Vacquerie le bouck 1940 unknown soldier

Discussion in '1940' started by chaz, Jun 8, 2018.

  1. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Checked the CWGC concentration reports ,unfortunately the CWGC in their wisdom have only placed `one` report online which only covers `some` of the casualties , and these appear to have been `moved` from another area of the same cemetery ? Interestingly enough they have `two unknowns` listed on this document?
    [​IMG]
    Perkins /Laband and Weston were confirmed dead in a list published in 1943, Christie in 1942 ,although in Christies case there is a `presumed to have died of his wounds` note of `on or since` 18th May 1940.

    Kyle
     
  2. chaz

    chaz Active Member

    just getting back as returning next week. I see from the above posting Christie is named twice but there are 7 missing. they say row 6 but there are only two rows, must mean plots in cemetery.
    I see on the report for plot 6 Smith and Yewdall are noted as vacant. and Perkins is among the row 5 plot which appear on the missing 7 return on CWGC site
     
  3. amberden

    amberden Junior Member

    My dad was a member of M Troop of 8 Btty 2nd SL Regt and was captured on 20th May 1940 in the attack that resulted in the deaths of the men buried in Vacquerie le Boucqand another four who are buried in nearby Boffles Churchyard

    In the units diary it states that:

    M & N troops are missing and mentions there are. 2 Lieutenants and 142 ORs missing.

    I also have a copy of some private papers of a man who was actually riding on top of the cab of a lorry with my dad when the Germans attacked the column. The column left Auxi le Chateau at about 4 pm and was travelling along what is now the D941 road when one of the lorries was hit by an artillery round. The men all got out of the lorries and took cover in the roadside ditches and started to return fire but when another artillery round hit the column and 3 tanks appeared. T he officer, who was not their own troop officer, realised the situation was hopeless and ordered the men to surrender. The men were two troops of a searchlight battery who’s heaviest weapons were Bren guns whilst the Germans had tanks and armoured cars. Lieutenant Tuck, who was their officer, was killed in a separate incident as he turned his car to try to get back and warn the convoy.


    In all 2nd S/L Regt lost 43 men prior to evacuation from Dunkirk and these are exclusively from 6 & 8 Btty’s. and the details of the relevant men I have attached as pictures

    The man buried as unknown in Vacquerie le Boucq could be any of the men on the Dunkirk memorial who have no known grave. Since the attack that involved this unit happened on 20th May the most obvious candidates are Neale and Archer but with the confusion over dates it is probably only possible to eliminate Cresswell and Gregory as likely candidates.
    Table 1.png Table 2.png
     

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