62578 Colonel Archibald Charles William NOEL, MC, 1 Welsh Guards: POW

Personal Number: 62578
Rank: Colonel
Name: Archibald Charles NOEL, MC
Unit: 1 Welsh Guards


Date of Birth: 5 January 1914
Place of Birth: London

Date of Capture: 29 May 1940
Place of Capture: Near Bergues

POW Number: 631
POW Camps: Oflag VI C/H, Oflag VI B, Oflag VII B, Oflag VIII F, Oflag 79


London Gazette : 2 February 1934
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34020/page/754/data.pdf
The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be 2nd Lts. 1st Feb. 1934:—
FOOT GUARDS.
W. G'ds.—
Archibald Charles William NOEL

London Gazette : 3 February 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35442/supplement/546/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
The undermentioned Lts to be Capts —
1st Feb 1942 —
W. G'ds
A C W Noel (62578)

London Gazette : 29 November 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37368/supplement/5789/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
The Military Cross.
Captain (temporary) Archibald Charles William NOEL (62578), Welsh Guards (Dundee).

London Gazette : 31 January 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37867/supplement/546/data.pdf
W. Gds.
The undermentioned Capts. to be Majs., 1st Feb, 1947:—
A. C. W. NOEL, M.C. (62578).

London Gazette : 9 March 1954
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40119/supplement/1449/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
W.G.
Maj. A. C. W. NOEL, M.C. (62578) to be Lt.-Col., 26th Jan. 1953.

London Gazette : 27 January 1956
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40694/supplement/555/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
W.G.
REGULAR ARMY.
Lt.-Col. A. C. W. NOEL, M.C. (62578), on completion of period of service in command remains on full pay (superny.), 26th Jan. 1956.

London Gazette : 24 May 1966
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43990/supplement/6112/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY
Col. A. C. W. NOEL, M.C. (62578), late Ft. Gds., retires on retired pay, 21st May 1966.

 

Recommendation for Award for Noel, Archibald Charles William Rank: Captain ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/57/702 [WO373/57-ir367]
Name Noel, Archibald Charles William
Rank: Captain
Service No: P/62578
Regiment: Training Battalion Welsh Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Repatriated PoWs
Award: Military Cross
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 29 November 1945


P/62578 Captain Archibald Charles William NOEL, Training Battalion, WELSH GUARDS

Captain NOEL was Adjutant 1st Batt. WELSH GUARDS during the operations in FRANCE and BELGIUM 17 May - 29 May 1940.

From 17 - 23 May the Batt. was heavily engaged as part of the Garrison of ARRAS. Many units were placed under command of the Batt. which entailed much extra duty for Captain NOEL as a staff officer, which he performed in an exemplary manner, often under trying conditions & heavy fire.

On 29 May the Batt. was heavily attacked by German tanks and Infantry at VFY WEG. After a prolonged engagement in which the enemy infiltrated and in some cases encircled our positions, and withdrawal was ordered in circumstances of great difficulty. Captain NOEL was in command of the rear party of Batt. H.Q. With the enemy in close proximity and under heavy fire, he organised the withdrawal. He remained to the last with a small party and withdrew with the enemy in close pursuit. Forced to take cover during a dive-bombing attack, in which the R.S.M. and others were wounded, his party was overrun and made prisoner.

Undoubtedly Captain NOEL's cool conduct and willingness to sacrifice himself enabled many others to effect their withdrawal to safety.

MC

Very strongly recommended. Not forwarded before as the Commanding Officer at the time, Brigadier COPELAND-GRIFFITHS, had to wait till the release of prisoners-of-war so as to verify certain of the facts.

Signed Date 4 Aug 45 V. COPELAND-GRIFFITHS formerly Commanding 1st Batt. WELSH GUARDS, 26 Jan 1938 to 14 July 1940

 

Name: Archibald Charles [W] Noel . Date of Birth: 5/7/1914 or 5/1/1915 . Place of... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/273/123
Name: Archibald Charles [W] Noel.
Date of Birth: 5/7/1914 or 5/1/1915.
Place of Birth: London.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Captain.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: The Welsh Guards.
Service Number: P 162578 [62578].
Date of Capture: 29/05/1940.
Theatre of Capture: Westcappel.
Camp Name/Number: Oflag VIIC Laufen.
PoW number: 631.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 2.

 

View Record NOEL Archibald-Charles 5 Jan 1914 2 Feb 1934 29 May 1940 Near Bergues
via Ancestry

PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

1. No. 62578
RANK - Capt.
SURNAME - NOEL
CHRISTIAN NAMES - Archibald Charles
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - 1st Bn. Welsh Guards

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - Unallotted

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 5th Jan. 1914

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 2 Feb. 1934

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - Regular Soldier

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - PITKERRO HOUSE, By DUNDEE - ANGUS

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - 29 May 1940 near BERGUES

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
Oflag VI C/H LAUFEN BAVARIA June '40 - Oct. 41
Oflag VI B WARBURG WESTPHALIA Oct. 41 - Sept. 42
Oflag VII B EICHSTATT BAVARIA Sept. 42 - Jan. 44
Oflag VIII F MAHRISCH TRUBAU, SIILESIA Jan. 44 - Apr. 44
Oflag 79 BRUNSWICK Apr. 44 - Apr. 45


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
-

12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
Continued stomach trouble / Bad food etc / Intermittently continual throughout my captivity
12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
From the British yes, but Germans refused Xray, diet & so forth.



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No.
RANK - Capt.
SURNAME - NOEL
CHRISTIAN NAMES - Archibald Charles


2. LECTURES before Capture:
( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
NO
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom.
NO

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
NO

4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did you make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)
Continually involved in escaping plans - travelling etc etc, none of which were in the least successful, was fit on the only successful occasion when my ? section - Capt. A.H.S. COMMBE TENNANT escaped & got home from OFLAG VIA at WARBURG.


5. SABOTAGE
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc, when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)
NO

6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
-

7. WAR CRIMES
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of "Form Q" on which to make your statement.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coning under this title.)



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?



SECURITY UNDERTAKING
I fully realise that all information relating the matters covered by the questions in Part II. are of a highly secret and official nature.

I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.

Date 24 Apr. '45
Signature AC Noel, Capt.