Hi Paul, Sorry for the delay but I hope this all helps to paint a better picture. The text below is from A History of the Royal Sussex Regiment by G D Martineau. Throughout May 25th, the battalion remained quietly in occupation of the Strazeele position, and it was not until noon on the 26th that they were ordered to move to Grand St. Bois, near Hazebrouck, and relieve the 1st Royal West Kents. At this point, 'B' Company returned to the battalion. The relief was reflected that afternoon, after some delay, but the battalion was now back in a position belonging to the 131st Brigade, though supposedly under its own Brigade Command. Thus the former state of affairs was repeated, and information was cut off. Late in the evening, Major Prince went back to 133rd Brigade headquarters to report on this, and returned with the information that the 5th Royal Sussex would arrive on their right soon after midnight. Early on the 27th, 'B' Company, holding an isolated copse some way in advance, were suddenly attacked by enemy tanks and infantry, surrounded, and wiped out. Major Prince, who had been visiting them, was captured, and Major L W Lane was sent for to take command. Orders given to recapture the position from the enemy were cancelled; the 5th Battalion had not arrived on the right, as anticipated, and enemy tanks were going down the Hazebrouck-Strazeele road. The battalion now came under yet another brigade, the 132nd, and Major Lane, on arrival, sought definite orders, emphasizing at the same time the dangerous position on the right flank. There seemed some prospect that they might return to their own brigade the next morning, but in the meantime they were instructed to be ready to move 'in small groups' as quickly as possible. The remnants on the Hazebrouck garrison were falling back through the battalion position throughout that evening, very vague about the situation and uncertain where to go. There was therefore an attempt to form some of them into a unit and defend that perilous right flank, but this was checked by counter-orders from 132nd Brigade. A patrol report from 'A' Company now revealed enemy at the first cross roads and on the railway to the rear of 'D' Company. This report elicited a reply from brigade that French tanks would counter-attack Hazebrouck before dawn, and two battalions were coming up on the right as soon as possible. These promises were never fulfilled, and that open right flank remained a fatal sore in the battalion's position, until they were ordered, at seven in the evening of May 28th, to retire about a mile - an operation carried out with little interference from the enemy, who were now rapidly working round. Shortly after dawn on the 29th, a German patrol discovered the Adjutant of the 2nd Royal Sussex in a farmyard. 'For you,' the officer informed him, 'der var is over.' He produced maps of 'Englant,' to show where they were going, and inquired ironically where the BEF was. One trenchant paragraph sums up the operations: The magnificent fighting unit of three battalions of the Royal Sussex was never properly tried; for, except on the Belgian position, where they gave us excellent support, we never fought with the 4th or 5th Battalions. Even in Belgium we were attached to another brigade. The detachment from the original brigade seems always to have cut down the available information. Thus Captain Loder, who had done great things in many trying situations and helped to reorganise 'D' Company with Captain Wilett had been killed, was launching attacks in the region of Hazebrouck, taking part in the capture of a German staff car, with maps and dodging enemy columns on the way to battalion headquarters right up to 9pm on May 28th, when he was told of the real situation. By that time the Germans were all around him, and he was captured the next morning, as were many others who had not been killed already. German reconnaissance planes had been free to direct shell-fire, which destroyed vehicles and the means of escape. Lieutenant Ainsworth, Battalion Intelligence Officer, speaks in his conclusions of the defensive positions taken up by the battalion in Belgium and France. The first, round the village of Hierwig, he considered might have been held with advantage; the second, on the Escaut, taken up at short notice, had a front of 6,000 yards, and, as it's previous occupants, The Queen's, had departed before their arrival, there was no formal 'take-over.' There were other disadvantages of terrain, but lack of satisfactory orders was the chief trouble. First they would be told to fight to the last man and last round, and while they were preparing to do this, there would come an order to withdraw. It was late on the 28th that they learnt that the British Expeditionary Force was withdrawing to Dunkirk, with the Germans closing in on either side. Many fine things were done. Beside Captain Loder and Lieutenant Pozner, mention should be made of the magnificent work of Lieutenant and Quartermaster Hanlon in bringing up food and supplies under the most appalling conditions. There was also Lieutenant Rubie MC, whose leadership of the Carrier Platoon was exemplary. The loss of this fine battalion was a tragedy comparable with the loss of the 35th at Almansa. Yet, as on that other occasion, the necessary reconstitution was to lead to great and splendid deeds at a later period in history.
Hi Andy. Many thanks for this... It's very much appreciated. Now off for a quiet couple of hours to digest it and Google some names and places. Very best regards Paul........
Where is the original post detailing : John (Jack) Stephen Mepham, 2 Royal Sussex Regiment. 27th to 29th May 1940 Steve
