Does anyone know which divisions would have gone through Renaix / Ronse in May 1940? It would have been a main route from Brussels to Oudenaarde and the river Schelde/Escaut. I presume at least the 44th and 4th divisions. Theres an unidentified British Lance Corporal buried in the communal cemetery, I would like to narrow down which unit he may have been in. Thanks
67th Field Regt RA TA in the BEF 1st Infantry Division Artillery This includes the 67th and 2nd Field Regt routes Dyle to Les Moeres on #17 Post Taken from 2 FR War Diaries and 67th FR Centenary Book. They fought in holding actions at Zobbroek near Brussels and Esquelmes north of Tournai. 5th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia "There's an unidentified British Lance Corporal buried in the communal cemetery, I would like to narrow down which unit he may have been in". Which Cemetery do you refer to?
FYI: please find hereunder the transcript of the exhumation report, translated from French, of the unknown Lance Corporal KIA in Renaix Adam was referring to: Died in Renaix between 10th-20th May 1940 (Heynsdaele). L/Corporal Buried next to the Berchem road, in front of the wood of the sanatorium (facing the Zandstraat). Exhumed on September 7th 1940 and reburied in the communal cemetery, alongside other British soldiers (grave N°4) Identification of September 7th 1940 and May 28th 1943. According to (available) information, he (the unknown L/Cpl) had been buried by the English ; his identity papers were taken by an officer. Buried in a dark brown blanket. Blonde hair. Length: approx. 1m75 (5' 8,9") Upper dentition: false teeth with a pink plaque, of which the the right incisor tooth is half-broken. Lower dentition: four incisor teeth in front ; canine and first premolar left ; canine, two premolar and first molar right. Clothing: pants and kaki vest bearing the corporal bar ; kaki shirt ; heavy tricot brow pullover without sleeves ; undershirt without sleeves with markings ‘A.F. Interlock Super Gem. made in England’ ; short with large elastics branded ‘Rameses Interlock’ in a triangle ; heavy army boots. Round wrist watch with yellow celluloid crystal and blue hands, with markings ‘Made in Canada. West clock Pocked Ben.’ ; ordinary clock chain. Hair comb in brown celluloid Oval-shaped wallet with closure in the pocket of the pants, containing Belgian currency: 3 x 20 francs, 2 x 5 francs, 3 x 1 franc, 2 x 25 centimes, 5 x 10 centimes and 1 x French 50 centimes The source of this transcript is a book published in 1975 by the Historical and Archeological Circle of Renaix. KR, Christian
Thank you very much both of you. So the man could have been from 4th, 5th or 44th divisions at least. Although probably more?
If one takes into account the location of the field grave, i.e. on the road from Renaix leading to Berchem/Kerhove it would be a safe bet to assume our man belonged to one of the units that deployed on the Schelde (Escault in French) to defend the river banks. I would surmise perhaps 2/Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantery, 1/6 East Surreys or 2/Beds and Herts? Units that retreated towards Tournai and those around Leupegem and Petegem can logically be excluded. I think our unknown Lance Corporal probably fell victim to strafing Stukas, which were very active in the neighbourhood of Renaix at the time. He was probably caught by surprise before he could take cover. If he had been involved in rearguard combat, it would most likely have been reported in a War Diary (none were reported there) and his mates wouldn't have had the time to provide him with a proper burial. Also, given the overall description of the corps in the exhumation report, I doubt our man was victim of artillery shelling. Of course, for the time being, this is all pure conjecture on my part based on the information at hand.
So far the limited research I have done suggests the following divisions went through Ronse; 4th, 3rd, 1st. Possibly 44th and possibly 42nd, but still looking for some evidence.
