Fred Lowe private Green Howards at Dunkirk.

My father Fred Lowe joined the Green Howards territorials in Great Driffield, Yorkshire in 1937 by adding one year to his age.
Called up 1st September 1939 and went to France with the BEF. Met up with his elder brother Eric who was RSM in the Intelligence Corps whilst in France.
Eric managed to evade capture by hiding in a ditch and got home but Dad was part of the rearguard protecting the perimeter and was caught.
The Germans seated the prisoners in a large circle and two sentries marched around them. My father, a Durham Light Infantry soldier and an older Irishman, slipped away from the group and headed to the coast.
Finding a dinghy without oars they paddled out into the Channel using their hands as paddles. After many problems with the tides and currents they were picked up by a French destroyer and taken to Southampton.
My father made his way home and walked in the back door of his home to the shock of his family as he was reported missing believed killed.
My father was not sent back to the Green Howards as you would expect but to a Guards Regiment. (Coldstreams I think). Can any member explain why he wouldn't have gone back to the Green Howards? Any help or guidance welcome.

 

Hi,

Quite a complicated account with lots to research. There were 5 Green Howard battalions in France during 1940 and as many more Coldstream Guards battalions during WW2 so I would apply for a copy of his service records to find out exactly what units he was with. There was a Intelligence Corps as such, as we know it today, until after Dunkirk. I'm not aware of any stand alone intelligence units in France during 1940, they were cells within higher formations at Division and Corps level.

You'll be able to get a copy from Coldstream Guards HQ in Wellington Barracks, London.

Cheers
Andy

 

Dad definitely didn't want to be in the Guards and volunteered for the Military Police to get away from the Guards. I remember him saying about the extreme bullsh*t involved with the Guards. I did once contact Guards museum to discover which regiment and battalion he served in but they weren't able to help.
I applied for his service record about 20 years ago but what I received was very basic and not much use.
The local Driffield newspaper had an article shortly after Dunkirk reporting on local lads. Eric is mentioned and my dad also but says family has a wounded card only.
Will try to cut and paste the piece later.

 

Local newspaper article summarised.
"Driffield Soldiers
The evacuation from Dunkirk a fortnight ago....
Sgt Major E. Lowe was able to come to Driffield on a very short leave. He was one of 4 out of a group of 50 men to escape. He had laid in a gutter 3 days and 3 nights to keep clear of the enemy.
The parents of Pte. F. Lowe who was employed by Charles Dawson before joining up have received a field card dated the 6th, that he was been wounded. Pte. Lowe visited his home town at Whitsuntide".

 

Did he join the RMP's after the Guards?

I would apply for a copy of his service records again, they used to type up a pretty useless list with dates. They now give you photocopies of every page in the file which is much more detailed.

 

I have the useless list of dates which were covered anyway in his red army booklet.
I will apply as you advise although I expect it will take forever.
Dad left the Guards to join the CMP as they were then but stayed on after the war in the RMP. Ambushed by the Stern Gang in Palestine and barbed wire whipped.

 

CMP indeed. They do send out a standard letter saying 3 to 6 months but they normally arrive before the 3 month mark. Do wait for them, they are worth it with regards to actually identifying the units he was in.

A

 

That's very useful Drew. Many thanks and I will apply today after noting his army number from his medals.