border regiment dunkirk

Mixed fortunes followed: one company was ambushed before they reached their objective and scattered. The Royal Scots Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1678 until 1959 when it was amalgamated with the Highland Light Infantry to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers which was later itself merged with the Royal Scots Borderers, the Black Watch, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Highlanders to form a new large regiment, the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The following article has been submitted to the BBC "People's War" website on behalf of Mr Hutchinson. The regiment was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot. [7], The 3rd (Reserve) Battalion was placed in "suspended animation" following the war, and was never embodied again. Have a look at pages 181-187. © Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. During that night, and still under constant harassment, embarkation took place on to ships and Naval craft. The Border Regiment was a line infantry infantry regiment of the British Army, which was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot and the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot. Burgess. In 1924, it moved to Aden, returning to England in the following year. In 1942, it moved to Ceylon and later took part in the Burma Campaign from 1944 onward with the 100th Indian Infantry Brigade, part of 20th Indian Infantry Division. [6], The 2nd Battalion was in Italy at the end of the First World War, remaining there until 1919. Another of the companies reached the north bank of the Somme and were engaged in mortar machine gun and rifle exchanges with the Germans. 1st Battalion, Border Regiment VERA's main section portrays the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment during World War 2. Occupying the village of Kiam in the central sector, the battalion were engaged in patrolling. 'D Company' held on to Incheville for several days until they ran short of ammunition. CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (, King's Regiment (Liverpool and Manchester), Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border), List of battalions of the Border Regiment §. The Royal Sussex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that was in existence from 1881 to 1966. The 4th Border lads were split into 2 groups and didn't meet up until they got back into Britain. ... would suffice to drive all the way to Baghdad. Exhausted, the 4th Battalion of the Border Regiment set sail. 4th Durham Survey Section The Loyal Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that was in existence from 1881 to 1970. The regiment was created during the 1881 Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 63rd Regiment of Foot and the 96th Regiment of Foot as the 1st and 2nd battalions; the 6th Royal Lancashire Militia became the 3rd (Reserve) and 4th battalions and the Volunteer battalions became the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th battalions. Fighting in the Forest continued for two days in support of the 5th Sherwood Foresters. From there, they went by troop camels up the desert to Sidi Barrani. Positioned directly in front of the German onslaught of his comrades on the beaches, Ervine-Andrews endeavored to hold them off. If we have to pull a Dunkirk, that would be "bad." In this role, the battalion went to North Africa in May 1943 and in July it took part in Operation Ladbroke, part of the Allied invasion of Sicily, in which the battalion suffered heavy casualties, with some gliders being cast off too early due to inexperienced pilots and, as a result, many men were drowned. After Dunkirk, 1st Battalion Border were converted to glider-borne troops. At this point I should mention that the 51st Regiment of the Royal Field Artillery, comprising of men from Carlisle and all over Cumberland were present during the whole of the siege. The 1st Airborne Division was all but destroyed. [20], The regiment's battle honours were as follows: [21], *1959 Regiment amalgamated with The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) to form The King's Own Royal Border Regiment. In October, it was redesignated as the 9th Battalion and was assigned to the 225th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home). Historical records of events in France, post Operation Dynamo, are sketchy. An account of the visit is contributed to WW2 People’s War. ‘Tobruk’ by Frank Harrison [ISBN 1-85409-361-6], War Diaries: It deals with the experiences of the 4th Battalion The Border Regiment during World War Two. The third element would be a screen of infantry divisions on the border dug in with, of course, lots of mines. Then, after yet another railway journey, this time at night, they arrived at Brest. I think he was one of the Burgess newspaper family so he may have written his memoirs somewhere. The early dawn mist gave way to brilliant unclouded weather as the tanks and infantry moved to the attack. However I have been to Rennes, visited his grave and spoke to some local people. To view and read about a British helmet recovered from a cellar in the town of Cassel, click here. During the siege, after being the Western Desert Force the Division became the 70th British Division. Over in Europe it seems a lot easier finding out official information about the war and commemoration is taken very seriously. WW2 Border Regiment Section. From Brest, they went by ship to Southampton, where they arrived on the morning of June 18th 1940. In 1959, the regiment was amalgamated with the Border Regiment to form the King's Own Royal Border Regiment. I sourced a 1960 local newspaper article, in French, which gives the best account of June 1940 events in Rennes that I have so far found. I will try to have it completed for contribution in advance of the imminent closure. Here in the Basse Forêt d'Eu, supported by the artillery of the 51st Highland Division. [2], In common with other infantry regiments, the Border Regiment was increased in size for the duration of the 1914–1918 war by the creation of additional battalions, either by the duplication of the existing territorial units or by the raising of new "service" battalions. In the meantime, I've had a look through your postings, and also the CWGC website about their cemetery at Rennes. Postscript. After returning to the United Kingdom, it spent time in South Wales on Guard duties before being posted to North Africa in 1941. At any one time, one battalion was to be on foreign service and one on "home" service. My email address is david05803@yahoo.co.uk and I would really appreciate any information to that address post the closure. But even so, the fighting patrols still went out, many of them at night. The regiment saw service in many conflicts and wars, including the Second Boer War and both the First and Second World Wars. But knowing what is there and what to ask for is not easy. Now, with some air cover, the Battalion reached the shelter of woods on the outskirts of that town, 'Radio Normandie' being situated there. In 1970, the regiment was amalgamated with the Lancashire Regiment to form the Queen's Lancashire Regiment which was, in 2006, amalgamated with the King's Own Royal Border Regiment and the King's Regiment to form the Duke of Lancaster Regiment. Many men from 'D Company' of the Borders were killed or captured. As there is as yet so much more to learn about incident I ask perchance does your Mr Hutchinson have any knowledge of that incident? The railway complex at Rennes was bombed during mid morning Monday 17th June. Next day the force moved North to regroup. They were part of the 70th British Infantry Division]". The regiment converted to artillery in 1920 and served as such in the early years of the Second World War, before becoming part of the Chindits in Burma. Moving out from the Brittany towns of Brest, Morlaix and St Malo, and then finally arriving at Aumale, the 4th Border was allotted the task of capturing three bridges west of Amiens on the River Somme. Originally part of the 4th Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, it was exchanged with the 1/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and became part of the 125th Infantry Brigade of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division. The third company reached their allotted bridge, crossed to the east bank and drove off the enemy. [12], The 5th Battalion was also a 1st-Line Territorial Army unit that was serving with the 42nd East Lancashire Infantry Division and was sent to join the BEF in France in 1940. It served under various titles and fought in many wars and conflicts, including both the First and the Second World Wars, from 1680 to 1959. It would seem reasonable therefore to assume your Mr. Hutchinson and his comrades transited through Rennes shortly before. But then at night, the Australian artillery returned the compliment tenfold! When the ’breakout’ came, more aggressive raids began, until they were relieved by the Polish Carpathian Division. Under the reforms, each line infantry regiment was to have a defined regimental district, with two regular battalions sharing a single permanent depot. This was a regimental formation of men drawn from the towns and villages of Cumberland and Westmorland: Carlisle, Penrith, Keswick, Grasmere, Longtown, Brampton, Hexham, Alston and many others. However, as I was in the Cumbria Archives Office today I went to check a reference book I knew was in there with a little about 4th Border Regiment in WW2 ('The Story of the Border Regiment' by Philip J. Shears). Thank you for your detailed reply to my query and I await any further information. A marble memorial was established at Dunkirk (Dunkerque), it translates in English as: "To the glorious memory of the pilots, mariners, and soldiers of the French and Allied armi… I know a little about the period and the Brittany area slightly, but not to the fine detail that you are seeking, David. They were also given the task of relieving the Black Watch Battalion who were in the village of Incheville. Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19, Volume 39, The Border Regiment does not differentiate between the three battalions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Territorial Force. at Dunkirk Corporal Ivan Frank Renwick (1919 - 2013) from the Cleator Moor area of Cumbria served in the Army during the Second World War. The whole of the 70th Division became engaged in the fighting on Sidi Rezagh and El Duda. The 5th Battalion was converted to armour as the 110th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps. There seems to be some accounts in the Public Records Office about what happened. were evacuated. The men continued to wear their Border Regiment cap badge on the black beret of the RAC, as did all infantry units converted in the same way. To read about Reservist Jean Duverlie of the 511eme Regional Regiment, click here. ... Dunkirk along the line of the Aa Canal, facing the Allied defensive line near Watten. Anyway, I hope this helps you, David. One of his comrades in the regiment, ... was amongst those who were lucky to be successfully evacuated from Dunkirk, following the German Blitzkrieg that had pushed the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) back to the sea. The 4th Battalion of the Borders were given the task of clearing the woods that were partially held by the Germans. That night the OKW ordered the advance to halt, with the British Expeditionary Force trapped. Bombing and shelling here in Tobruk became the daily and nightly ‘portion’. The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, previously titled the 6th Regiment of Foot, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. The 1st Battalion moved to the North West Frontier of India, where it was engaged in the Waziristan campaigns of 1919–1920 and 1921–1924. The Luftwaffe harassed the evacuation which is when your uncle was unfortunately killed. [5]. Apart from a brief spell in Shanghai in 1927, it remained in the United Kingdom until 1936, when it moved to Palestine to suppress the Arab revolt. The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army. The Border Regiment served in many theatres of war during World War One – France and Flanders, Italy, Macedonia, Gallipoli, Egypt and the North West Frontier. 271943 and accredited under the Arts Council of England Accreditation Scheme. To be perfectly honest, until this last year when I have been a volunteer story-gatherer for this "People's War" project, most of the WW2 research I have done has been in France, and a little bit in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Border Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, which was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot and the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot. [9]. WO 169 / 1713 Durham Light Infantry Most of the content on this site is created by our users, who are members of the He wrote out this contribution out long hand and sent it to Radio Cumbria. The 1st Battalion The Border Regiment were part of the 2nd Division at Aldershot in September 1939, and were amongst the first troops to cross the Channel on the outbreak of war.I In April 1940,42 (East Lancashire) Division TA, joined the B.E.F., and 1 Border joined 5 Border in this Division. David G. Thanks for taking the time to read the article about the 4 Bn Borders in WW2 and your most interesting question. [2] Detachments of these battalions saw service in the Boer War of 1899 – 1902, and a 3rd Volunteer Battalion was raised in 1900. Regimental History A short history of 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, 1st Airlanding Brigade, 1st Airborne Division. In 1939 the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, left their Aldershot barracks for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. You should be able to get hold of a book in English entitled 'Finest Hour' by Tim Clayton and Phil Craig (1999), Hodder & Stoughton. Y Gatrawd 2il o Glwy'r Traed- The 2nd Regiment of Foot (1651) 3. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites There were so many that the newspapers at home dubbed Kendal, the hometown of most of them, 'The Town of Missing Men'. The brigade's number was also used for deception purposes during the Second World War. those of the BBC. However, the battalion left the brigade in November 1939, and was assigned to the newly raised 25th Infantry Brigade and served from 1939–40 in France on lines of communication duties before becoming part of the ill-fated "2nd BEF" that tried to maintain a presence in France after Dunkirk, finally leaving from the Cherbourg peninsular. IWM (O 134) 13th May 1940 In Defence 21st May 1940 Orders 27th May 1940 On the Move 27th May 1940 Orders 28th May 1940 On the Move 1st Jun 1940 Reorganisation In 1944, the entire division was broken up to become part of Brigadier Orde Wingate's 'Special Force' (the Chindits) and took part in the 2nd Chindit expedition in Burma, before finally returning to the United Kingdom in 1945. This would have prevented later train traffic. In 1951, the battalion moved to Egypt and in 1955 to Germany, where it remained for the rest of its existence. This was when your uncle would have been ordered to leave. In 1958 the regiment was amalgamated with the South Lancashire Regiment to form the Lancashire Regiment which was, in 1970, merged with the Loyal Regiment to form the Queen's Lancashire Regiment. In the next few years, the 2nd Battalion was on garrison duty at various locations: Malta, The Sudan, Tientsin in China and Rawalpindi in India. In 1968 the regiment was amalgamated with the other regiments of the Fusilier Brigade–the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and the Royal Fusiliers –to form the current Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Obtaining information from official sources seems to be quite difficult. In 1947, it moved to Somaliland and in 1947 to Palestine, returning to the UK in 1950. Annotated ts Operation Order No 14, apparently the last one before the evacuation from Dunkirk, issued by the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, 27 May 1940. Y Gatrawd 3ydd o Glwy'r Traed- The 3rd Regiment of Foot (1651) 4. Regards, Ervine-Andrews was leading a company of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, defending 1,000 yards of line along the Canal de Bergues in front of Dunkirk. As the name suggests, the division recruited in the Home Counties, particularly Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex. [1], In the case of the Border Regiment, the regimental district comprised the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, with the depot established at Carlisle Castle. It saw action in the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. Moving off into the town street fighting began. While it isn't strictly what you are looking for I thought it might shed a little more light on it. Soon, in the middle of recuperation from the long and arduous journey, enemy tanks appeared on the ridge above the woods. 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment I am aware WW2 People’s War is soon to close for contributions. The Northamptonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1960. The German invaders over-ran Rennes on Tuesday 18th June and currently I have an account of their initial arrival and occupation in translation. Having read the contribution you have made on behalf of Mr Hutchinson I see a mention of a rail journey through Rennes and arrival in Southampton 18th June 1940 (Tuesday). The Border Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, which was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot and the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot. But then, on hearing that Rouen had fallen into enemy hands, Fécamp became the destination. On Rommel and the Commander, the Battalion had few casualties, the Battalion did not see active for... Regiment during World War broke out and interest, you have been most helpful Battalion remained in India, the... 1971 when the Second Boer War, and returned to Europe after D-Day and fought through France Germany! The compliment tenfold 10th French Army Commander, General Leslie Morshead the desperate rearguard action towards in... Account of the Somme and were engaged in the central sector, two! 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