War Diaries - 8th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, 1939-41 (WO 166/4576 & WO 167/802)

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Richard Lewis, May 24, 2012.

  1. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Sep 39 -Mar 40
    This TA Battalion was formed in Spring 1939 as the Motor Cycle Reconnaissance Battalion of the 23rd (Northumbrian) Infantry Division.
    Sep 39. Location PRUDHOE, near Newcastle.
    List of officers (App I to Sept 39): By June 1944 only 2/Lts N Gill and K T Beck are still with the battalion (by then 3 Recce) and are Majors. Maj Gill was badly wounded on the beach on D Day and Maj Beck left the Regiment on 7 Jul 44, continuing to serve in the TA until 1961.
    23 Mar 40. “Warning order to move overseas received from Div.”
    The Division’s primary role was to be the construction of airfields; four days a week was planned for this, two days for training and one day’s rest. As their role was not a fighting one, they proceeded with a reduced scale of weapons, equipment and transport.
    (For further reading, The History of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the Second World War by Brig C N Barclay is recommended. It is readily available from various sources.)

    View attachment 8 RNF 1939 09.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1939 10.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1939 11.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1939 12.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 01.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 02.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 03.pdf
     
    RosyRedd likes this.
  2. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Apr - May 40

    23 Apr 40. SOUTHAMPTON: Bn embark with 9 RNF on SS Fenella arriving at CHERBOURG next morning. (Strength of Bn was 21 Officers & 559 ORs).
    24-25 Apr 40. By train in horse trucks with 9 RNF to LA HUTTE (14kms S of Alençon). Then marched to COULOMBIERS area where they stayed for 3 days.
    28-29 Apr 40. By train to DIÉVAL, near Bethune, for work on the airfield.
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 04.pdf

    17 May 40. Move to CROISILLES and CHÉRISY areavia HOUDIN; ECURIE; ROCLINCOURT; ST LAURENT- BLANGY; TILLOY-LES-MOUFFLAINES.
    19 May 40. 0200. Ordered to move 8 kms N to 23 Div HQ at MONCHY-LE-PREUX. Enemy tank observed. At 1500 ordered to move to THÉLUS airfield.
    20 May 40. To ARRAS and took up defensive positions.
    21 May 40. Intermittent enemy air attacks.
    23 May 40. Orders received that ARRAS would be held at all costs.
    24 May 40. Order received from “Petreforce” to evacuate ARRAS immediately abandoning almost all transport and proceed to DOUAI, 25 kms to E. Bn moved in 6 groups, some of which came into contact with the enemy resulting to the capture of 5 officers (including the CO, Lt Col F B Clark) and about 120 ORs.
    25-26 May 40. Battalion concentrated at WATTIGNIES.
    Then move N via BEAUCAMPS-LIGNY; FROMELLES; SAILLY; STEENWERCK.
    27 May 40. BAILLEUL; ST JANS CAPPEL; BERTHEN; WESTOUTER; RENINGELST (here a refuse wagon carrying 60 men had to be abandoned due to narrow roads); woods E of POPERINGE for night (2 RNF & 4 RNF in same woods).
    28 May 40. STAVELE.
    29 May 40. ROESBRUGGE-HARINGE; KILLEM-LINDE. At this last location all transport destroyed. HONDSCHOOTE; BRAY DUNES.
    30 May 40. 10 & 11 Pls (HQ Coy) and ‘C’ Coy embark.
    31 May 40. Remainder of Bn (CO, 2 Officers & 242 ORs) marched to DUNKIRK and embark from Mole. The majority of the Bn sailed at 1430, the remainder at 1700.
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 05.pdf


    P.S. I have attached a couple of maps on which I have attempted to make sense of the Bn's movements during this confused period.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    WO 361/49. British Expeditionary Force, France: The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers; missing men.
    This is what the file has for 8 RNF. It is 9 months after and their fate is still not known. Must have been difficult for their families, but not an unusual occurrence during war.

    Five men listed:
    Fus Stanley Lawrence CLARK
    Died 21 May 40 aged 21.
    Buried in Bus House Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium.
    Fus Alfred John DELLOW
    Died between 30 May and 2 Jun 40, aged 20.
    Commemorated on Dunkirk Memorial, France.
    Fus Thomas Henry EDGAR
    Listed as PoW in Stalag XIB, Fallingbostal.
    Fus Abraham HENDRICK
    Listed as PoW in Stalag XIB, Fallingbostal.
    Fus Edward POMPHRETT
    Died 24 May 40 Aged 20.
    Buried in Calonne-sur-la-Lys Communal Cemetery, France.
    Fus Leonard John SHORT
    Died 24 May 40 aged 21.
    Commemorated on Dunkirk Memorial, France.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 27, 2018
  4. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Jun 40 - Apr 41 Jun 40. Bn assemble at LAUNCESTON and leave commences.
    Move to OKEHAMPTON.
    Jul 40. FALMOUTH.
    Aug 40. PRAH area. Motor cycle combinations arrive. Training, preparing defences. Air raids.
    Sep 40. Message code CROMWELL received [Invasion imminent].
    Oct - Nov 40. Move to Seaton Barracks, PLYMOUTH for 10 days, then to CHEWTON MENDIP and SHEPTON MALLET, Somerset. 8 RNF to be Recce Bn for 3 Div. Training continues.
    Dec 40. 6 Beaverettes delivered. Training.
    Jan - Nov 41. STURMINSTER NEWTON. Training and exercises.
    From 30 Apr 41 the Battalion is designated 3rd Bn Reconnaissance Corps (NF).

    For 3 Recce War Diaries see http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/32429-3rd-reconnaissance-regt-nf-war-diaries.html

    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 06.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 07.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 08.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 09.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 10.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 11.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1940 12.pdf
     
  5. Skoyen89

    Skoyen89 Senior Member

    Apart from Dare Wilson's book does anyone know of accounts, recollections, photos etc of their time in Cornwall in 1940-1 I could reference?
     
  6. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    History of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in The Second World War by Brig. C. N. Barclay has a couple of pages about their time in the West Country, but it doesn’t add much to the War Diaries above.

    Richard

    ps After the forum changeover most of the attachments were mixed up or went missing so here are the diaries for Jan - Apr 1941. Couldn't fit them back in the original post as the new limit for attachments was reached.

    Jan - Nov 41. STURMINSTER NEWTON. Training and exercises.
    From 30 Apr 41 the Battalion is designated 3rd Bn Reconnaissance Corps (NF).

    For 3 Recce War Diaries see 3rd Reconnaissance Regt (NF) War Diaries

    View attachment 8 RNF 1941 01.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1941 02.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1941 03.pdf
    View attachment 8 RNF 1941 04.pdf
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2016
  7. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    I have now transcribed these diaries including those of the Battalion when they became 3 Recce Regt. See post #37 here.

    Richard.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2016

Share This Page