207659 Fus. Richard Hulme MID.British Army 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers from:St.Helens, Lancashire My Dad was Fusilier Richard Hulme of the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's). He was in the rear guard at Dunkirk and was captured on the 15th June 1940 at Routot east of Le Havre and imprisoned in a chateau. On the 21st June 1940 he escaped and made his way to Hauville where he was sheltered for 6 weeks on a farm before going on to Romorantin in November where he lived for 6 weeks in a house in the woods. On the 24th December 1940 he reached a village near the Demarcation line where a farmer sheltered him for the night and drove him across the DML. He was soon arrested again and taken to Chatearoux then on to Marseilles. On the 1st January 1941 he arrived at Fort St Jean. On the 8th January 1941 he was transferred to St Hippolyte.
On the 13th April 1941 my father escaped France with the help of the Rev Donald Caskie from the Fisherman's Mission in Marsailles with 3 other soldiers; Pte H. Southern, Pte E S Whitley, and Pte H Croft. They walked to Ganges, took a bus to Montpellier and a train to Argles-sur-Mer where they crossed the border to Spain. They were then captured at Espola near Figueras and spend the next 8 weeks in Cervera and Miranda. On the 8th of June my Dad was released for repatriation with the other 3 soldiers and on the 4th July left Gibraltar by sea for Glasgow. In all this time my Dad was missing presumed dead. My grandfather John received telegrams from my Dad that said only “Safe and Well”. These were sent by the Reverend Caskie to the Church of Scotland.
My Dad didn’t talk much of his experiences through the war. I know through my own investigations of where he served. He served at Casino in Italy and on the 2nd December was Mentioned in Despatch for distinguished service. Sadly my Dad passed away some 10 years ago, a frail but very proud man. I look back and find it hard to believe the bravery of thousands of men just like my dad. Now, they have lived a life and always remembered comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice.
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