Can anyone help identify this missing officers Battalion? He's listed on CWGC as being with 4th Battalion but this battalion didn't go to France in 1939/40. I don't think this battalion even existed? We are trying to exclude him from an Unknown Grave that's almost been identified so any info on him may help. Killed 31st May 1940 and remembered on the Dunkirk Memorial. Casualty Details | CWGC
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Humfrey Fairclough Given Initials: H Rank: Lieutenant Death Date: 31 May 1940 Number: 69225 Birth Place: Warrington Residence: Warrington Regiment at Enlistment: South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Volunteers) Branch at Enlistment: Infantry Theatre of War: France and Belgium Campaign, 1939/40 Regiment at Death: South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Volunteers) Branch at Death: Infantry Contact the museum? - The Regiments in World War II | Lancashire Infantry Museum TD or contact - 69225 Lieutenant HUMFREY FAIRCLOUGH 4th Bn. South Lancashire Regiment 25 Years old on Friday 31st May 1940
Casualty lists state 4th Bn. First reported missing then presumably died of wounds, on or shortly after 31.5.40
Morning Drew, I have attached a link to The Leas School Magazine dated 1941 which mentions Capt Humfrey Fairclough in the East Lancashire Regiment which I understand did serve in France. Maybe this is the missing Unit? The Leas 1941 April magazine Regards Bruneval
If it was East Lancs then they did have a 4th Bn in BEF East Lancashire Regiment - Wikipedia 4th 1st Line Territorial battalion. Formed 1939 when 4th/5th Battalion was duplicated. North West Europe 1940 with 127th Infantry Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division. Following the Dunkirk evacuation, it remained with the division on home defense duties. 127th (Manchester) Brigade - Wikipedia Order of battle The 127th Infantry Brigade was constituted as follows during the war:[31] 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment Maybe worth checking in your files for their WD TD
Doesn't answer your question Andy sorry but newspaper report on him being missing. It states he was in the territorials. Mike
Not saying who is right or wrong but the two casualty lists and also the list of missing as circulated to POW camps all state South Lancashire.
........and another newspaper clipping states South Lancashire Regiment. Presumably this text is from the family as they ask for no letters. Therefore, you could deduce they know the unit he was serving in which is the South Lancashire Regiment!? England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976 for Humfrey Fairclough Regards Bruneval
I should also add I have copies of all the South and East Lancs Regimental War Diaries that went to France and he's not mentioned in any of the officer field returns.