saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

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13-07-2012, 11:56
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

ok i am now live again.
i have quoted the following from teecee because it illustrates nicely one of the major points of confusion :-

''Before sentiment takes over, I have an extract from the diary of Major Townsend of the events of the 27th;- ''A verbal message came up that Col Harrison of the RWF whose HQ was a little further along the bank towards the bridge, wanted (to speak with) Col Simpson. As the CO had recently been at the RWF HQ talking to Bde HQ by wireless and not knowing exactly where he was (space) I crawled back to see Col Harrison. He said the position was untenable and that he was taking what men he could to form a bridgehead. I was to bring back any men I could''

this account must refer to the bridge at St Floris, not St Venant, as we know that Col Harrison escaped over this bridge.
this i think has been a source of confusion for a long time and maybe we can now put the record straight. It seems clear that at 0600 on 27th both RWF and 2DLI Bn Hq's were to the east of the St Floris bridge, RWF Hq takes a direct hit and all communications were lost, By Whom?
it would appear from the quote that wireless communications between RWF Hq and Bde Hq were still possible.
Could the Hq in the cemetery have been a Company Hq and because it assumed that everyone at Bn Hq was out of action promoted itself to Bn Hq? i also seem to recall that 2DLI did not relocate to the Cemetery area until after the loss of the bridge.
The defense of the St Floris bridge was the vital element in this battle.it's loss allowed the Germans a crossing point much further east than those at Robecq. So i think it reasonable to assume that all relevant staff would be within the area.

I am actually beginning to think that the Germans would have considered the St Floris bridge as much more important than the St Venant bridge. this was a purpose built construction with known limits. whereas the St Venant bridge was probably quite old and whilst suitable for local needs may not have been able to withstand the stresses of heavy traffic.

ivor
13-07-2012, 13:09
jungle1810

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello All,
Info from the movements on the 24th May. As the day wore on parties of French infantry began to arrive nd it was confirmed they were to take over the BACHY position whilst the battalion (RWF) moved back to a rest area near LA BASSEE as G.H.Q Reserve Once again Major Owen set off to recce the new position they arrived at LA BASSEE just after it's second heavy air raid of the day. After some delay he reached DIV H.Q. to learn that the Battalion (RWF) were to with draw to the village of VIELLE CHAPELLE with the idea of holding up the enemy on the line of the LA BASSEE canal.
There were no maps available of the roads back to VIELLE CHAPELLE and the thick mist which came down with the coming of darkness made the task of lorry drivers more even more difficult . The battalion (RWF) was due to start it's move at 2300 hours but it was not until 05-00hrs on the 24th that the lorries at last appeared . A wide detour was made around LILLE which was being heavily attacked from the air and as the sun rose and dispersed the mist the column was bombed as it was passing through the village of ANOELIN but the whole convoy reached VIELLE CHAPELLE in safety. the companies were quickly dispersed to billets and all ranks settled down to rest

But once again it was not to be for long. Events now were moving rapidly and it was from the west that the new attacks were coming , BOULGNE had fallen and CALAIS attacked by two German Divisions, was in the last throes of of it's heroic defence. The new threat to the B.E.F. was mounted from the the direction of the Channel ports. and a swift thrust from the west had taken the enemy across the LA BASSEE canal in the vicinity of CALONNE sur LYS. It was the to be task of 6th infantry Brigade to recapture the four bridges over the canal near ROBECQ and hold them until the R.E could blow them. In the absence of any maps of the district the advance was a difficult one even more so by by the lack of any precise knowledge of the extent of the enemy 's advance. Riding in T.C.V's the Battalion proceeded via LA FOSSE and MERVILLE
to CALONNE where the T.C,V's left them. From CALONNE the companies were to march forward to ST FLORIS thee to divide with "C" coy objective as ST VENANT and the right hand bridge "B" coy ROBEQ and the two centre bridges and "D" coy to the left of "B" and the left hand bridge "A" Coy was to be held in reserve at ST FLORIS The carrier platoon under 2nd Lt J Garnett led the way to ST FLORIS with "C" Coy following on foot messages soon coming back to say the village was in the hands lof the enemy
Regard RBD
13-07-2012, 13:13
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Some info on two of your points, Ivor.

As for the extent of the St Venant commune, if you look at St Venant on Google Maps you will see the exact area nicely coloured pink.

From the Townsend diary it is clear that at least the remnants of D Coy 2 DLI were near the bridge, under cmd of CSM Metcalfe (who received the MC for his efforts). The remnants of B Coy 2 DLI may have ended up in the Bas-Hamel to the Haverskerque foot bridge area, cut off from the main body. No definite info there.

I think that 'No.6' can be discounted. We must look for Tony's uncle near the bridge.

John
13-07-2012, 15:27
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Additional info: according to the DLI WD, Bde HQ was situated at Le Touquet, just north of Haverskerque, off the main road. See my 1917 map.

John
13-07-2012, 16:20
Verrieres

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/r.../other/map.jpgIvor,This is a re-working of The Tom Rodgers Memorial Plaque.Perhaps it will help?
Best Wishes
Jim
13-07-2012, 20:56
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

I have now seen the relevant pages of Capt Townsend's diary. He describes how, in the early morning of the 27th, RSM Goddard is evacuating Bn HQ vehicles across the bridge. The RWF pulls back closer to the bridge. DLI HQ receives a direct hit. Then three German armoured cars approach along the tow-path. The sole remaining 2-pdr is out of action. While groups of men remain on the south bank, unable to move under the heavy enemy fire, Townsend and some others manage to escape across the bridge. They are followed by a German tank which turns into the head of the Haverskerque road where it is then disabled by an 18-pdr.

We must look for Tony's uncle near the St Venant bridge.

