GS Branch 23rd Division 1940 - May 28th to 31st

POPERINGHE - 28th May 1940

At 04:00 hours, no information having been received on the locations of Corps HQs, Majors Trenam and Goldingham, Captain Browne and 2/Lt Bell were despatched to try and locate them. At 05:00 the two Majors returned, having found the rear HQ of 2 Corps. A message was sent to Lt Dodds, Royal Engineers, to bring his Party to Divisional HQ.

Captain Browne returned at 06:00 having failed to find the HQs of 1, 2 or 3 Corps. A few minutes later 2/Lt Bell, Royal Signals, arrived having received information that a conference was to be held at Adv BRASSARD (unsure if this meant a place or was a code name).

At 06:40 Captain Izod returned from a northwards road reconnaissance and stated that 3 Division is to move on roads northwards to OOSTYLETEREN.

At 07:10 hours Cpl Rodgers, one of the Royal Signals Despatch Riders, returns from his run to ST JAN TER BIEZEN H46 to deliver the message to Lt Dodds, Royal Engineers. Lt Dodds was in command of a bridge guard posted on 26th May to the Canal South West of LILLE. Cpl Rodgers had combed the villages in the area but had been unable to tract Lt Dodds or his Party.

Orders were then issued for all kit, baggage and stores to be dumped and Secret papers burnt. General Herbert remained at the location with Lt Col Hare, the staff car, 2/Lt Bell and a party of Despatch Riders and the rest of the HQ staff were sent on, leaving in convoy at 11:00 hours. The convoy proceeded via POPERINGHE and CROMBEKE to a field about 1 mile South of STAVELE and to the West of the road CROMBEKE - STAVELE, arriving at 13:00 hours, being fortunate to get through POPERINGHE at a time when no air-raid was in progress. Divisional HQ was established at this point by 13:00.

At 13:30 the Divisional transport was sent back to collect and carry men of 8 RNF. General Herbert and Lt Col Hare arrived at the new HQ.

The weather deteriorated in the afternoon and into the evening, with heavy rain, poor visibility and only moderate temperatures. At 16:20 hours a message was sent to all units instructing that no further move should take place until further notice, but that all should be at 1 hours notice to move. Each unit was also instructed to detail 100 men as reinforcements for 50 Division, if demanded. At this point the Division was concentrated in the area STAVELE - CROMBEKE.

Field South of STAVELE - 29th May 1940

The weather had improved and was warm and bright. At 07:30 a message was sent to the Advanced HQ of GHQ, copied to 2 Corps, giving the location of the Division and advising that all units were standing by with 100 men each available as reinforcements for 50 Division.

At 09:45 General Herbert ordered all units in the Division to move in the direction of KILLEM LINDE H3974, sending Col Gulland back to reconnoitre the location. He reported that the location was empty.

A message was then received from Adv BRASSARD placing the Division under the command of 2 Corps. The Divisional column then moved via STAVELE and BEVEREN H4273, amongst other allied units moving Northwards. Long range artillery shelling was experienced, but no casualties were caused to the Division.

2 Corps were informed that the Division was in the process of moving to KILLEM LINDE and HQ was established some 300 yards South of the crossroads on the road KILLEM LINDE to REXPOEDE. Units were dispersed to the South of KILLEM LINDE. Enemy aircraft appeared but no bombs were dropped. Captain Browne was sent to find 2 Corps HQ and report.

At 18:00 hours Captain Browne returned with orders for the Division to move into the area inclusive of the road and rail crossing at map reference H4485 to an area exclusive of the crossroads MOERES H4084 - road junction H4386, and to come under the orders of 50 Division on arrival. 2/Lt Bell was sent to 50 Division as liaison officer. Units were ordered to move independently over canal bridges ready for blowing, with 8 RNF finding the rearguard.

Before leaving the area of KILLEM LINDE all transport except the staff cars and the Despatch Riders' motorcycles were to be put out of action as it was understood no transport would be allowed over the Canal BERGUES - FURNES. Except for the War Diary, cipher material and important messages, all other paperwork was to be burnt.

During the move units were subject to shelling on the roads they were using.

