1st Tyneside Scottish June 1940
War Diary 1 TS June 1940
Captain BURR’s Report, as annotated by Lt. Col. SWINBURNE.
1st to 7th June 1940
On the 1st June the Tyneside Scottish moved to Arena Camp, TIDWORTH, where they stayed until the 7th when they moved to Scarne Cross Camp, LAUNCESTON.
The Citation for the award of the Military Medal to 2759608 Piper (Pte) William John LAMONT, 1st Tyneside Scottish, appeared in the London Gazette on 30th September 1941, and can be found in The National Archives under the Military Intelligence file reference dealing with Escapers – the relevant document is headed M.I.9.b/E/6 B.M. 615.616, page number 76 and dated 20th August 1941. It is included here because of his date of capture.
The recommendation was made by the Director of Military Intelligence.
The supporting documentation, which was researched by the late Major Mike Spurrier, reads as follows:-
Private LAMONT was taken prisoner near CAMBRAI on 1st June 1940 and escaped from a Prison Camp at LOEKEREN in Belgium on 4th August by cutting a hole in the barbed wire and climbing over four walls. He passed through GHENT, TOURNAI, ARRAS and GEIN and crossed the Demarcation Line at VILLENEUVE. He was arrested in unoccupied France and sent first to MARSEILLES and then to St HIPPOLYTE DU FORT. On 15th April 1941 he escaped from there with Gunner Chandler with whom he travelled to Spain; he was eventually sent to Gibraltar and arrived in this country on 14th June 1941.
The report of his interview with Military Intelligence was referenced M.I.9. /8/P.G. (B) 333 and was originally classified Most Secret. The interview summary indicates that he had 15 months Regular Army Service and had been a Painter in civilian life, living at 20, Mansfield Street, Leslie, Fife.
He was captured on 1st June 1940 and escaped on 4th August 1940, leaving Gibraltar on 6th June 1941 and arriving at Greenock on 14th June 1941. He was interviewed by Military Intelligence on 15th June 1941.
“I was taken prisoner near CAMBRAI on 1st June 1940. First I was put in charge of wounded Prisoners, then transferred to a Prison Hospital at CAMBRAI. From there I was sent to a Prison Camp at LOEKEREN in BELGIUM. There I cut a hole in the barbed wire, climbed over four walls and escaped (4th August 1940). I passed through GHENT, TOURNAI, ARRAS, FONTAINEBLEU and GEIN, crossing the line of demarcation at VILLENEUVE. I was arrested in the unoccupied zone and sent to MARSEILLES and then to St HIPPOLYTE DU FORT. I escaped from there on 15th April 1941 with Gunner Chandler (S/P.G. (F) 334) with whom I travelled to GIBRALTAR”.
The interview report was copied to Lt Col A.M. Anstruther of S.O.2 and also to the HQ of Bomber Command, RAF.
12th to 18th June 1940
All ranks left LAUNCESTON to go on leave, returning to OKEHAMPTON on the 18th.
By this time it was possible to form some idea of what had happened to the Battalion on 20th May 1940.
It was found that only about 130 had got back to England, including the 73 who had been with Captain Burr, who, being the senior surviving Officer, assumed command of the Battalion until the 22nd of June, when he handed over to Major Oxley, who, that day, reported back to duty from a Course.
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.