John.
13-07-2012, 22:13
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 Hi all.
A lot more info, but a lot more confusion.
All this hinges on 2 bridges, the St Venant town bridge and a temporary bridge at St Floris
This has been causing confusion since 1940 so can we possibly now solve this problem ?
We know that the maps of France had been withdrawn. So the commanders in the field, in such a fluid situation, possibly were, at times, not exactly sure where the troops were.
St Venant was the larger community in this particular area so I would assume that it was used as a ‘cover all’ for the area. St Floris is not really mentioned. But in this eastern phase of this operation this was a much more critical position than St Venant.
The bridge at St Venant was a town bridge which may have been suitable for local traffic, but may not have been suitable for sustained heavy traffic. I do not believe this bridge was ever a serious target for the assaulting forces
However the bridge at St Floris, was referred to a ‘temporary bridge’. we know that 3Panzer had bridging units with it, and that bridge building equipment was capture at St Floris. And we know that after the battle in this area there was major armoured movement over it. So I have no hesitation in believing that this bridge was put in place by the bridge engineers of 3 Panzer. It was purpose built with known limits etc and considerably further east than the Robecq bridges that actually faced west/south.
This, I am sure, would have been the main thrust of the German assault not St Venant.
The St Floris Bridge is in open country. The St Venant Bridge is in the middle of a town. The St Floris Bridge is purpose built, the St Venant Bridge is an unknown quantity. To me. No contest.
The operation in the west after securing the bridges at Robecq would probably, to the Germans at least, be more of a ‘mopping up’ exercise. They had secured their objectives.
OK. let us go back to the eastern action. we have evidence from the diary of Major Townsend, that at least the remnant of D Co. 2DLI were here, and from RWF diary that A Co RWF had been positioned on the left of 2DLI these units formed a defensive line from a point at least 500yds to the east of the St Floris bridge. Presumably on a south to west arc. With RWF nearest to the bridge.
Now on the Map (Page 27 of the Red Dragon) submitted by jungle. It shows a Brigade HQ on the edge of Calonne near the junction of the Robecq Rd. I would assume that this would be within the defensive line. I have already written on this in my last post.
However from jungle’s last post. which states D CO RWF was to take the East Bridge at Robecq, that B CO had the 2 middle bridges and C CO the western bridge on the St Venant Rd and that A Co RWF was being held as reserve at St Floris. But the map shows A & C Co’s as being held just west of St Venant this would have probably been 24^th/25^th May. So it would appear that A Co was withdrawn to St Floris. To the defensive line.
There is also evidence that 2 DLI had a HQ 500yds from the St Floris Bridge with a RWF Hq close by( which took a direct hit on 27^th), we know this, again from the Diary of Major Townsend.
It is my feeling that references to St Venant in some instances should be treated with a certain amount of caution.
Jim thanks for the Tom Rodgers info but I am not sure A Co RWF were actually at that location.

John. This action is at the St Floris Bridge. Major Townsend states that ‘’a verbal message came up that Col Harrison of the RWF whose HQ was a little further along the bank towards the bridge wanted to speak to Col Simpson. As………. I crawled back to see Col Harrison………………………………I was to bring back any men I could’’
WE KNOW COL HARRISON WAS AT THE St FLORIS BRIDGE.
13-07-2012, 22:28
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Ivor, if you are correct in stating that 'the bridge' was the temporary bridge at St Floris built by 3 Pz, does that imply that RSM Goddard was evacuating Bn HQ vehicles across a bridge in German hands?
Also, from the St Floris bridge, a tank could not immediately turn into the Haverskerque road, as Townsend describes. That would be a mile away, trough terrain criss-crossed with ditches. From the Rue de Motte Baudet, another 2500 yds.

I think the St Venant road bridge is meant.

John
13-07-2012, 22:41
teecee1941

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello again all, something that keeps gnawing away at me about Anthony's disappearance is this;- The CWGC has his date of death as 29th May 1940. This not negotiable. Even the Roll of Honour in the DLI Chapel in Durham Cathedral displays his name on this day. RSM Goddard was the last person of any significance to see him alive and, on the 25/09/41, wrote to the Red Cross to say that this had been on the 27th May 1940. There are no records of him being dead or alive after that date. Can anyone say why the CWGC say that he died on that day? All along, I have thought that although the Germans said that they were going to take him to hospital, they would have got rid of him as soon as RSM Goddard was marched off to a POW camp. But,just supposing, the stretcher bearers who RSM Goddard spoke to, were just ordinary soldiers doing their every-day work and had no connection with the SS. Just supposing they did take Anthony to hospital like they said they would. What if the SS came into the hospital a day or two later and shot him then?

Is it not possible that the DLI were told of Anthony's death by a witness and at a time of 'stocktaking' added his name to the list of the dead. RSM Goddard would be ignorant of Anthony's death as he was well on his way to the camp by then, where he spent the rest of the war.

There is no doubt that the CWGC were at some time informed by someone of Anthony's death. They did not just pull the date from a conjurors hat. Would it be possible to find out this information? Would the CWGC tell me if I asked them? I would really like to hear everyone's views on this.

If Anthony was indeed shot in hospital, this discounts soldier No 6 and possibly makes the task of finding out the truth almost an impossible task.

Thanks

Tony
13-07-2012, 22:44
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

john
the bridge at S Floris was taken by RWF on 23rd/24th when they took St Floris/ St Venant. you will recall that bridge building equipment was captured in St Floris. the German assault to the east of St Floris on 27th was to recapture this bridge.
it was held by 2 DLI and RWF until sometime on 27th the accounts regarding the escape of Col Harrison and now Major Townsend was over this bridge.i am not sure about the tank i will keep an open mind on that at the moment.
But if Major Townsend puts RSM Goddard directing traffic over a bridge on 27th it will be the St Floris Bridge of that i am certain.
13-07-2012, 23:11
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Tony, the CWGC use the date a man was found to be dead. I have an example of a man missing at Festubert 16/05/1915, with a short note in the file saying "buried by 2 Yorks 15/07/1915. The latter is his official date of death. Before that he was officially missing. Many more examples exist. Remember that in many cases it's guesswork, more than anything else. If you want to be absolutely certain, ask the CWGC how they came by the date. And as for the stretcher bearers, they too were SS men. An SS Regt such as the Germania Regt at St Venant had all supporting services, often more and better than the regular army.

Ivor, the RWF WD specifically mentions a withdrawal from St Floris to St Venant, HQ at the cemetery, and later states that 'the bridge at St Venant was blown. Troops of A and D Coys had to swim the canal."
The capture of St Floris on the 24th is described, but there is no mention of a bridge.

John
13-07-2012, 23:28
teecee1941

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Additional info;- I have copy of the letter that RSM Goddard wrote on the 25 September 1941 to the International Red Cross. He states.............he was taken prisoner of war together with me on the morning of 27th May 1940 at St Venant near Merville in France..............the German guards odered us to make him comfortable on the canal bank near the village..............at the time the situation in the area was quiet.

