4188082 Sjt David Griffiths

[Drew5233]

So here's the page from the Missing Men file. Incidently I would recommend anyone who has the battalions war diary to get this file to accompany it. There's some cracking first hand accounts in it but like most of my BEF stuff I never have time to read through it properly unless I'm researching something specific (2/6 East Surreys at Aumale currently). Anyway I'll post an example of a witness report on the fighting around St Venant in a bit so you can see what I mean.

[Drew5233]

This is quite a good one and he seems a decent Platoon Sergeant who I would have happily followed

[Drew5233]

Happy to report Sgt Lee survived the war!

[ivor43]

Hi all.
First Drew this is interesting info. But we have to be careful as we have 2 threads running about the same battle. This evidence is important,Drew, as i confirms something in the St Venant thread. Sgt Lee's report states that they went forward at Dawn on 25th.
Dave. i am going to assume that your Dad's unit would also have gone forward on 25th. towards (Haverskerque) the N.West of St Venant, where L/Cpl Joynson was killed in what appeared to be a F.F. Incident. Probably this location is why he is buried in Haverskerque .
Now this is where Sgt Lee's report gets interesting. They first RV'd at the bridge then ''Withdrew under heavy fire and we were exposed for the greater part of the withdrawal''. this would seem to indicate a withdrawal to St Floris where the defensive line was supposed to be. Col Harrison then ordered them back to St Venant.
Now from Drew's document there is an entry against L Moule dated 27th saying PoW Stalag VIIIB. But the entry against Sgt Griffith like that of Anthony Corkhill, just says Dead, no KIA or Died of Wounds, just Dead. i believe that there is a very strong possibility that he Died on 29th along with Anthony Corkhill and Wilfred Roberts of the KORR and may be others. at the German field hospital at Calonne.

ivor

[dcdl12976]

Ivor yes I agree not surprising after 75 years and dad being 96 that he may be a day out. I now have a copy of the history of the royal Berkshire regiment1920/1947 by Gordon Blight which states. I know this is not the RWF info however it does give a perspective of the 3rd battalion in the brigade in the area. This seems to confirm dad was a day out in his date

May 24th It was not until 4.30 am on the following morning (May 24th) that the 1st battalion clambered once more into buses and sped by way of Genech and Seclin to La Bassee. The road had been bombe, and was congested with traffic and swarms of refugees moving in all directions. After waiting for two hours at La Fossee, north of La Bassee, they were told that the Germans were already ahead of them near Merville but that they should continue their move, protected by there carrier platoon, and seize the bridges over the Aire canal at Guarbeque south west of St Venant. After passing through Merville, where the situation was obscure and the confusion considerable, the bus column came to a stop, and the battalion spent the tail end of the night resting where they were.

It goes on to say that the move was carried on the 25th May, one column heading towards Guarbecque via St Venant and the other to Haverskerque

[ivor43]

Hi All.

Can any of you knowledgeable guys out there help.
The first picture from Drew.

Acquittance Roll ( all Arms )
It lists 17 men is signed by a 2nd Lt on behalf of the O.C. a Captain. and is Dated 27.4.40. Is this a Nominal Roll of 'C' Company.
My knowledge of English is pretty good, but the use of Acquittance is a puzzle. In normal use it means..

A Settlement of, or Release from, Debt or Liability.

So i wonder if any of you kind folks could give me a clue as to what this list is actually about.



ivor

[ivor43]

hi all.
I have been looking at this ''Acquittance Roll ''. the nearest i can get is. it is the list of men who were Not Present at the last Pay Muster to sign for their money. But this does not mean they were missing just that they may have been away on other duties. From the date on the list i am assuming that the last pay muster would have been 26 or 27/4th, and this is the list of men in ''C'' Co. These could not have been 'Missing '' men as L/Cp S Evans is mentioned on the list and we have the report of his presumed death on 25/5 in the report of Sgt Lee.
any ideas please..


ivor

[ap1]

An acquittance role was produced by the Pay Office for each company, so that they could be paid or even make payments. In my early days of soldiering, we signed the roll at Pay Parade. So on that date in April 1940, they listed every man serving in the company. Obviously they never got a chance to produce a newer version as events overtook them. So that what they used to tick off the men. If you notice, it has the word "Imprest", that points to it being an army pay document.

[Drew5233]

Just to add, there are quite a few of these in the 1940 Missing Men files with many of them showing the amount of pay in Francs the soldier last drew and the soldiers signature against the amount, as Al has pointed out above.

[ivor43]

Hi all.
had a major problem with laptop had to do a ''refresh'' which means i have had to do a large amount of reloading.
Right. This must be the Final Nominal Roll of 'C' Co before hostilities. so it may not have been that accurate by 23/5. I have read Sgt Lee's report a couple of times, and i notice that it was not written until almost 3 yrs later. so i wonder if his dates are a day out.
However, something else is odd here. To try and verify dates, i have been trying to find any info on L/Cpl S Evans.3955136. I Can Not Find Any. using CWGC Search, Nothing, not even on Dunkirk Memorial.
Now. i know this is not part of the original question But as i have the same Surname i will try and find out more about him. Did he Die as Sgt Lee suspects and if so why is he Not on some Memorial. or is he an ''Unknown'' in St Venant.