99801 2nd Lt W R Cresswell MC and a Blockhouse

Discussion in '1940' started by Drew5233, Mar 14, 2011.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I stumbled on this gem of a first hand account by Lt Cresswell MC in another file by accident this week.

    Pages are taken from WO 217/9 Personal Diary of Col. E M B Gilmore

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  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    [​IMG]

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    Gazz likes this.
  6. Peccavi

    Peccavi Senior Member

    Love the bit about boiling the eggs on the fire created by the German petrol\grenade attack.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Looking at his date of death he would have survived the Blockhouse and taken a PoW. He would have died at the German Casualty Clearing Station at St. Omer.

    :poppy: CWGC :: Certificate :poppy:

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  8. Peccavi

    Peccavi Senior Member

    Why do the real heros never look like Superman?

    Here is a photo of Lt Cresswell.
     

    Attached Files:

    Drew5233 likes this.
  9. skimmod

    skimmod Senior Member

    Thanks for sharing that Andy. Amazing story and some truly amazing people.
     
  10. electrictel

    electrictel Junior Member

    Mistaken entry.
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hello and welcome to the forum. Your Grandfather was quite a man.

    Do you have any further info or pictures you can share with us? I would love to see/read his Military Cross citation as it appears to be missing from the National Archives online records.

    Have you been to the Blockhouse above, its still there today. I always drive past it when I visit Cassel and give it a nod.

    Regards
    Andy
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 2, 2024
  12. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Andy - great stuff.
    Electrictel, welcome to the forum, glad you found this thead.
    You can be proud of your Grandfather. Look foward to seeing any other info you can post about him.
     
  13. Peccavi

    Peccavi Senior Member

    Just found this piece about Capt Lorraine who was the injuried British officer forced to try to get Cresswell to surrender.

    Nice bit of courage to keep a cool head whilst badly wounded.[​IMG]
     
  14. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    I liked the bit about their appreciation of the fire set by the Germans, keeping them warm. Great Post again Andy. Cheers.
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Most of 2 Glosters Company positions and Cresswell's Platoon to the North. I don't think this map has ever been published in any books covering the fighting at Cassel.

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  16. turenne

    turenne Junior Member

  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  18. BrianM59

    BrianM59 Senior Member

    Very interesting, great post Andy thank you.
     
  19. Gordon Comley

    Gordon Comley Member

    my Dad was one of the platoon that was in the blockhouse and spent 5 years as a POW
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 2, 2024
  20. Dave H

    Dave H Junior Member

    Gordon, the local tourist board now own the Blockhouse and were hoping to open it this month but COVID put a stop to that!
    I did manage to get access last year with some guys from work.
    Maybe when things get back to normal they will invite you to a rescheduled opening as a direct descendant.


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