I also have most of the very letter that RSM Goddard wrote to my Grandfather, Anthony's father. It is undated but must have been written in 1945 at the end of the war;-

Dear Mr Corkhill,...........on the 27th May 1940 I was captured at St Venant and as I was being moved to the rear(?) I heard your son's voice calling me from the canal bank. I immediately went over to him.......he had a flesh wound to the neck and wounds to both legs.......................the fighting in the area had ceased and there was no apparent danger of him receiving further wounds.

Taken prisoner at St Venant......make him comfortable on the canal bank, near the village.

This making me think.
14-07-2012, 00:59
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 John.
There are a no of things in the diary that don’t match up with what is known. i think the Doc I linked from the RWF Museum could be a better source of info.
As soon as I can I will find the ref to the temporary bridge.
It is highly unlikely that Col Harrison escaped over the St Venant Bridge as that would not put him in the position where we believe he was killed.
The German’s could not have used the St Venant Bridge as that was blown and we have accounts of tanks crossing to the north bank on 27^th.
I believe that the name St Venant is used as a general term for the area and does not always refer to the town.
We have several reports that the Bn Hq suffered a direct hit on 27^th. It was wiped out so how could it have been withdrawn.
We know that RWF and 2DLI’s had Hq’s some 500yds (east?) from the bridge that the German’s then crossed.
We have reports of a group of 60 men heading for the forest to the north. Not Haveskirque.
And now we have evidence that RSM Goddard was seen by Major Townsend directing traffic across this bridge
John, why there would be no mention of this in the diary I have no idea. But there can be no doubt that this bridge existed and that a lot of men died trying to hold it. And I am absolutely certain that it was not St Venant.

Ivor
Oh, when I was a police officer if a had, had this much evidence on a case I would have been very happy to go to court.
14-07-2012, 10:56
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Quoting from the Museum website:

Apart from heavy shelling and the sight of numbers of German tanks and infantry moving across the front, 26 May was uneventful. The Durham Light Infantry took over Saint-Floris, allowing the Battalion to concentrate around Saint-Venant. Having sent the transport over the canal, Lieutenant Colonel Harrison sought permission to withdraw to the north bank, but this was refused, so the Battalion settled down to await the inevitable attack. This started at 8 a.m. on 27 May, and it was soon clear that no weapons were available that could stop the medium tanks of the 3rd Panzer Division. At 9 a.m. the Brigadier ordered the D.L.I. to fall back through the Royal Welch, but they were too closely engaged to extricate themselves. Colonel Harrison therefore ordered all his men who could get clear to double back over the canal bridge which was now under machine-gun fire from both sides. He followed them but was killed shortly after reaching the north bank. At this stage it was found that the engineers waiting to demolish the bridge were no longer there, so that the German tanks were able to cross on the heels of the survivors, killing some and taking others prisoner.

I read this as follows:
- DLI take over St Floris, RWF concentrate at St Venant
- DLI unable to fall back on St Venant
- RWF crosses canal - evidently at St Venant, unless they had gone back to St Floris
- bridge not blown

Assuming your agreement, Ivor, I have sent an email to the authors of the coming vol 5 of the RRRWF, LtGen Riley and LtCol Sinnett, asking for clarification. I hope that we'll be able to put this story to rest after that.

As for the DLI crossing, that may well have been at St Floris. Where is our resident DLI historian? Jim?

John
14-07-2012, 11:35
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

john.
i think at his point independent clarification is needed. as i said previously i believe this confusion of bridges has been going on for over 70 yrs. so maybe you were right we may rewrite history.
i look foreward to their conclusions.
whatever the outcome this has been absolutely fascinating.
but it is'nt finished yet .
14-07-2012, 11:59
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Fascinating indeed, Ivor! We may even be talking about two bridges, one for the RWF and one for the DLI. Anyway, I hope that with the aid of LtGen Riley and LtCol Sinnett we'll be able to put this to bed for once and for all. I'll keep you informed.

My French friend just now informed me that he is not getting anywhere. The town hall has no papers relevant to the search, the local historian says that he has given up, believing the task to be impossible. Bad news.

John
14-07-2012, 16:03
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 John.
Mon cher ami
At last, admission of a second bridge, thank you, we progress.
Believe me A Co RWF was also at this bridge.
Now I am going to ask you to take a leap of faith.
I fully understand why your friend has given up. But can you try and generate I bit more enthusiasm in him for another quest. or two.

First could he find out why the village to the north has a Rue Du Colonel Harrison.
I think that might be quit enlightening, as I do not think that this sort of thing would be done for no reason, so what did Col Harrison do to deserve this honour. this may not be that difficult.

Second. To see if he can find any evidence of the bridge at St Floris. If, as records show a large force crossed this bridge then I would imagine that they would first concentrate on the south side to prepare for the crossing and assault on Merville which we know they did. also if there was ever a Farm Boulet within that area.

This bridge is said to have been ‘later removed’. But when was it removed, it could have been there for quite a few years.
An instance of a ‘Bailey bridge ‘ being in place for a long time occurred just to the north of TYWYN.(West Wales ) where I now live when in UK. This bridge crossed the Dysynni river close to the railway bridge and connected the Ton Fanau camp with the Morfa camp at Tywyn. I have no doubt that some members of the forum will remember it. I do not know exactly when it as removed. But it is not that long ago.

As i have said before I suspect that Farm Boulet may have effectively ceased to exist around this time. We know the barn was destroyed in this action is it not likely that the house suffered damage also. We are of course fully aware of the Kind, Caring and Considerate nature towards life and property of these advancing S.S.Troops.

I hope your friend will consider this request favourably as I think he may get some useful info, hopefully with a lot less trouble.
I suspect chatting to a few of the older locals over a glass of Wine in a local bar might prove enlightening. Of course he may have to provide some of the wine. But I am sure if need be we can make a contribution.

ivor
14-07-2012, 16:48
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Ivor, my friend has not given up. He is looking for other approaches.

As for Ferme Boulet being near the bridge, I must disappoint you. The War Crimes report clearly states that it was on the Rue du Bas Hamel. We can disregards Ferme Boulet. RSM Goddard was nowhere near it, and neither was Anthony Corkhill.

I'll keep you informed of developments, mon cher ami!

