There are 20 1940 CWGC graves in the Communal Cemetery, half of whom are Royal Sussex, mainly 4th Bn, from the period 27-29 May. There are also two 57 (East Surrey) A/Tk Regt dead from 29 May. Hyperwar's War in France and Flanders mentions it: The 44th Division was on the flank immediately south of Hazebrouck. At the beginning of the day (27th() they held Morbecque and behind it a line running south-east to La Motte, south-west along the Nieppe Canal and again south-east on the road through the Forest of Nieppe towards St Venant. There was heavy fighting, and though Morbecque was lost, the enemy's attacks made no headway against this zigzag line.[12] But armoured columns pushed through the gap between Cassel and Hazebrouck and attacked our positions on a road (not shown on the situation map) which runs south-east from Eecke through Caestre, Strazeele, Vieux Berquin, and so to Estaires on the Lys. They attacked Eecke but were held off. They attacked Caestre and were driven back by the 4th Royal Sussex, who knocked out six tanks and captured their crews. They attacked the 5th Royal Sussex who were holding Strazeele and the road towards Estaires, and again were unsuccessful.[13] And in the afternoon they withdrew after an expensive and unprofitable day. Well I never, the CO of 4 R SUSSEX was Bolo Whistler and there's a bit about the battle in his biography - if anyone's interested...
there's a bit about the battle in his biography - if anyone's interested... of course, quote away, please.
of course, quote away, please. Hmm - looks like it's a job for the camera. Will charge the batteries and have a go tomorrow. It might be trumped by Paul's diaries as they are a referenced source in the bio. Just don't post any more photos as I'm easily distracted!
Paul - thanks for those. Here, as promised, is my contribution from Bolo Whistler by Sir John Smyth VC. It doesn't add a great deal to the War Diary, though.
100% same building in my view, The original photo has a wall extending from the side of the building. the modern one clearly shows where a wal had been below the more decrotive brickwork
So going by this map, I'd say those Germans were form 8 Panzer Division ? http://ibiblio.net/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/maps/UK-NWE-Flanders-6.jpg
The regiments war diary has them at Dunkirk on the 29th May. The were on the Mole in the early hours and boarded the dutch boat SS Horst. Her engines failed and she was towed to Margate by a British Trawler.
001 BALDOCK AJ 6402241 4TH BN 27/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 002 BOORER JA 6400572 4TH BN 28/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 003 BRUCE E 6402746 4TH BN 28/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 004 CHRISTIE J 3052836 6TH BN 24/05/1940 KING'S OWN ROYAL REGIMENT (LANCASTER) 005 COOPER H 5770045 2ND BN 24/05/1940 ROYAL NORFOLK REGIMENT 006 GLOVER LF 6402206 4TH BN 28/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 007 GRIEVE TB 4270785 9TH BN 25/05/1940 ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS 008 HANCE CG 6344947 1ST BN 22/05/1940 - - 28/05/1940 QUEEN'S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT 009 HEAVENS JA 2584011 III CORPS OF SIGS 28/05/1940 ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS 010 HINCKS JH 79908 5TH CINQUE PORTS BN 27/05/1940 - - 29/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 011 HOUSE AB 5501308 5TH CINQUE PORTS BN 29/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 012 HUXLEY A 884070 226 BTY, 57 1/5TH BN THE EAST SURREY REGT ANTI TANK REGT 29/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY 013 LICHEN R 1439190 2 LT AA BTY, 2 AA REGT 28/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY 014 LIGHT RGA 6401866 4TH BN 28/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 015 PAGE F 6399564 4TH BN 27/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 016 PARNHAM T 4801660 4TH BN 28/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 017 PEACEY E 4457317 9TH BN 26/05/1940 DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY 018 TAYLOR HE 892706 139 FIELD REGT 31/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY 019 THOMPSON JH 6396723 - 10/05/1940 ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT 020 WATSON JH 847008 226 BTY, 57 1/5TH BN THE EAST SURREY REGT ANTI TANK REGT 29/05/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY
Thank you, I am trying to find out more info about a relative that served in the 4th Royal Sussex in 1940.