The following sixteen 140th Regiment Officers were recorded as POW in a Roll of Honour Appendix in ‘Grand Party’:
Lieutenant-Colonel C.J. ODLING T.D. (wounded at Cassel)
Major N. CHRISTOPHERSON M.C. (wounded at Cassel)
Captain H. WESTLEY
Captain C.A. HOOD
Captain C.L MacDOUGALL (on the run in occupied France until July 1940)
Captain F.N. SIRKETT
Lieutenant R.N. BAXTER
Lieutenant J. JEFFERY (wounded)
2nd Lieutenant C.J.L. BENNETT (wounded)
2nd Lieutenant F.W.W. STEPHENS (wounded)
2nd Lieutenant M.R. ROWLAND
2nd Lieutenant J.H. FITCH
2nd Lieutenant D. BUDD
Lieutenant D.W. LACEY (R.A.M.C.)
Lieutenant E.N. LAYTON (Royal Signals)
Agent de Liaison Georges KEMIR (French Army)
Captain W BEALE (Padre). (wounded -shot at Cassel and lost eye)
A Time of Uncertainty
The chaos of the BER retreat to Dunirk meant that many families had to endure month of uncertainty before learning the fate of the men left behind. This letter from Graham Brooks dated 18th June 1940 to a Gunner’s father sums up the anguish felt by many:
Letter from Graham Brookes 18-6-1940. With thanks to Daniel Moss
‘Dear Sir, I have just got your letter dated 11th June. I am so very sorry indeed that I cannot give you any definite news of your son. I can say, however, very definitely, that there is no reason whatever to think that he is not alive. His battery was surrounded by the enemy in the late stages of the retreat and from the story told by one of the survivors who managed to escape, it would appear that they were all captured. It will probably be some consolation to you to know that this survivor says that they were all quite well treated by the Germans, who gave them food and cigarettes. I have written to the Red Cross, who have a very good organisation for tracing prisoners-of-war, in the hope that they may be able to get news of our missing officers and men. I will let you know the moment I hear anything. Please accept our very real sympathy in the terrible suspense you are going through. Yours faithfully, Graham Brooks, Major RA Commanding 140 Field Regiment RA’
The following 140 Regiment men (seventy so far) are recorded as POWs in the National Archives collection of digitised German Capture cards. Ironically the best record of captured men originates from the POW record cards issued by the German Army. This is an incomplete archive as many German capture cards are either missing from the collection or are awaiting digitisation. A total of approx. 200 men of the 140th Regiment were captured.
Search terms: ‘Royal Artillery’ + ‘140 Regiment’ + ‘Watou’ + ‘Watteau’ + ‘Wateau’ + ‘Wahtou’ + ‘Cassel’ + ‘Winnezeele’ + ‘Poperinghe’
DEATHS IN CAPTIVITY
Gunner George Measures, 897843, age 22
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou.
Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn. [Death in captivity: 15 July 1942]
Lance Bombardier George Lucas, 1416782, age 40
Date of Capture: 30/05/1940. Watou.
Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf. [Death in captivity: 22 March 1945]
Gunner Jack Down. 911231 age 19.
Date of Capture: 30/5/1940. Wahtou (sic).
Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn. [Death in captivity: 13 February 1941]
POW SURVIVORS
Lieutenant Ronald Baxter. age 36 [see Biography section]
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Oflag VIIC Laufen.
Gunner Stanley Hudson, age 30
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf
Gunner William Barker, age 23
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Ernest King, 897521, age 21
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner John McCarthy, 914911, age 22
Date of Capture: 30/05/1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Lance Bombardier Robert Howes, age 29
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Eric Hill, 897524, age 22
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner George Maxwell, age 21
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Frederick Gooch, age 22
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Albert Hughes, 947059, age 21
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Henry Doehren, age 27
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Thomas Lockett. age 22
Date of Capture: 30/05/1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Arthur Garrod , age 31
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Lance Bombardier John Butler, age 33
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin
Gunner Joseph Dollin, age 34
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
Lance Bombardier Robert Howes, age 29
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner John Bainbridge, age 21
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf
Gunner Alfred Coleman, 916421, age 21
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Harry Church, 945181, age 21
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Robert Edwards, 947014, age 21
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Alexander Dey, 867785, age 24
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag IVB Muhlberg.
Sergeant Leslie Chandler, 750415, age 34
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Edwin Mayhew, 945507, age 21
Date of Capture: 30/05/1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf
Gunner George Birt, 918691, age 37
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: [unspecified]
Gunner Charles Davies, 900843, age 35
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner George Blaber, 945188, age 21
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Teschen.
Gunner Leslie Douglas Chard. Date of Birth: 11/12/1918.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Eric Greenhough. Date of Birth: 12/12/1918.
