What happened in Fecamp on 11th June 1940

[woody25]

I am trying to establish which unit Tom Kelly T/135110, my Dad's uncle, was attached to on 11th June 1940, the day he died, so that I can search for the unit war diary.

He was a driver with the RASC and according to his casualty card he was with 5 Reserve MT Company when he was killed in action but I can find no reference to this unit on the internet nor on searching the NA website, he has a grave in Le Val Aux Clercs, Fécamp.

I cannot find much detail as to what happened there specifically but I am aware it must have been completely chaotic with the attempted evacuations and the Germans advancing.

I live in the Isle of Man so research other than on the internet is very difficult and costly and so I would be grateful for any advice or information.

AW

[lowanslow]

Try this connection,  http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/33/a2381933.shtml , it has a short story which may help.

You could also try this as well, http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/UK-NWE-Flanders-20.html  hope this helps.

[woody25]

Thank you, I have read your suggestions, they do paint a very grim & chaotic picture.

Do you imagine I will be able to get anything more specific about the events of that day closer to the town of Fécamp or in fact any confirmation of the unit Tom may have been attached to?

It was clearly disastrous for the poor guys left behind.

AW

[lowanslow]

Hi aw, after looking on the net I have found from the ww2 forum that one of the regiments fighting around and in Fecamp was the 4th battalion the Buffs "A" Brigade who were attached to the 51st Highland Division,here is the link http://www.51hd.co.uk/accounts/ark_force

Detachments from 525, 526 and 527 Companies RASC were also with this Div. I hope this starts to narrow your search down a little, there is only one sure fire way to find out which unit he was attached to and that is to apply for his records, which will take time and cost you 30 pounds, at the moment they are quite over whelmed with requests. Will keep looking to see if I can find out any more Info. though.

[woody25]

Hiya

Thanks so much for your info I will look into that right away. 

I actually do have the service record, it arrived last week after an eight month wait but so far as I can see there is very little on it to help me - I will try to attach it to this post in case a second pair of eyes might see more than I can.

Many thanks again

Adrienne

[lowanslow]

Hi woody25, here is a list that may help you, compiled by Graham Watson

 The British Expeditionary Force, May 1940
v.1 0 August 12, 2001

SUPPORT AND SERVICE TROOPS
GHQ BEF, Arras
GHQ Signals
2 Wireless Company
GHQ Troops Engineers
100, 101, 216 Army Tps Coys, 228, 242 Fd Coys, 223 Fd Pk Coy
19 Fd Survey Coy
1 Bridging Coy RASC
1 Chemical Warfare Group RE=58, 61, 62 CW Coys RE
GHQ Troops RASC
1, 2, 3 GHQ Coys [formed from 20,11, ? Coys RASC]
1, 2, 3, 4 GHQ Artillery Coys [13, 53, 81, 94 Coys RASC]
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Reserve MT Coys RASC
1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 Troop Carrying Coys RASC.

This is not all just the part you need. As you see the 5th res. M.T. was with G.H.Q.  I would love to find out what the code SS/M/V/ 58 signifies, at first I thought it was a code for a steamship that had been sunk  Any way hope this helps, will keep my eye out and good hunting.

[woody25]

That is interesting, thank you.  Yes I was curious about that reference too?

Thanks again, fingers crossed I can get to the bottom of it.

AW

[Pete Keane]

You need to check WO 361/88 at the National Archives.

That file relates to men missing from the RASC during the BEF campaign.

If enquiries were made, which by the look of it they were, then the details should be recorded there.

Pete.

[Pete Keane]

If you google Operation Cycle, it covers the evacuation from Havre (which included Fecamp albeit it is just to the north).

11th June was the day the Bruges was sunk - this was a personnel transporter, the records of which I believe may be in WO 361/21.

I believe he was killed during the evacuation at the port.

Pete