2nd Royal Ulster Rifles Dunkirk

Discussion in '1940' started by Guy Hudson, Jun 27, 2012.

  1. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Does anyone have names for these RUR officers?
    Many thanks in advance
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    This is a famous and much-reproduced picture. I read a caption once that identified the helmetless man who looks like Patrick McGoohan as Lt Col F Y C Knox, CO 2nd RUR. He later became a brigadier, leading 69th Brigade (50th Division) in Normandy.
     
  3. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    This is why this forum is so wonderful. You have just answered another question, of an unidentified 50th Division Brigadier in Normandy!

    KNOX

    Guy
     

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  4. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Interesting shot. The man on the left in the beret might be Lt Col Robin Hastings, CO 6th Green Howards until he was wounded around mid-June. Hastings did not think highly of Knox.
     
  5. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    Their is something about that picture , considering they're all in a quite precarious position they look quietly confident , the chap on the right ( sergeant ?) looks a wily old cove . (they're all named in one of the books)
     
  6. May1940

    May1940 Senior Member

    Does anyone have names for these RUR officers?
    Many thanks in advance

    Lt Col Knox DSO is in the centre, bare-headed; behind him, 2-Lt Carberry. Left and right centre, 2-Lt Sturgeon and Lt St Maur Shiel, left and right foreground Captain Garratt and L Cpl Delaney (CO's driver).

    Page 89 'Iron Division' by Robin McNish.

    Andrew
     
  7. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Andrew, Thank you for that. I was hoping Lt. A.F Ruxton was one of them.

    Guy
     
  8. May1940

    May1940 Senior Member

    Andrew, Thank you for that. I was hoping Lt. A.F Ruxton was one of them.

    Guy

    Sorryto disappoint. Did he own a camera? If so, maybe he was the photographer.

    Andrew
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I should have a list of all of the Battalions Officers during May 1940 if that might help?
     
  10. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    The photograph was taken by Major H E N Bredin. It was one of a series of shots of 2nd RUR published in several June, 1940 issues of LIFE magazine. LIFE also published a personal account by a Cpl Wandsworth of the battalion. DUNKIRK 1940 | Imperial War Museums
     
  11. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Andy, I was looking for a photograph of Lt. A.F Ruxton, he is mentioned in the 2 RUR's war diary during May 1940. After Dunkirk he transferred to the Commandos and was killed on Sicily.
    Guy
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sorry, Can't help there, 1940 docs I have more than I can shake a stick at but pics I am lacking :)
     
  13. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Major Bredin, by the way, was one hell of a soldier and had a very distinguished career. He had already won an MC in Palestine and served with Wingate's Special Night Squads. He later led a battalion in the 38th (Irish) brigade in Italy, and after 1945 he went on to fight in Palestine (again), Cyprus, and Borneo. Maj-Gen 'Bala' Bredin - Telegraph

    Lt Col A E C "Speedy" Bredin led the 1st Dorsets of 50th Division in 1944, and I suspect that he was a relative.
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Couldn't help but look - He was a 2/Lieut in May 1940 and was the Battalions Gas Officer and worked in D Company.

    2/Lieut Carberry was in B Coy.

    2/Lieut Sturgeon was A/Carrier Officer, C Coy

    Interesting one - Lieut St. M Shiel was Int Officer with HQ Coy but is listed on leave on the 11th May so without reading all of the diary of May he either did very well to get back or his has been incorrectly identified.

    Lieut Garratt was Works Officer D Coy

    Lieut Bredin MC was A Coy
     
  15. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Drew, a lot of officers of 50th Division were on leave on 10 May, including one or two COs. Many of them did get back in time to join their units, so I assume it would be the same in 3rd Division.
     
  16. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Here is the caption I saw that named Knox: Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory - Julian Thompson - Google Books

    Note that Thompson's caption isn't quite the same as the one given earlier here, positioning the men somewhat differently. Bredin's helmet is in the bottom of the picture. St. Maur Shiel was attached from the L Ir R.
     
  17. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Interesting shot. The man on the left in the beret might be Lt Col Robin Hastings, CO 6th Green Howards until he was wounded around mid-June. Hastings did not think highly of Knox.

    I believe the photograph dates from August 1944, was Hastings replaced after being wounded?
     
  18. bugleboy2323

    bugleboy2323 Senior Member

  19. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Does anyone have a complete collection of the images Bredin took at Dunkirk and did Bredin write a book about his experiences in France during 1940?

    I've been reading some of his interview archives held at the Imperial War Museum and hoping it was turned into a more substantial book.
     
  20. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Drew5233 likes this.

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