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Charles Higham. Date of Birth: 1/2/1919.
Date of Capture: 30th May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag IXC Bad Sulza.
Gunner John William Brown. Date of Birth: 16 January 1909.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel, Camp Name/Number: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Stephen Bristow. Date of Birth: 22/6/1918.
Date of Capture: 28th May 1940 Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Sergeant William Walter Gray. Date of Birth: 17/11/1917.
Date of Capture: 28th May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Charles James Davies. Date of Birth: 15/06/1914.
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Sydney Albert Leary. Date of Birth: 16/04/1917.
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB.
Gunner Ernest Charles Galsworthy. Date of Birth: 26/11/1918.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Thomas Frederick Hale. Date of Birth: 30/03/1911.
Date of Capture: 26 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Bombardier Harold Edwards. Date of Birth: 28/10/1913.
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Teschen.
Gunner George Fletcher. Date of Birth: 26/08/1907.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn
Gunner George Mason. Date of Birth: 04/11/1919.
Date of Capture: 28/05/1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Sagan.
Gunner George McIntyre. Date of Birth: 07/06/1918.
Date of Capture: 30/05/1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB.
Gunner Francis John Humphries. Date of Birth: 6/2/1911.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Hugh Rowland Burge. Date of Birth: 30 November 1919.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Driver Bernard Hirst. Date of Birth: 12/9/1910. (see ‘Biography’ section)
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Lance Bombardier John Harrington. Date of Birth: 8/7/1918.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Frederick Corker. Date of Birth: 6/5/1918.
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Driver Thomas Winterborne Holmes. Date of Birth: 16/1/1916.
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Charles Kent. Date of Birth: 12/02/1916.
Date of Capture: 26 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXIA Schildberg.
Gunner William Bailey. Date of Birth: 29 December 1907.
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Bombardier Robert Edwin Adkin. Date of Birth: 16 October 1919.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Bombardier Reginald Arthur Bowles. Date of Birth: 27/3/1914.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Robert William Edwards. 947014, Date of Birth: 11/12/1918.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
Gunner Henry Andrews. Date of Birth: 29 December 1905.
Date of Capture: 27 May 1940. Cassel. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin (Poland)
Sergeant George Frederick Matthews. Date of Birth: 13/12/1913.
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. ‘Watteau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Edward Martin. Date of Birth 24 February 1913
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. ‘Watteau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn
L/Bdr Henry Dunn. 913826, Date of Birth 6th March 1918
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. ‘Watteau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin
Bmdr. Cyril Geoffrey Bailey. Date of Birth: 10 May 1911.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. ‘Watteau’. Camp Name: Stalag VB Villingen.
Gunner Thomas Gray. Date of Birth: 15/1/1919.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. ‘Watteau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
Gunner George Henry Clark. Date of Birth: 12/1/1917.
Date of Capture: 27 May 1940. ‘Wateau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Joshua [L] Dresser. Date of Birth: 22/9/1918.
Date of Capture 30 May 1940. ‘Wateau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
L/Bmdr Edwin Tewsbury Fogg. Date of Birth: 20/6/1918.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. ‘Wateau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
Gunner Stanley [C] Hird. (or Hind?) Date of Birth: 22/6/1912.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. ‘Wateau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
Driver Sidney [W] Carter. Date of Birth: 22/11/1918.
Date of Capture: 28 May 1940. ‘Wateau’ .Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
Gunner Wilfred Dale. Date of Birth: 24/09/1914.
Date of Capture: 25 May 1940: Wateau. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
Gunner [J] Alfred Douglas. Date of Birth: 5/4/1912.
Date of Capture 30 May 1940: ‘Wateau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXA Thorn.
Gunner Charles Kane. Date of Birth: 10/12/1919 (or 1899?)
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. ‘Wateau’. Camp Name: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
Lieutenant Reginald Fitch. Date of Birth 22 February 1915
Date of Capture: 31st May 1940. Poperinghe. Camp Name: Oflag VIIC Laufen
Captain Denis W Lacey. RAMC, Date of Birth: 10/03/1914. Place of Birth: Sutton.
Date of Capture: 29 May 1940. Watou. Camp Name: Oflag VIIC Laufen.
Gunner Ernest William Wilson. Date of Birth 5/11/20. Place of Birth: Silvertown.
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940. Camp name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf
2nd Lt Maurice Rowland. Date of Birth 3/3/11. Place of Birth: St Albans
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940 Watou. Camp name: Oflag VIIC Laufen
Driver Arthur Madel. Date of Birth 8-10-16 Place of Birth: East Ham London
Date of Capture: 30 May 1940 Watou. Camp name: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf