Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website

Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website



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216915

Bmbdr. William John Jenkins

British Army Royal Artillery

from:Middlesbrough

This is something my dad wrote after coming back from Dunkirk, he was evacuated on 31st. May, his birthday, unfortunately, there isn't a lot, he never finished it.

The Long Road to Dunkirk

On the morning of May 10th.1940 Belgium was invaded by Germany, at 04:00 hours. The Regiment moved towards Belgium at 09:00 hours on the morning of the 13th. Via Baisieux, Renaix, Ninove, Brussels to Huldenberg right of the River Dyle. As we passed through Brussels we were given a marvellous welcome by the population, including Belgian troops, (my truck was decorated by two young girls it looked like a Co-op van on May Day). All day long we passed a pitiful stream of refugees wending their way from the fighting zone. The guns came into position near a large farm house now evacuated the date is now the 14th. Enemy bombers came over the battery position all day long but inflicted no casualties. The men lived well here as all the livestock was killed for food, and eggs and milk could be had at most times of the day. So for a whole day we did very little but rest and eat, but we did make ourselves some protection in case of sudden enemy action. On the morning of the 15th. the battery fired its first round, and we being unaware of any danger were casually strolling around. Later however our mistake was realised and this silly habit was soon stopped.

The enemy attacked our zone at 21:00 hours but we held fast, as the whole of the British Artillery in our line pounded them. At a late hour in the night our Battery laid down a barrage, assisted by other Batteries all around us. I shall never be able to describe this noise it was terrible, the farm and all the buildings on it were shaking, the windows dropped out all around. This kept on for six or seven hours and it was now daylight, after the firing had ceased by our Battery and some of the others we prepared for a meal. It was then I saw our Gunners, they looked tired out and black as soot with the smoke as they had been almost stripped to the waist. We pulled out of Huldenberg that same morning May 16th. again we passed through Brussels, this time it was so quiet and the only people seen were a few Belgian soldiers. Then on again through many villages and towns to Gooik where we stayed the night.



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