BULOCAMP

30^th May

0130. Transport of troops which was waiting other side of canal moved off, as Bn had commandeered transport on the way.

0300. IO with one DR and empty transport arrived Bulocamp. Major Lowe and 2/Lt Noble waiting for Bn.

0700. No sign of Bn. RUR taking over line as Lincolns owing to detour made by canal bridges had not yet arrived.

0900. RUR take over line, Bn in reserve.

1000. B coy arrive (1 officer and 10 men) the remainder of the Bn coming in.

1030. Bn with transport on side of main road by canal, four shells land in road. Nine casualties.

1130. Bn take up position on far side of canal. Rest of day quiet.

31^st May

0900. Reorganisation of coys. Bn strength 341 men. Divided into HQ coy, A coy and remainder formed another coy.

1000. IO and Bde IO recced route to Bray Dunes. Quiet morning with little shelling.

1340. KOSB reported DLI on right flank had withdrawn without warning. Enemy filling through.

1400. A coy and carriers moved up to support KOSB. DLI returned and took up position behind railway line. Enemy over canal on their front.

1450. KOSB re-establish line. A coy attached to KOSB in case of necessity.

1530. Air battle above position. Two ME109’s shot down, crew took to parachutes. Rest of planes fled for home.

1700. Slight shelling form gun positions behind Bn HQ.

1800. 2/Lt Noble requisitioned three pigs for food to supply Bn.

1900. Orders to withdraw to Le Panne and embark for England.

2000. Coy Cmdrs conference.

2100. B coy left position, ordered to be at Le Panne by 2200.

2200. All Bn out, advance party reach Le Panne only to be told to proceed to Bray Dunes approx one mile on. Here Bn formed up with 100 men per guide. Fairly heavy shelling and many houses on fire. The guide led the Bn four miles along the shore to the jetty, made up of lorries and duckboards! Where a certain number managed to be taken off to waiting boats.

2400. The tide being light and made boarding the small boats extremely difficult. At this time we were told that no more could board fro several hours and that three alternatives were given:

1. wait on beach till the tide came in,
2. wait on sand dunes until small boats could come off,
3. walk to Dunkirk (7 miles).

Heavy shelling came down at that minute causing casualties and braking the jetty. The Bn being split up and the shelling heavy the remainder walked towards Dunkirk. Some left about half way by swimming and wading to ?, others managed to get off the jetty at Dunkirk. Throughout the whole night and especially at dawn the men were subjected to heavy air attacks. Dunkirk itself was in flames and the sea around filled with boats of all descriptions. Three destroyers were sunk between 0600 and 1000 hrs and many small craft. Out of 600 men in A coy destroyer four hundred were wounded by MG fire.

LA PANNE

1^st June

0040. Bn embarked for UK in small parties. Bn disorganised and landed in various ports in UK.

2^nd June. Bn in various reception camps throughout UK. Rest in these camps until concentration for Division notified.

3^rd June. Majority still in reception camps. Men given fresh clothing.

FROME

4^th June. 2/Lt Noble, 2/Lt Fennell, 2/Lt Chamberlain joined us in Fromw, with approx 20 men. Bn concentration area formed at Castle Cary. Noble still with captured machine gun but little else.

CASTLE CARY

5^th June. Major Lowe, Major Baxter, Capt Gough, Padre arrived Frome and proceeded to Castle Cary where the Bn was reforming. Small parties arrived throughout the day.

7^th June. Forty eight hours leave granted to Bn.

8^th June. Bn gradually reforming, men arriving daily from various camps throughout the country. 2/Lt Ebbut, 2/Lt Burton, 2/Lt Hart, 2/Lt Bradbury arrived.

9^th June. Reinforcements arrived from the depot. Approx 150 men also 100 R Berks, 150 W Yoks, 50 E Yorks. 2/Lt Wilson, 2/Lt Looker rejoined the Bn.

10^th June. 2/Lt Albertson joined the Bn posted to A coy. Several officers left on their 48 hrs leave.

11^th June. Reinforcements from ITC Lincolns. 2/Lt Clarke, Bush, Cole and Lt Turton.

12^th June. Bn continuing to reform and re-equip. 3^rd Div having priority over all other divisions, to be completely re-equiped and ready to move to France within ten days.

13^th June. Reinforcements from Holding Bn. Capt O’Connor, Lt Smith, 2/Lt Colvin, 2/Lt Hill, 2/Lt Drummond. Stores and arms arriving daily. P14 rifles arrived.

14^th June. Three Tommy guns sent to Bn, allotment per Bn to be 12. General toughening up for all troops.

15^th June. Further reinforcements: 2/Lt Gilbert, Madden, Waugh, EH Dawson, ME Dawson. Major Hayman OC D coy.

17^th June. The 9^th Bde inspected by HRH the King. Three cheers were given.