John
14-07-2012, 18:30
Verrieres

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Sorry but whilst not ruling out St Floris as a crossing I remain unconvinced at this time that 2 DLI were there.There are a lot of discrepancies between the diaries of the different units but having read a lot of Regimental and Personal accounts none have mentioned the actions of the 27th May 1940 taking place at St Floris .
The 2 DLI diaries deal in the main with the actions of C and A Companies,Hq Company only get a mention in the later hours,I very much doubt that HQ Company existed as a Company in anything but words. D and B Companies as discovered by George Rodgers, fought under different Prefixes but in reality what did they number?
The Histories are based on eyewitness reports and the Diaries (Accurate or not).Unless there has become available a new source of information I fail to see what any new publication can reveal no matter who the distinguished gentlemen are who compile them. I remain unconvinced.

I am not a `DLI expert` far from it what Ive learnt comes from a lifelong family interest I offered to help Tony with what I could and I think I provided a lot of food for thought as well as a lot of factual evidence and documentation from the period. I could offer him no more that is why he has turned to yourselves,a fresh pair of eyes so to speak who have a lot of RWF knowledge.Hopefully you will get there in the end it would be tremendous if you could...but...and there always is one I have not seen any factual evidence to support it.We must be careful of rewriting History bare in mind the recent Tom Rodgers Plaque erected with the blessing of the Mayor and the various Regimental Associations,that plaque is the map I posted for reference...if the Crossing was at St Floris then unfortunately History has already been re-written as this `Historical` plaque is wrong/misleading.

I don`t think this one would get past the CPS.http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/ima...ons/icon12.pngSorry I remain to be convinced

Best Wishes

Jim
15-07-2012, 01:54
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 Hi again

Firstly. John.
Sorry, I miss read your post it is good that your friend is still on the trail. But I hope he might find some time to look at the points i raised.

Second. Jim.
Interesting post and again very informative. But, I understand that Tom Rodgers was killed in the fighting, with others, west of St Venant. Our search is for a wounded man left behind by his unit who had either escaped to safety, were captured or dead who was murdered in cold blood by a S.S. thug. To me this is very different.
I recall you saying that the DLI war diaries were lost and what you have were rewritten some time later. Whilst I agree there are discrepancies within them, which I suppose is to be expected, there is ample evidence to prove that D Co 2DLI , or what was left of it were at St Floris together with A Co RWF.
This is recorded in the RWF Diary and is confirmed in the post by jungle. It is further confirmed by Major Townsend.
As I said before this action can not have taken place at St Venant as we have evidence that the bridge there was blown. As some of RWF had to swim across the canal. This action can only have taken place at this 2^nd bridge which evidence seems to indicate was at St Floris.
We know this action took place from early on 27^th, both from Major Townsend and from RSM Goddard’s letter.
We also know that at some time on 27^th tanks crossed to the north bank.
Jim. I can assure you i have been thinking very hard about this for quite some time but which ever way I look at what is known I can not escape the conclusion that this action could not have taken place in St Venant.

With regard to rewriting the history of this action I do not know what was done with regard the Tom Rogers investigation and I do not think it would be relevant to what we are doing.
I have been convinced for quite some time that I know where this shooting took place. But that is not sufficient, you, teecee, john and everyone else involved would have to agree also. We can not take this anywhere until we are all in agreement.
However I have a very uneasy feeling that what we are doing is the easy part. But we will solve this, and if our findings do not quite fit the ideas of others. I have one word for them. Tough.

ivor
15-07-2012, 16:35
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 Good Morning all.
Not a bad morning here in West Wales, well it is not raining at the moment.
It has been suggested that my concluding sentence in my last post was a bit harsh. I apologise for that. But it was not meant to be. What we are doing is totally different to what has been done previous. The previous investigation seems to have been principally involved with the western action. We have been looking at the whole picture. If as a result we find, for example, unit positions to be different from the previous investigation, then what are we to do? Say nothing and allow another error to become history. I am sorry guy’s but if we are to find teecee’s uncle then we will have to make ALL the relevant facts known to certain authorities and I can not see any way this will not become public. I am sorry but if our findings are inconvenient to others…..

Do not get me wrong I fully respect the work done in the Tom Rogers Investigation it is just that I am a bit uneasy with some of its conclusions in the light of what we have been doing.

OK I am about to ask a couple of favors

First. John,
We have a report that Col Harrison escaped over the second bridge but was killed
Some time later not 15 min or an hour but some time later. A puzzle.
We have a village on the Merville Rd that has a road named after Col Harrison. Another puzzle.

We have a tank crossing the bridge and heading towards Haveskirque which is taken out by a 18 lb’er. Now this is not just a puzzle this is, well I don’t really know.

I imagined the scene north of the Lys to be total chaos. Men, Machinery and everything else all over the area.

But someone has the presence of mind and the authority, to commander an 18lb’er and who knows what else, take out this tank and maybe set up a defense of this village, until he was killed.

Could this be the reason why Col Harrison is honored by the village. John, when I asked before I just thought it could be interesting. Now I think it could be of greater significance than we had possibly realized.

Whatever occurred here was obviously important to the village. So if there is an account of this action then it might indicate which bridge the tank came over. I think this needs to be looked at.

Now for my second favor.

Jungle and Bob Lake I am asking you guy’s because you are contributing good info but not, like some of us ,up to our necks in muck and bullets.
Would you both consider Google Earthing the field which I believe contains tank tracks.
It is on the north side of the Lys just to the east of St Floris directly across from the Rue De Motte Baudet.

I would like your opinion.

ivor
15-07-2012, 17:27
jungle1810

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello Vori,
I am sending the details of Col Harrison's death from the W W 2 Royal Welch Casualties book. Harrison Lt/Col Herbert Berkeley M.C. 1st battalion RWF 27th May 1940 age 43. Son of Brigadier -General Robert Arthur Gwynne Harrison C.M.G. three times Mentioned in Despatches and Alice Harrison of King's Worthy Hampshire husband of of Jeanette Marion Harrison of Denbigh interred at Haverskerque British Cemetery (Nord) Row E E Grave 1
I have seen a photo of a village street named after Col Harrison but I am unable to find it, I have a photo of PLACE DE ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS 4th and 6th battalions and I am stood by this street name. I tried to post it on the forum but I need to change the format to JPG. I will work on it. I will post more info from the ORBAT of the 27th of May
Regards RBD akajungle1810.
15-07-2012, 18:05
jungle1810