At 20:00 hours Major Slade-Powell and Captain Browne carried out a reconnaissance of the new area, while Captain Hedley and Major Allen reconnoitred the bridges over which the units were to pass. Three more bridges than appeared on the maps were discovered during this check.

At 23:30 hours Divisional HQ was established at MOERES crossroads. Units prepared to reinforce the detachments covering the canal bridges and to provide patrols between the bridges.

MOERES Crossroads - 30th May 1940

At 02:00 hours General Herbert with Major Allen visited the composite DLI Battalion, 7 GH and 5 EY. One officer and 60 men of 8 RNF had reported and been attached to 5 EY. General Herbert also tried to reach 50 Division HQ but found the roads impassable, being blocked with transport South of ADINKERKE.

By 07:30 General Herbert had located 50 Division, to whom 23rd Division were now reporting, and was asked to provide patrols on the 50 Division front - this order being later cancelled. Instead, it was arranged that the three Battalions should provide working parties to support 50 Division.

The 50 Division front stretched from inclusive NIEUPORTHHOCK to inclusive WESTMORHOCK and the Belgian frontier. 150 Brigade were on the right and 151 Brigade on the left.

5 EY were allotted to support 4 EY on the right of 150 Brigade, 7 GH to support 5 GH on the left of 150 Brigade.

The composite DLI Battalion was allotted to support 151 Brigade - of which 8 DLI were on the right and 9 DLI on the left. This meant that five DLI Battalions were together in the line - 6th, 8th and 9th of 151 Brigade and personnel from 10th and 11th DLI of 70 Brigade. Men of 1st Tyneside Scottish (formerly 12th DLI), were also in the vicinity. It was originally thought that this was a unique occasion in World War Two, but was repeated in Normandy in 1944.

At 11:00 hours the Divisional HQ was shelled and casualties were suffered - two killed and two wounded of 31 Line Section and one wounded of Divisional Royal Engineers.

At 16:00 hours Lt Col Hare and Major Slade-Powell left to take up embarkation duties at LA PANNE beach.

At 19:30 the HQ moved to ADINKERKE.

Between 20:40 and 21:30 hours General Herbert and Major Allen visited the HQ of 150 Brigade at farm H3984, the HQ of 7 GH at farm H3884 and 5 EY at H3882. Both Battalion C.O.'s were interviewed. Their units were providing working and carrying parties for the forward Battalions of 150 Brigade.

At 23:45 Col Gulland visited the HQ of 50 Division and received orders for 23rd Division to withdraw forthwith to ADINKERKE and thence to the beaches for embarkation.

ADINKERKE - 31st May 1940

At 00:30 hours Major Allen and Captain Hedley drove to the HQs of 7 GH and 5 EY with verbal orders for their C.O.'s to withdraw their units to H3987 ADINKERKE as soon as they could be collected. Guides would meet them at the crossroads. Similar instructions were passed to Lt Col Marley of the DLI at H4187 by General Herbert and 2/Lt Bell.

At 03:15 Divisional HQ was closed, all cars put out of action and the Commander with his staff and troops proceeded on foot to the beach H3187 North of ZUYDCOOTE. Divisional HQ, 5 EY, 7 GH, the DLI Battalion and the detachment of 186 Field Ambulance, together with 50 Division, concentrated on the beach. Major Challoner, with the main body of 8 RNF, reported, and rejoined the Division.

A shell fell in the 7 GH area and caused casualties. Meanwhile, the tide and surf were hampering embarkation from the beach. General Herbert arranged for the Division to be embarked on destroyers at DUNKERQUE and verbal orders were given to proceed to the East Mole.

On the move to DUNKERQUE, units became separated because of the traffic of mixed parties of other units, including French troops. On arrival at the Mole troops were used for carrying stretchers of wounded from the Southern end and collecting them to await carrying parties from the hospital ship. Destroyers and other naval vessels were lying alongside the Mole - as troops arrived they were directed to the ships - as each completed loading another took its place. Although units and nationalities were mixed up the loading proceeded smoothly.

Units from the Division were landed at Dover and Margate, and men were then dispersed to various Depots and Camps around the country.

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