7th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers B.E.F

Hi All
Not sure if i have posted in the right place, apologies if i got it wrong.

I have recently received my Great Uncles service records and with the help of members on the forum have found out that when he embarked from the UK he was with the 7th R.N.F and joined the B.E.F 3/3/40 .

As soon as he arrived in France he was transferred to HQ 3 Corps, and then, we think he might have joined 51st Division ( Highlanders). Would anyone know if this is right.

Also if he did join the 51st Division according to his service records, he was back home in the UK by the 2/6/40,
so would not have been in the " St Valery" battle.

Any help would be appreciated

Regards

Kim

 

If I remember correctly the 7th RNF were attached to the 51st Highland Division as Heavy Machine Gun Support.

1st Gordons Attack on The Grand Bois | Account | 51st Highland Division Website

 

Presumably he was wounded prior to that attack if he was home by 2nd June?

 

Just a thought I can't call definite fact. I have a grandfather who got out via St Nazaire (family) but his return to UK seems to have been recorded twice as if he got out with his CO at Boulogne, May, (have the War Diary) yet did not return to unit until June 27 (his records). No record of AWOL. Therefore dates and assumptions for anyone can sometimes be a conundrum.

 

Thanks Incredibledisc for your reply and the link, there is nothing on his service records about being wounded. It is a mystery.

Thank you Osborne2, there is no AWOL on his service records and just the one date of his return, he had previously told his son he had got back home on one of the small boats via Dunkirk.

As he did not ship out with the 7th R.N.F IN October 1939, but joined the B.E.F in March 1940 would he have rejoined his Unit or could he have been posted with another.

 

7th RNF did not go to France until 4th April 1940 but were taking casualties from the 28th of May 1940

 

On a different tack, can anyone confirm the AoS for 7RNF in 1940: I'm assuming 'Red 34 with white bar over'? As a III Corps unit detached to Saar Force/51 Div, what markings did their vehicles carry; corps or div - I assume the former?