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello Vori,
Continuation from my last thread from the Red Dragon by lt/Commander Kemp and John Graves
After the death of 2nd n L/t Garnet it reports that "C" Company was held up on the western edge of St Floris by strong and accurate Machine gun fire from the enemy positions on the Bourne Canal. In an attempt to dislodge them LT/Col Harrison sent "B" Company round the left flank of "C" Company. They came up against an enemy platoon which they had little difficulty in dis lodging and reached their objective, 'though with the 3 platoons some what strung out through lack of maps and out of touch of each other.The story of "D" Company was less happy. Again through lack of maps of the area, they were ambushed in the dark and had suffered heavy casualties, including Lt R L Boyle , the Company Commander. Lacking good information on their fate and or the whereabouts at battalion HQ the Company Commanding officer sent Major Owen to discover what was happening. After a long search he found the remnants of Company withdrawing from the scene of the ambush and led them back to CALONNE.
By now darkness had fallen any further attempt to advance towards the four bridges across unknown country seemed useless. Since little was know of the enemies strength or dispositions LT/ Col Harrison decided to concentrate what was left of the Battalion at SAINT FLORIS for the night and the four Companies were brought back to form a defensive "BOX" around the village. Active patrolling was carried out throughout the night and those who could were ordered to get as much rest as they could in view of the heavy fighting expected the next day. As dawn broke on the 25th of May he battalion advanced once again towards their objectives, the four bridges across the LA BASSEE CANAL "A"and "C" Companies on the right made good progress brushing aside the slight opposition they met on the way .They reached the small town of ST VENANT, found it to be clear of the enemy and proceeded to the bridge was their objective.They were held up by heavy machine gun and mortar fire about half a mile beyond the town and because of the flat and openness of the country were unable to work their way around thee enemyies position . Unable to advance, they dug themselves in.
To be continued until the 27th of May (Tea time )
Regards RBD aka jungle1810
15-07-2012, 20:49
jungle1810

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello Vori et al,
Continuation of the ORBAT of the 1st Battalion RWF
"B" Company on the left were even less fortunate. Their route led through the village of ROBECQ to the remaining three bridges beyond. Almost at once they ran into strong opposition but under cover of supporting fire from their own weapons managed at last to reach the village. Here they were pinned down by intense machine gun fire from the road beyond. but worse still was to follow. In order to hang on to the gains already made, Captain Captain J R Johnson at once began to fortify the village only to discover parties of the enemy working round both flanks. All attempts to check them failed , and by mid -afternoon "B" Company was effectively surrounded the enemy digging a line of weapon pits across the return route to ST FLORIS.By noon, then,the battalion was in a bad way " A" and "C" Companies unable to make any progress towards their final objectives and finding their position in the open untenable in the face of growing machine gun and mortar fire, began to withdraw in small parties. The original intention had been to retire on ST VENANT and to form a strong defence line on the outskirts of the town, but many of the parties mistook their orders and in fact withdrew to ST FLORIS, from where they had started in the morning. Both Companies suffered very heavy casualties and although most of the wounded were successfully evacuated some had to be left behind in ST VENANT where they were placed in the care of the nuns in the local hospital
In the meantime Col Harrison had brought Battalion HQ up to the out skirts of ST VENANT only to discover that the remnants of "A" and "C" Companies had passed through the town on their way back and were now at ST FLORIS. Col Harrison sent the indefatigable Major Owen back to bring them up again and placed the re-organisation of H Q and "D" in the hands of of Captain Willes, who had returned from a recce towards ROBECQ in a fruitless attempt to make contact with "B" Company. With the few men still available ,the C/O organised a new defence line covering ST VENANT and the bridge across the BOURNE Canal, and as the various Companies arrived they were placed in the new line. All four Companies were up "A" on the right then "C" "D" and HQ. The left flank was known to be open, but it was thought that the 1st Battalion the Royal Berkshire Regiment were holding the area to the right. In the absence of any maps how ever, it was impossible to know exactly where they were. There was nothing left for the depleted Battalion to do but dig in and await the enemy attack which all knew was coming Attempts to establish communication with "B" Company were still fruitless and the lack of knowledge of what was happening at ROBECQ was a depressing factor. In point of fact "B" Company was approaching the end of it's battle . Casualties had increased throughout the day necessitating a continually contracting perimeter. In the evening Capt Johnson was seriously wounded and the command of the Company devolved 2LT F M Edwards. With considerable skill and tenacity he continued to organise the defence through the night, inflicting considerable casualties on the enemy when ever the opportunity occurred but the end was in sight. In the early hours of the morning the Germans put in an attack supported BY ONE TANK. It was held and driven back. An hour later a second attack with three tanks in support was put in. Slowly "B" Company gave ground, but the enemy dominated the flat ground round the village offered no chance of an organised break out. Calling the Company together for the last time. 2nd Lt Edwards split it up into two groups each under the command of an N.CO. or a senior soldier. he showed the groups the general direction in which the Battalion lines lay and ordered them to lie up for the rest of the day and to try to make their own way back individually under the cover of darkness. At 11 A M "B" Company as a Company ceased to exist
To be continued
Regards RBD aka jungle1810
15-07-2012, 23:37
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 Evening.

Brian.Thanks for the info. The stuff on Col Harrison is very interesting. La Rue Du Colonel Harrison is at the western end of the village of, I think it was La Crbie or something like that which is situated on the Haveskirque to Merville Rd a couple of miles to the east of Haveskirque. If Johns friend would check this out for us it might prove very interesting.

teecee, jim.on a slightly different aspect of this, something i wrote on an earlier post 'if this goes public' if we are successful have you given any thought to what sort of publicity this is going to generate. this is a young man, wounded. murdered by the S.S. give it some thought.

ivor
16-07-2012, 13:02
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Ivor, mon cher ami, I have received the following info from France:

Due to the importance of the Route Nationale No.16 (Amiens to Dunkirk) the French army had built two new bridges alongside the old and narrow (2.5 m) drawbridges at l'Epinette (Canal d'Aire) and St Venant (Canal de la Lys). These new bridges were of the type known as Pigeau No.3. The bridge at l'Epinette, a metal construction, was completed in March 1940; the one at Saint-Venant, built of wood, was completed on 6th April. The bridge at Saint-Venant was 160 (159.5 to be precise) metres long.

Dispositions on 25th May:

Following the unsuccessful attempt by A and C Companies to reach the bridge at l'Epinette, LtCol HARRISON spread out his troops to defend Saint-Venant. A, C and D Companies and the headquarters were to hold the area between the Robecq and the Busnes roads, together with the Ringot road. This was just a short distance from Saint-Venant. B Company had been cut off in Robecq. A Company had only 2 platoons of 15 men each. There were no AT weapons or radios.

At approx 2200 hrs the DLI arrived from St Floris. A, B and C companies took up their positions in the free area from Les Amusoires to the Robecq road. D Company was sent to fill the breach between the right flank of the RWF and the 1st Royal Berks at Bas-Hamel. LtCol SIMPSON who was commanding the battalion set up his command post in the Taverne family home at the intersection of the Les Amusoires road and the Canal de la Lys dyke.

Situation on 26 May:

In the afternoon LtCol HARRISON withdrew his HQ to the Saint-Venant cemetery, close to the DLI HQ at the Taverne farm. The DLI were still positioned between the Robecq and les Amusoires roads. The defensive system was now focused around Saint-Venant but there were still a few gaps in the line, where the junction between D Company DLI and the RWF had not been established. Saint-Floris was no longer protected as 2/5th West Yorks had been withdrawn to Calonne-sur-la-Lys for transfer to the Fôret de Nieppe. Calonne was held by the 4th Brigade, and in the evening 70 men of the French 401st Pioneer Regiment were sent to Cornet-Malo in an attempt to fill the gap.

Meanwhile 3rd Panzer Division was preparing for the attack. The right-hand group was to advance on Merville and Bailleul. The objective of the left-hand group was Saint-Venant. It included the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Machine-gun Regiment, the 2nd Battery of the 75th Artillery Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the 5th Pioneer Regiment.The 1st Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Regiment were in reserve at Robecq. Elements of the SS Germania Regiment were also attached to this group.

The attack of 27th May:

At 0800 hours the German artillery engaged the British lines and Saint-Venant. The British furiously defended themselves but their artillery support was limited. A, C and D Companies RWF were forced to withdraw as enemy tanks had now joined the battle and they were outgunned. Both platoons of A Company withdrew towards the canal. D Company was surrounded and had to surrender.

While the German infantry infiltrated into Saint-Venant, tanks pierced the defence of the DLI along the railway and made their way along Rue des Amusoires to the canal. The DLI HQ in the Taverne farmhouse was shelled. RSM Goddard attempted to evacuate the HQ transport, but without success. Durhams holding out in the café on the crossroads of Rue des Amusoires and Rue de Saint-Floris were cut off and had to surrender. The remainiing Durhams crawled along the canal to the bridge in order to reach Haverskerque. They were very quickly hit by mortar fire and suffered casualties.

At about 1100 hours Brigadier Furlong’s order to withdraw finally reached the battalion HQ of the RWF, which was still positioned in the town’s cemetery. Capt TOWNSEND crawled from DLI HQ to LtCol HARRISON at the cemetery to receive the message and pass it to LtCol SIMPSON, who was in a trench near his HQ. Two tanks appeared on the intersection of Rue des Amusoires and the canal dyke. LtCol SIMPSON, armed only with a revolver, had to surrender.

LtCol HARRISON now knew that he would be the last man to leave the battlefield, together with the handful of men he had left. He sent Major OWEN to defend the bridge and cover the withdrawal of the DLI. The Durhams crawled slowly towards the bridge they wanted to cross; some were hit, others managed to jump into the river and swim across. Captain TOWNSEND was one of the last to set off for Haverskerque.

Maj OWEN together with around thirty men managed somehow to reach the other side of the river. Faced with a situation which was deteriorating with each passing minute, LtCol HARRISON ordered Capt CLOUGH TAYLOR to send the rest of the battalion to the opposite bank in small groups of two or three. LtCol HARRISON and Capt CLOUGH TAYLOR were the last two to risk it on the bridge. As they were crossing it, the Captain suffered leg wounds whilst the Commanding Officer managed to make it across. He waited until his companion was totally out of harm’s way before giving the order to blow the wooden bridge; the drawbridge had already been partially destroyed. Unfortunately, the engineers charged with this task did not respond. As LtCol HARRISON was withdrawing towards Haverskerque the first enemy tank appeared; its machine-gun targeted the brave LtCol and he fell under its murderous fire.

The German infantry, supported by tanks, now advanced to within 300 metres of Haverskerque, overrunning the RWF Aid Post and capturing Maj OWEN, Lt LUNDIE (the RWF MO) and 23 men. A British counter-attack with some carriers to recapture the bridge did not succeed. The British then withdrew to a new position at Le Touquet, where they found 2/5th West Yorks, 99th Field Regt RA and 6th Bde HQ. This small force was joined by survivors of 1st Berks and 2nd DLI. The power of the German tanks and artillery finally forced the British to withdraw to the Forêt de Nieppe and to try and reach Dunkirk.

So there you have the full story. It explains why the RWF memorial is located at the spot where the wooden bridge was, and nowhere else.

John
16-07-2012, 20:03
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 OK Guys.
Jungle, John. What you have posted is fantastic and on the face of it overwhelming evidence that I am wrong.
But I am sorry, no white flag yet guy’s. not while I still have some ammo. If I am going down I sure as hell am going down fighting.

Right, From your own accounts the only resistance encountered when the RWF were approaching ST Venant was at St Floris. Which was easily overcome. Why.
From the RWF Diary, Bridging material was captured at St Floris. exactly where?. And why was it here when there were two bridges in St Venant.?
was this slight opposition actually a small number of troops guarding this material?
When RWF got to St Venant they found it unoccupied. Again why? It has 2 relatively new bridges.
Conclusion. they were not interested in St Venant or is bridges . Not Suitable.
Reasoning. What was the average weight of a motor lorry in 1940, about 6 – 10 tons. So even if the bridges were stressed to 15 tons they would not be suitable for 20+ ton tanks.
But why bother when you have your own purpose built bridges with you.

What follow is pure speculation from the view of the German bridge unit commander.….. or is it.

There is a gap opened up in the line of the retreating British around the town of St Venant. We have been ordered foreword to prepare for the crossing of the Bourne canal prior to our strike towards Merville.
I have a few days as the nearest British units are some distance to the east apparently resting after there battle at the Dyle.
My engineers and I have surveyed the bridges at St Venant and we do not believe them suitable for our purpose. So we will use one or two of our own.
Having surveyed the surrounding area it is not practical to place our bridge near the other bridges as there are too many buildings around to allow for a holding/regrouping area. Also there is a cemetery in the way.
Surveying the canal bank we can find no suitably solid place before we get to the east of ST Floris. Where there is already a road in place which connects to the main road. Useful.
Also it is in an open area. so there is a farm to the east. No real problem
OK we have the main part of the bridge across but as it is late we will finish it tomorrow and start on the second.
I have posted guards on the equipment and my engineers and i are going to sample the delights of Haveskirque for he night. I do not expect our troops for another day or so.
When returning to the bridge the next morning .WHAT!!! Ambush.. we are under attack from the British… Where did they come from. The end.

OK back to reality. Fantasy, imaginative yes. But based on known facts. If The RWF etc had not been moved toward this gap, earlier than planned I believe that the Germans may well have been in this area in strength. With a suitable bridge.

John. I would still like to know the story behind the Rue Du Colonel Harrison.

Ivor
16-07-2012, 21:12
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

The German units N of the Canal de l'Aire were an advance guard of SS Verfügungsdivision and 3 Pz which had broken through the French resistance along the Canal de l'Aire on the 24th. One part of this advance guard crossed the St Venant bridge and advanced to Haverskerque but was thrown back by B Coy 6th KORR. Another part (the so called Russow patrol) followed the canal along the N bank, was cut off near Merville and destroyed in the next two days. The bridging element, very likely intended for the attack on Merville and trying the canal route because there were British units in Calonne, ran into 1 RWF at St Floris. Subsequently all German units were pulled back to the Canal de l'Aire for regrouping as the result of Hitler's 'Halt order'. Quote from the report of Standartenführer Demelhuber (CO SS Inf Regt 'Germania'): "Next day unexpected div. order (supposed to have come right from the top) about withdrawal of bridgehead north of canal and setting-up of main line of battle along canal. No reconnaissance or patrols north of canal. Withdrawal of II Bn Inf Regt 'Germania' and remaining sections behind LA BASSEE CANAL."

The old drawbridges had a 7 ton limit. The new Pigeau bridges built by the French engineers were specifically intended to make the Route Nationale No.16 suitable for the amount of traffic to be expected in the war. They could - and did - take tanks with ease.

As for the final stand of RWF and DLI taking place near another bridge than the one at St Venant: let's make this a little tac exercise, Ivor.

You have your HQ in the St Venant cemetery (I think we're agreed on that, as all eyewitnesses are; there is no other cemetery until you come to Merville, anyway) and have to withdraw across the canal. Behind you is a bridge, about 450 yards away, the perimeter of which is still held by your men. In front of you is supposedly another bridge, some 3000 yards away, with enemy tanks and unknown numbers of infantry at the junction you'll have to cross to get there. Which way do you go?

The Rue du Col Harrison I am told received its name as the commune had an as yet nameless road and wished to honour a local hero. No more, no less. Remember that there are more towns with Churchill Avenues and Churchill Squares in NW Europe than the good man ever visited or even knew existed.

John
17-07-2012, 00:02
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

john
i will answer your challenge shortly but i came across this. interesting reading
http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewto...p?f=24&t=22877

ivor
17-07-2012, 00:13
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Thanks for the link, Ivor. Apart from the large number of tanks repeatedly mentioned in the text, which in fact consisted of some light French R35 3-man tanks without radio, it confirms what I wrote below.

John
17-07-2012, 02:10
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

 OK. John.
Interesting challenge.

The initial reaction is simple, cross the bridge. But there Is some evidence that this did not happen. Because of the fluidity of the situation, the idea suggested by Bob has a lot of merit.
If Brigade had formed a Tac Hq and the 2 Colonels and their relevant staff officers into an O Group then they could have been anywhere inside the defensive perimeter.
But if Col Harrison was at the HQ in the cemetery how do we explain the entry in the RWF Diary on 27^th that states that HQ took a direct hit no further contact etc. there is, as far as I am aware, no info that the cemetery was hit. This is a very annoying point that keeps cropping up.
There seems only one inescapable conclusion. The Col’s were not at the cemetery. There seems to be no info that they were anywhere to the west although they may have been at some time I suppose if they were mobile. But even if the HQ was to the west the next bridge is almost at Haveskirque. So that really doesn’t fit.
John, for quite some time now I have been thinking very, very hard about this to see if I have got it wrong, but whatever info you guys throw at me, and I admit it is hard to stand against it. But I am still convinced that there was a bridge east of St ,.that Col Harrison and others escaped over. that was not blown because the engineers had gone and, was crossed by a tank that took out the machine gun. And then headed towards the Haveskirque Rd to be taken out by an 18lb’er.

This is why I would like to know why a colonel who has just lost virtually his entire command suddenly appears as a local hero at a village that was not even part of the action at the time.

What i find totally puzzling about this whole incident is it's complete lack of recording anywhere.in official RWF records. Unless of course the people at the cemetery believing everyone at the forward HQ were missing or killed were, with no communication, not even aware that it was happening and anyone who would have been responsible for reporting it later were dead or POW's

Ivor.
17-07-2012, 09:09
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

From the 1 RWF WD:

"28 Poss 27 0600 - Bn HQ Suffered a direct hit from arty fire. No further contact was made with Bn HQ. The following officers were reported missing as a result of this action. - Commanding Officer (Lt-Col Harrison), 2i/c (Maj D I Owens), Adjutant (Capt Hood), IO (Capt Willes), MO, Padre and RSM (Mr Sheriff). The following officers are known to have been taken prisoner- 2i/c, Padre, IO, RSM"

This was written several days after the events by a junior company officer (there were no senior officers left) who was uninformed and confused as to the date and the whereabouts of the MO at the very least - the MO was not at HQ, he was at his Aid Post across the canal, in a farmhouse on the road to Haverskerque. The unknown author also says "the bridge was blown" which it wasn't, it had been mined but was not blown as the engineers had disappeared. Harrison and Owen weren't missing, they crossed the wooden Pigeau bridge, and Owen, who survived, testified about it after the war.

Ivor, dear friend, I greatly admire the way in which you have spun your perceived 72 year old tank tracks in a boggy field into a complete story, including a German patrol commander who leaves his equipment to go on a pub crawl in enemy occupied Haverskerque - a brilliant touch that! I'd gladly nominate you for the Booker prize. But - and it pains me to say this - I haven't seen one single shred of hard documentary evidence, no after action reports of either side actually mentioning a bridge at St-Floris, Cornet-Malo or anywhere in between, no relevant interviews of local witnesses by French historians which support your theory, nothing. It's all 'what if', 'yes but', 'suppose that' and wishful thinking. The Germans have a word for it: 'hineininterpretieren'. So let's move on.

John
17-07-2012, 12:06
Verrieres

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Just steering this back to Anthony Corkhill I have been in contact with Tony who has added there may be a possibility that Pte Corkhill was a Company dispatch rider...
There is documentation to say a temp Hospital was set up at the Home of.......Madam Boulet...is this Ferme Boulet or is there another Family Boulet near to the bridge?

Best Wishes

Jim
17-07-2012, 13:14
jungle1810

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello all,
Baconwallah seems to have the situation right. There are some small differences in his report than are quoted in the RED DRAGON. The Village where my photo was taken of RUE DE LA ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS was taken in a village named GAVRUS near CAEN and it concerns the fighting to regain the area by the 4th and 6th RWF in the period towards the end of the war. I think that GAVRUS may well be the site of COl Harrison's Street name. I also see that a Capt J E T Willes and Capt "Jimmy Johnson mentioned To the best of my knowledge both of these officers were taken P O W. But Capt J E T Willes became Col of the Regiment from the 18th of October 1965 to the 3rd of March 1974. Col "Jimmy Johnson who I believe to be the Capt Johnson mentioned in the RED DRAGON was our C/O when we left for our tour of the Caribbean in March 1951.I have a photo of the RWF men who were in action with the 1st at this time (May 1940) and R S M Sheriff is on it. So I thought it best not to repeat the work of Baconwallah, there are some minor differences but this is inevitable after such a long time. On this subject it is such a pity that this most important volume has been left so late to compile but Col Sinnett and al his helpers are doing a magnificent job, more power to their elbows.
Regards RBD
17-07-2012, 14:31
Baconwallah

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Verrieres, right you are. We were forgetting what this is all about.

My opinion: whether Pte Corkhill was a despatch rider or not is beside the point. I can only reiterate what I have said before: he was seen wounded and made comfortable on the canal bank by RSM Goddard [documented]. RSM Goddard was in the HQ area near the Taverne house on the junction of Rue des Amusoires and the canal dyke and tow-path [documented]. So we have a time and a place Pte Corkhill was last seen. What he was doing before he was wounded does not in any way influence the situation as described. Besides, I doubt if there was any call for despatch riders in a cramped area swept by fire from all sides.

Also please bear in mind that a functioning Aid Post or temp hospital, at the time when the RSM and other survivors were being sent to the rear as PoWs, is more than unlikely. And again, he was described by the RSM as 'on the canal bank'. Not 'in or on the way to the temp hospital'. Whatever the Germans did afterwards, murder him or take him to the hospital, or both, is pure conjecture. That is what we have to discover.

Jungle Don, thanks for the vote of confidence. Your went into considerably more detail than I did, but the stories are otherwise the same.

John
17-07-2012, 14:54
ivor43

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

jungle la rue du col harroson ls at the western edge la corbie on the merville rd it is shown on google earth
ivor
17-07-2012, 15:18
Bob Lake

1 Attachment(s)

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

I attach a contemporary drawing of the RWF final stand at St Venant on 27 May1940 drawn by Lt WSA Clough Taylor whilst a POW. It was featured on the 1998 Cover of The Regimental Magazine and shows much of the final action we have been discussing. From memory of chats with the IO at the time, Capt Jack Willes, he described it as a very accurate picture of events and shows German Tanks at the Cemetary entrance firing at escaping RWF personnel on what I understood was a temporary bridge leading to one side of the Lock Keepers Cottage. This was the bridge that Col Harrison crossed and in all probability the action where Pte Corkhiil was wounded. Col Harrison is buried in the War Grave Commission Cemetary at at Havervesque and the Rue was in all probability to commemorate that fact that he died there.

The Regimental Memorial lies directly opposite the lock keepers cottage and was chosen because of its proximity to this final action. One thought I have is that there is a dead cow and a manger in the drawing and the corner of a building at the bottom left of the picture, is this the mysterious Ferme Boulet, I don't think there is a building there today whilst the Lock Keepers Cottage most certainly is.

Attachment 2851
17-07-2012, 19:58
teecee1941

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Lake

I attach a contemporary drawing of the RWF final stand at St Venant on 27 May1940 drawn by Lt WSA Clough Taylor whilst a POW. It was featured on the 1998 Cover of The Regimental Magazine and shows much of the final action we have been discussing. From memory of chats with the IO at the time, Capt Jack Willes, he described it as a very accurate picture of events and shows German Tanks at the Cemetary entrance firing at escaping RWF personnel on what I understood was a temporary bridge leading to one side of the Lock Keepers Cottage. This was the bridge that Col Harrison crossed and in all probability the action where Pte Corkhiil was wounded. Col Harrison is buried in the War Grave Commission Cemetary at at Havervesque and the Rue was in all probability to commemorate that fact that he died there.

The Regimental Memorial lies directly opposite the lock keepers cottage and was chosen because of its proximity to this final action. One thought I have is that there is a dead cow and a manger in the drawing and the corner of a building at the bottom left of the picture, is this the mysterious Ferme Boulet, I don't think there is a building there today whilst the Lock Keepers Cottage most certainly is.

Attachment 2851
17-07-2012, 20:28
jungle1810

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello all,
The photos of the Rue De La Royal Welch Fusiliers were taken when the comrades from about six different branches commemorated the 70th anniversary of the 1st battalion's retreat to Dunkirk in the 40's. We also met Col Harrisons daughter and laid a wreath of poppies on the Colonel's grave.
regards RBD a k a jungle 1810
17-07-2012, 21:05
teecee1941

Re: saint venant 1940-------farm boulet

Hello Bob,
Many thanks for this excellent contribution. I don't know for sure how much value to put on this sketch but really, there is no reason to doubt it's merit. It should be safe to assume that the artist drew the sketch from memory having been to that site sometime in the past. I would think if he was a POW, then the details were still reasonably fresh in his mind.

There is no doubt that this sketch shows a bridge over the canal leading to a farm. One of the buildings has been set on fire. I can see what looks like a dead cow and what I would describe as a harrow or a roller, definitely some sort of farm implement. There seems to be an ambulance and people having their wounds tended. Over on the right hand bank, I can see what looks very much like a cemetery.

Could this be a temporary bridge of sorts and lying next to it we can see what looks like a more permanent structure waiting to be hauled into place alongside.

I am keen to hear what others think of this sketch.

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