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

[Verrieres]

Hello,
Some interesting comments there ,thank you, I read through some of our old posts and we have actually touched on the AB 64 Paybook before (posts around 520-530) Paybooks generally stayed with the soldier ,the wills? Were they detached? I do not know certainly the ones I have are intact but these soldiers survived the war.

I hate second guessing or scenarios but here`s one anyway;-

Anthony is dead (reasons undetermined possibly listed on Q80) he lies possibly with other `dead` someone (PoW, German, Doctor whatever) removes the personal belongings from the bodies to return them home AB64 included ,there is no need to document them in detail the dog tags will identify the casualty they are simply piled up and taken away possibly in a dated envelope or with dated correspondence to the powers that be stating this soldier died on 29th May 1940 etc (There is documented testimony about to say the Mayor forwarded possessions on to Lille?) Along comes the burial party who then find that for what ever reason (Left at home or erroneously removed as documented elsewhere) Anthony does not have his tags? No one knows which bodies the AB64 has came from and Anthony (and anyone else who was missing tags) are buried as innconnu (unknown). The AB64 finds its way home eventually via the Red Cross say in 1941 .The MoD receive the Paybook is it enough to declare a missing soldier as dead the correspondence would show the date ?(29th May 1940) The Paybook should then have been returned to the next of kin, but to do this would mean they would have awkward questions to answer as to the whereabouts of the body, is it easier to file it ? The soldier`s dead they know that ,why search further ?..that's why Anthony was never declared as a missing man and no subsequent investigation was undertaken because they knew?
The scenario has holes in it of course ,of the 27 men of 2 DLI listed on the Dunkirk memorial there are 7 Wills available to `buy`

Just for discussion and to keep the topic alive :)

Jim

[ivor43]

10960527_367643480105921_2606949794873658279_o.jpg

Hi all.
the above was posted on the RWF Pals Facebook page earlier by Tony Denic. Tony tells me that it was painted in 1944 by a W S A Clough - Taylor whilst he was a P.O.W. can anyone shed any light on the possibility of the artist being any relation to Capt Clough - Taylor, reported KIA 26 May 40 in the withdrawal from St Venant. This may show the Capt being killed.
I think the Painting is interesting as i believe it shows the Cemetery just in front of the 4 Poplar Trees and the bridge does not look very strong, i am not sure i would want to be the first tank to try it.


ivor

[ap1]

Hi Ivor,

Clough-Taylor RWF survived, a talented artist, he drew the battle scenes from memory whilst a POW. Much of the account from the RWF involvement in St Venant came from his recollections after the war.

Read this little segment from "Dunkirk" https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...%20RWF&f=false

[ivor43]

hi.
Thanks for clearing that up. i was sure i had read somewhere that he had been wounded on the bridge.
But the WD said KIA.

[Baconwallah]

The picture shows the old bridge across the lock. The French built their big bridge just to the West of it because the old one could not take heavy traffic. The view is from the big bridge looking East.

John

[Verrieres]

Hello,
Its been awhile since I updated the search the reason being there has been little progress with the now standard "Sorry we do not hold that information" or "We hold nothing further on WW2" etc. Then a glimmer of hope the National Archives announced the release of WO416 Unknown (British and Commonwealth soldiers) who died in the Germans hands/captivity...unfortunately someone complained regarding the personal information some of the papers contained and ..you guessed it..they closed the file again pending a review! Will it be re-opened? Will it be sealed for another 70 years..or will it be censored ..sorry sorted taking out any "personal" info?

Jim

[dcdl12976]

So yet another door opens and then immediately closes to us at least for the time being.

May have been someone with a lot of pull who complained as my experience is they don't take much notice of the averidge bod

[Verrieres]

Quick update. Some good news it appears the press are going to run Pte Anthony Corkhill`s story I cannot say too much as I need to speak with Tony about a couple of things first.

Quick update. Some bad news Mr Ian Goddard son of the RSM who last saw Anthony on the Canal Bank in St Venant has passed away in New Zealand. Sincere condolences to his family at this sad time RIP


Best Wishes

Jim

[Verrieres]

Hello,
I have spoken with Tony and he fully supports the newspaper articles. The reporter has been in touch again today for a photo of Anthony Corkhill documents etc and they have been working on the story today after talking with Tony and his family this morning. They will return to work on Sunday and present the story and secure a publication date . More as it develops.

Jim

[dcdl12976]

It will be interesting to see if they can get anywhere or if the story will disappear without trace