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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: miskimmin on Tuesday 03 November 09 18:23 GMT (UK)
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Good Evening all.
I am looking for anybody with connections with the last stand of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers' last stand on the Ypres-Comines canal over the last few days in May 1940.
I have had the privilage of talking to two of the platoon commanders who were there in those dark days and read the diaries of several other officers.
BUT
I would love to hear from the ordinary ranks, whom, like my Grandfather fought to the last to ensure the BEF escaped at Dunkirk.
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“The Scots Fusiliers were on the right of the sector and held the railway embankments south of Verbrandenmolen. On the evening of May 27 orders were received that the position must be held at all costs for the next 24 hours, to enable the rest of the B.E.F. to get away. The message was passed to the Battalion and I received a heartening reply from Tod—that the Scots Fusiliers would do all that was required of them. [The Public Relations Department of the War Office gives Colonel Tod’s reply in the more dramatic form: ‘Tell Brigade I’m not going a foot back.’] I again went up to see Tod during the night, leaving him about 3 a.m. on May 28.
“When I saw him he was with the Battalion H.Q. in a farm, and had with him Morrison, Arkwright, Knight and, I think, Thomson [Major P. D. Morrison, Major A. S. B. Arkwright, Lieutenant P. A. Knight, who was the Signal Officer, and Lieutenant I. S. Thomson]. We discussed that night what might be done with patrols.... He obtained contact with the units on his flanks and seemed quite cheerful about the situation. Very heavy enemy shelling began about 4 a.m. and at 6 a.m. heavy infantry attacks developed. The situation for the rest of the morning was very obscure and it was almost impossible to get information even by runners and liaison officers....Very few stragglers got back and I am sure that what happened was that they fought it out to the bitter end.”
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It's worked!
I've just had a fantastic conversation with the son of one of the Company commanders present during the fighting.
He is going to send me some photo's and some diary extracts!
marvellous!
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I don't think that my grandad was at the last stand, but he was in 2 RSF; wounded and captured at Anzio in 1944 in what was described according to Kemp's History: “It was a heart-breaking finish to Anzio and, for us, of the Italian Campaign.”
Good luck with your research.
stuartroxy
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Hi Stuart,
thanks. The research is going pretty well now.
Would your grandad be John Roxburgh? I have an entry in one of my books. Regimental number 3131585 and it show him to have transfered to the 10th Camaronians on the 6/6/1940.
But he could of transfered back at a latter date.
all the best
Iain
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Iain,
John is not my grandad - although it is interesting to know that there is another Roxburgh moving around the Scottish regiments!
Mine is Thomas McQuaters Roxburgh; Service number 2926293. He was with 1 Camerons in April 1939 but was captured with 2 RSF in 1944.
I'd be most interested if you have anything on him!
stuartroxy
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Hi there I wonder if there is any record of 3126621 FSR. J.B. CALKIN being present here at this time. He was a Bandsman, so might have been employed as a stretcher carrier??
Good Luck with your research.
I have some information on Capt J.N.E Vaughan which will be of interest
Richard
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Hi
I'd just like to say a big thanks to those in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and all those others that without their actions and sacrifices, often their life, my Great Uncle who was in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters wouldn't of managed to escape at Dunkirk and get back to England. And I'm sure my Great Uncle George Sheldon would of said the same if he was still with us. Without them he wouldn't of been able to carry on the fight in both North Africa and later Italy and ultimately survive the war.
Mike Sheldon
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thanks Mike.
I'm in contact with two survivors of the action along the canal and will pass on you words.
I'm still looking anybody with connections to the RSF during the war, that could help me piece together this jig saw.
all the best
Iain
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hello iain
only just found this post and like mike , i too would like to say thanks to those brave boys for there efforts my dad was in the essex reg back then and made it home safely .
trevor
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http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Buckinghamshire/Wendover.html
interesting
sylvia
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Hi,
My Grandfather Frank Robert ALLEN served in the RSF no.3130522, B coy 12 Platoon 2RSF, as I understand it he was captured whilst defending the withdrawal of troops from Dunkirk. I have limited details of what occurred but he was a POW (no. 12216) in Poland at stalag Thorn Podgorz. Do you have any photos or information on his platoon.
I have a certificate that he was given by the Red Cross Society and the order of St John of Jerusalem, this is signed by King and Queen. I believe he received this for his service to humanity as a prisoner but do not know how or why he received it.
Thanks,
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Oops
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ngj1977,
You can get details of your grandfather's interment here:
http://www.icrc.org/web/forms/webforms.nsf/F_Archive?OpenForm&ParentUNID=FC2FA71E2991A657C12572E200322DD7
stuartroxy
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Many thanks, I completed an IRCC form about 12 months ago and am still awaiting a reply. I chased them up the other day!!
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ngj1977,
Your grandfather's capture was apparently noted in The Times on 30 Oct 1940.
stuartroxy
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Thanks again will look it up.
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Stuart I have the following:-
2926293 Cpl T.McQuaters ROXBURG R.S.F. D.O.B. 3/10/1908 - Enlisted 17/8/1927
Trade - Electrician. Lived at 7 Dean Street Edinburgh 4.
Captured Anzio 29/5/1944 with Leg Wound. P.O.W. from Capture until Jul 1944 at St VB Hospital at Villingen.
St 7A Moosburg July 1944 to August 1944.-- St 7A Augsburg Aug 1944 to April 1945.
Obviously St 7A relocated in August 1944.
Hope this helps
Brian
Iain,
John is not my grandad - although it is interesting to know that there is another Roxburgh moving around the Scottish regiments!
Mine is Thomas McQuaters Roxburgh; Service number 2926293. He was with 1 Camerons in April 1939 but was captured with 2 RSF in 1944.
I'd be most interested if you have anything on him!
stuartroxy
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Brian,
Thanks! That's him. I got his Army records through the post last week.
stuartroxy