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Author Topic: Last stand of the 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers May 1940  (Read 189 times)
miskimmin
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Posts: 13


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Last stand of the 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers May 1940
« on: Tuesday 03 November 09 18:23 UTC (UK) »
Good Evening all.

I am looking for anybody with connections with the last stand of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers' last stand on the Ypres-Comines canal over the last few days in May 1940.

I have had the privilage of talking to two of the platoon commanders who were there in those dark days and read the diaries of several other officers.
BUT

I would love to hear from the ordinary ranks, whom, like my Grandfather fought to the last to ensure the BEF escaped at Dunkirk.
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miskimmin
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Posts: 13


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: Last stand of the 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers May 1940
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 03 November 09 18:27 UTC (UK) »
“The Scots Fusiliers were on the right of the sector and held the railway embankments south of Verbrandenmolen. On the evening of May 27 orders were received that the position must be held at all costs for the next 24 hours, to enable the rest of the B.E.F. to get away. The message was passed to the Battalion and I received a heartening reply from Tod—that the Scots Fusiliers would do all that was required of them. [The Public Relations Department of the War Office gives Colonel Tod’s reply in the more dramatic form: ‘Tell Brigade I’m not going a foot back.’] I again went up to see Tod during the night, leaving him about 3 a.m. on May 28.
“When I saw him he was with the Battalion H.Q. in a farm, and had with him Morrison, Arkwright, Knight and, I think, Thomson [Major P. D. Morrison, Major A. S. B. Arkwright, Lieutenant P. A. Knight, who was the Signal Officer, and Lieutenant I. S. Thomson]. We discussed that night what might be done with patrols.... He obtained contact with the units on his flanks and seemed quite cheerful about the situation. Very heavy enemy shelling began about 4 a.m. and at 6 a.m. heavy infantry attacks developed. The situation for the rest of the morning was very obscure and it was almost impossible to get information even by runners and liaison officers....Very few stragglers got back and I am sure that what happened was that they fought it out to the bitter end.”
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miskimmin
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Posts: 13


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: Last stand of the 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers May 1940
« Reply #2 on: Friday 06 November 09 15:28 UTC (UK) »
It's worked!

I've just had a fantastic conversation with the son of one of the Company commanders present during the fighting.
He is going to send me some photo's and some diary extracts!

marvellous!
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stuartroxy
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Posts: 188


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: Last stand of the 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers May 1940
« Reply #3 on: Friday 13 November 09 23:39 UTC (UK) »
I don't think that my grandad was at the last stand, but he was in 2 RSF; wounded and captured at Anzio in 1944 in what was described according to Kemp's History: “It was a heart-breaking finish to Anzio and, for us, of the Italian Campaign.”

Good luck with your research.

stuartroxy
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Roxburgh/Rock/O'Rouk - Edinburgh/Glasgow
Slora/Slorach - Edinburgh/Aberdeen/Moray
Roberts/Robert - Edinburgh/Torphichen
Cochrane - Edinburgh
Davison - Sunderland
Curtis - Sunderland
miskimmin
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Posts: 13


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: Last stand of the 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers May 1940
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 14 November 09 09:36 UTC (UK) »
Hi Stuart,
thanks. The research is going pretty well now.

Would your grandad be John Roxburgh? I have an entry in one of my books. Regimental number 3131585 and it show him to have transfered to the 10th Camaronians on the 6/6/1940.
But he could of transfered back at a latter date.

all the best

Iain
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stuartroxy
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Posts: 188


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: Last stand of the 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers May 1940
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 14 November 09 11:06 UTC (UK) »
Iain,

John is not my grandad - although it is interesting to know that there is another Roxburgh moving around the Scottish regiments!

Mine is Thomas McQuaters Roxburgh; Service number 2926293. He was with 1 Camerons in April 1939 but was captured with 2 RSF in 1944.

I'd be most interested if you have anything on him!

stuartroxy
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Roxburgh/Rock/O'Rouk - Edinburgh/Glasgow
Slora/Slorach - Edinburgh/Aberdeen/Moray
Roberts/Robert - Edinburgh/Torphichen
Cochrane - Edinburgh
Davison - Sunderland
Curtis - Sunderland
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