Casualty lists for 2nd N. Staffs, 6th Gordons and 1st Loyals during defence of River Dyle Line

Discussion in '1940' started by Dirk, Apr 1, 2011.

  1. Dirk

    Dirk Member

    Hello,

    I'm new on this forum.

    As an amateur historian living in the river Dyle valley (Belgium), I'm interested in the actions of the BEF during the Battle of the River Dyle in May 1940.

    I'm especially interested in the exploits of the following Battalions:

    - 2nd Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment
    - 6th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
    - 1st Battalion, The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)

    Some of the casualties sustained by the above Battalions have their final resting place in the village churchyards along the river Dyle valley. I have their names, but what I don't know and what intrigues me are the real losses the above Battalions suffered during the defence of the river Dyle Line.

    So, what I'm actually looking for are the Battle Casualty Lists for the 2nd Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment, the 6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders and the 1st Bn. The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire).

    I want to write an article for the magazine of our local history circle about the casualties sustained by the above Battalions, lest their names be forgotten by future generations growing up in the area I live.

    Perhaps, someone out there is visiting the National Archives on regular basis, and is willing to help me by taking a look into the War Diaries of the above-mentioned Battalions to see whether these hold Casualty Lists. And if this is the case, to take a photocopy or a digital photograph of the Casualty lists I'm searching for.

    By Casualty Lists, I mean lists with the names of men and officers Killed in Action, the names of men and officers who Died of Wounds, those who were Wounded in Action, and those who went Missing in Action or were taken Prisoner of War during the defence of the River Dyle Line.

    The War Diary references are:

    WO 167/830 2nd Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment (1939 Sept.-1940 June)
    WO 167/747 6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders (1940 Jan.-June)
    WO 167/773 1st Bn. The Loyal Regiment (1939 - 1940)

    I thank you for any help you can give,
    Dirk
     
    Drew5233 likes this.
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Dirk and welcome to the forum.

    I've just sent you a PM. There's also some other files at Kew that may interest you in the WO 361 Series which are missing men from certain battalions and most BEF battalions are covered.

    All three regiments you are interested in have files under the BEF from 1940.

    Regards
    Andy
     
  3. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Hi Dirk and welcome to the forum.
    Andy is your man for this sort of research and I am sure he will be a great help in your very worthwhile project. Good luck and please keep us informed of your progress.

    Mike
     
  4. Dirk

    Dirk Member

    Hi Andy,

    I much appreciate your offer and I have sent you a private message.

    Regards,
    Dirk
     
  5. themajor

    themajor Junior Member

    Hi Andy,

    I much appreciate your offer and I have sent you a private message.

    Regards,
    Dirk
    I have a postcard sent to my family in Aberdeen (31 Spa Street) to my Father (Francis Davidson Mills) and Grandfather (James Geekie Mills) (who were both Gordons in WW2) from:
    28786662 Private James Rumbles, B Company, 6th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders B.E.F.
    Did he survive? Go into the bag?
    Ian Davidson Mills
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Ian and welcome- I can tell you he survived the war. Some members have PoW books so should be able to ID if he was captured.
     
  7. Suffolk Boy

    Suffolk Boy Member

    Hi Dirk

    In my experience regimental war diaries tend only to list officers by name and refer to the number of other rank casualties.

    However, you will find names of all ranks in the 'missing men' files if the regiment couldn't confirm an individual's fate. Based on my research these enquiries were initiated about 6 months after returning from Dunkirk. Some of the reports and letters in the 'missing men' files give greater insight into the actions of units.

    The only source of all names that I've come across for the Suffolk Regiment, for example, is in the Regimental Gazette which was published monthly. Copies of the Gazette are held in the regimental museum (in Bury St Edmunds for the Suffolks).

    I'm sure other members can point you in the direction of regimental museums for the units you're looking at.

    Hope this helps.


    Regards.


    Stuart
     

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