140th Field Regiment’s casualties from the 1940 conflict are buried in five different countries across Europe. There are burials in the UK (3) , France (15), Belgium ( 12) , Poland (3) and Germany (1).
There are a total of thirty-four 140th Regiment casualties listed by the Commonwealth War Commission, of whom three died later in the war in captivity. Sadly one casualty, Gunner George Lucas, died just days from his potential liberation in March 1945.
Fourteen men from 140th Regiment are recorded as having died in the most bitter fighting that took place between 24th and 29th May, most of whom have no known grave and are commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. Five men are listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as having died during the battle of Cassel on 29th May, although some of these may have died of wounds sustained earlier. The majority of 367 Battery were captured, wounded or killed during the battle of Cassel and the breakout towards Dunkirk.
Lt-Colonel Graham Brooks, whose 1941 book The Grand Party is an essential record of this Regiment and its men, was invalided out of the Army after an illness precipitated by his prolonged immersion in the sea at Dunkirk. Brooks lived to see the end of the war and the return of his fellow officers and men from captivity in 1945. He died in 1946 at the age of 51 and is buried in Golders Green Crematorium, London.
‘PHONEY WAR’ APRIL-MAY 1940
Douai Communal Cemetery, Douai, France
Gunner John LEE, died 10/04/1940, age 23
ADVANCE INTO BELGIUM, MAY 1940
Hotton Commonwealth War Cemetery, Luxembourg Region, Belgium
Gunner Edwin STRAHAN, died 10/05/1940, age 24
Dunkirk Commonwealth War Memorial, Dunkirk, France
Gunner Alfred BRIGHT, died 10/05/1940, age 28
DEFENCE of the ESCAUT LINE, MAY 1940
Bruyelle Commonwealth War Cemetery, nr Tournai, Belgium
Lance Bombardier Thomas BENNETT
Died 22/05/1940, age 19
RETREAT to DUNKIRK, MAY-JUNE 1940
Dunkirk Memorial, Dunkirk, France
Gunner Bernard VANDENBOSCH, died 25/05/1940, age 19
Gunner Robert HIGHET, died between 25/05/1940 and 29/05/1940, age 21
Lance Serjeant Harry SWINDLE, died 26/05/1940, age 20
Sergeant Henry GOODRUM, died 26/05/1940, age 31
Bombardier Joseph BETH, died 29/05/1940, age 23
Gunner William READ, died Between 29/05/1940 and 02/06/1940, age 24
Gunner William WEEDEN, died 29/05/1940, Age 21
BATTLE of CASSEL, 26th-29th MAY 1940
Five men of the Regiment are listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as having died during the battle of Cassel on 29th May, although some of these were likely to have died of wounds sustained earlier.
Cassel General Cemetery, CWG Extension, Cassel, France
Gunner Charles WILLIAMS, died 26/05/1940, Age 19
Gunner Reginald WOOLSTON, died 29/05/1940, Age 19
BREAKOUT TO WATOU, 29th-31st MAY 1940
Hotton Commonwealth War Cemetery, Luxembourg Region, Belgium
Gunner John DUFFIELD, died between 27/05/1940 and 30/5/1940, age 21
Gunner William DAVIS, died 19/05/1940, age 26
The following were killed on 30th May 1940 and re-interred from the temporary Burial Ground at Watou in 1948):
2nd Lieutenant Graham Cook, age 26
Gunner Horace NICHOLLS, age 20
Gunner Sydney VANGROSY, age 25
Lance Bombardier James HARDY, age 26
Gunner Alfred THORPE, age 21
Nine Elms Commonwealth War Cemetery, near Poperinghe, Belgium
Gunner Albert SMITH, died 29/05/1940, aged 21
Bombardier William WILLS, died between 28/05/1940 and 16/06/1940, age 25
Gunner Frederick HART, died 30/05/1940, age 18
CASUALTIES in FIELD HOSPITALS, FRANCE, MAY-JUNE 1940
Lille Southern Commonwealth War Cemetery, Lille, France
Lance Serjeant John OVERY, died 30/05/1940, age 34
Calais Southern Commonwealth War Cemetery, Calais, France
Serjeant Allison BUCHANAN, died 26/05/1940.
Longueness Souvenir Commonwealth War Cemetery, St Omer, France
Major Edward MILTON T.D., died of wounds 31/05/1940, Aged 47
Dunkirk Town Cemetery, Dunkirk, France
Lieutenant Donald WATERMAN, died 28/05/ 1940, age 29
UNITED KINGDOM, 1940
Bromley Hill Cemetery, Bromley, London
Lieutenant Jack MAY, died of wounds 21/06/1940.
Alperton Cemetery, Wembley, London
Gunner Edward LIDDLE, died of wounds 09/08/ 1940.
DEATHS IN CAPTIVITY, 1940-45
Krakow Commonwealth War Cemetery, POLAND
Gunner Edward FORD, died 13/01/1941, Aged 20 (Stalag VIIIB, Lamsdorf)
Gunner Jack DOWN, died 13/02/1941, Aged 20 (Stalag VIIIB, Lamsdorf)
Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery, POLAND
Gunner George MEASURES, died 15/07/1942 , age 24 (Stalag XXA, Thorn)
THE LONG MARCH 1945
Durnbach Commonwealth War Cemetery, Bavaria, Germany
Gunner George LUCAS, died 22/03/1945, Age 45
POST WAR 1945-46
Golders Green Crematorium, London
Colonel Graham BROOKS, Commanding Officer 366 Battery, and author of ‘The Grand Party’: died 27/10/1946, Age 51