On this day 30th May
1918 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – SAULTY.
1918 –1/1stBuckinghamshire Battalion – GRUMO & CEREDA.
Battalion marched at 4.30am arriving at Staging Camp near VILLA VERLA about 9am.
Camp consisted of Italian Bivouacs and a few Bell Tents. Plenty of room for everyone.
Battalion had Breakfasts on arrival. No work done during the day.
Ration Strength: 27 Officers 428 OR. Casualties: NIL.
1940 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI (43rd) – Following Battle of Comines Withdrawal to DUNKIRK.
Just south of Houthem 4080 all the motor transport, except for a few vehicles which we were allowed to keep, were destroyed, and the Regiment marched into the Dunkirk perimeter. The Regiment moved into a wooded area about ten miles from the sea. Companies were given areas, all-round defence was organized and with the useful addition of tools collected from the roadside as we marched in, slit trenches were soon dug for all.
1940 – 4th (TA) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – CASSEL
Orders were received to march on a 50-degree bearing to Watou and thence due north to Hondschoote, where the canal was said to be held by our own troops (in point of fact it was not). The leading half-column passed to the north of Watou and got well on the way to Hondschoote before encountering a strong force of the enemy, to whom they were compelled to surrender after putting up a stiff fight. The rear half-column, finding Watou occupied by enemy tanks, attempted to make a detour to the south of the village, but soon found itself surrounded by a strong enemy force consisting of tanks, guns, mortars and motorized infantry in armoured troop carriers. Against these the only weapons that we had been able to take with us—rifles and Bren guns—were practically useless; but an attempt at resistance was made until the party was overwhelmed by the advance of heavy enemy tanks. As further resistance merely meant increasing the already heavy casualty list whilst serving absolutely no useful purpose, they too surrendered.
Apart from most of the transport drivers who left Cassel on the 27th May, Lieutenant Wallis (of the brigade anti-tank company), Lieutenant Eley and a handful of men were the only members of the 4th Battalion who succeeded in returning to England.
1959 – 1st Green Jackets, 43rd & 52nd - H.T. Dunera docked at Southampton at 1600 hours. Light Division Assembly was sounded by the bugles, and the band of the 2nd Green Jackets, K.R.R.C., played on the dockside
1918 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – SAULTY.
1918 –1/1stBuckinghamshire Battalion – GRUMO & CEREDA.
Battalion marched at 4.30am arriving at Staging Camp near VILLA VERLA about 9am.
Camp consisted of Italian Bivouacs and a few Bell Tents. Plenty of room for everyone.
Battalion had Breakfasts on arrival. No work done during the day.
Ration Strength: 27 Officers 428 OR. Casualties: NIL.
1940 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI (43rd) – Following Battle of Comines Withdrawal to DUNKIRK.
Just south of Houthem 4080 all the motor transport, except for a few vehicles which we were allowed to keep, were destroyed, and the Regiment marched into the Dunkirk perimeter. The Regiment moved into a wooded area about ten miles from the sea. Companies were given areas, all-round defence was organized and with the useful addition of tools collected from the roadside as we marched in, slit trenches were soon dug for all.
1940 – 4th (TA) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – CASSEL
Orders were received to march on a 50-degree bearing to Watou and thence due north to Hondschoote, where the canal was said to be held by our own troops (in point of fact it was not). The leading half-column passed to the north of Watou and got well on the way to Hondschoote before encountering a strong force of the enemy, to whom they were compelled to surrender after putting up a stiff fight. The rear half-column, finding Watou occupied by enemy tanks, attempted to make a detour to the south of the village, but soon found itself surrounded by a strong enemy force consisting of tanks, guns, mortars and motorized infantry in armoured troop carriers. Against these the only weapons that we had been able to take with us—rifles and Bren guns—were practically useless; but an attempt at resistance was made until the party was overwhelmed by the advance of heavy enemy tanks. As further resistance merely meant increasing the already heavy casualty list whilst serving absolutely no useful purpose, they too surrendered.
Apart from most of the transport drivers who left Cassel on the 27th May, Lieutenant Wallis (of the brigade anti-tank company), Lieutenant Eley and a handful of men were the only members of the 4th Battalion who succeeded in returning to England.
1959 – 1st Green Jackets, 43rd & 52nd - H.T. Dunera docked at Southampton at 1600 hours. Light Division Assembly was sounded by the bugles, and the band of the 2nd Green Jackets, K.R.R.C., played on the dockside
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