I recommended above is certainly worth a look, as it gives a good idea of the general situation that the men faced. It's probably available via the library system.

    Please do 'stick around' ...and feel free to contribute you own wartime memories to the 'Home Front' section. We 'young' chaps can be very good at diving into archives but we weren't actually 'there'
     
  10. Oakley666

    Oakley666 Junior Member

    Thanks rich and drew. I have been helping clock sort out what Internet resources would help him. The leads and information you have given us are a huge leap forward. Reading the account you have attached made it so real and put some real meat on the bones. Thanks again and merry Christmas
     
  11. clock378

    clock378 Junior Member

    Thanks for the advice regarding Tim Lynches "1940 Dunkirk "Rich. Ordered a copy was deld and am reading now. Regards.
     
  12. EnglishRose

    EnglishRose Member

    Hi there. If you are still interested in 263rd I have done some research as my dad was in the unit and at Amiens and survived the war.
     

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