Jim Soanes was my grandad. He enlisted with the 19th Searchlight Militia Depot on 18th July 1939. He went to France with the BEF, as part of the 2nd Searchlight Regiment. He was evacuated from Dunkirk on the SS Canterbury. I have in my possession quite a lot of letters he wrote home. From these, I also know that he went to Sheffield as part of the operation to build a fake city.
Here is an account I wrote several years ago of the evacuation of Dunkirk from the Battalion's War Diary and extracts of personal letters.
My Grandad, James Arnold Soanes, was a Gunner with the 2nd Searchlight Regiment during the Second World War. He spent most of the war in Dorset, engaged in Home Defence, but saw brief action on the Continent as part of the British Expeditionary Force and later the British Liberation Army. His Battalion were among the last to be evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940. Below is an account of the Battery's last days in France, and how they made it home. From my Grandad's letters home, it is clear that he must have returned to England aboard the SS Canterbury, of which I am lucky enough to have a photo.
An Extract from The War Diary of The 8th Searchlight Battery of The 2nd Searchlight Regiment
- Oost-Cappel (H.3771) 23rd May 1940, 18.00
Orders received for an early move on the 24th to assist A.A. defence of Dunkerque.
- 24th May 1940, 07.15 Battery moved off for Dunkerque, but were halted on the road about H.3175, on reports that enemy were already in possession of areas South-West of the Town, The Battery then moved to a rendezvous at Lefrinckoucke. H.3083 reached at 1130 hours to await for further orders.
17.30 Battery moved to billets at H.423835 where H.Q. 2nd S/L Regt.R.A., and portions of 6th S/L Battery were also billeted. This constituted first entry into Belgium. Moeres (H.4183) 25th May 1940
The Battery, now less two troops, whilst retaining S/L equipment prepared to reform to act as infantry in defence of road bridges, etc. Unit reverted to command of 5th S/L Bde.
- 26th May 1940 In billets. Battery reorganized as Battery H.Q. and 3 troops - two troops of 5 lights each and one troop of four lights. The latter was composed of personnel and equipment of 6 S/L Bty. This reorganization was however never used.
- 26th May 1940, 20.00 Immediate embarkation at Dunkerque ordered. Battery left billets at 15 mins. notice, abandoning all equipment which could not be carried on the person. By lorries to Dunkerque and then on foot to docks. One bombing raid whilst en route to Docks, but no casualties. Battery embarked on T.S.S.Canterbury. and T.S.S.Maid of Orleans, both ships sailing during the night and arriving at Dover without mishap. One bomb dropped astern of Maid of Orleans.
On arrival in England parties were despatched to Reception Depots, thence to centres for reorganization and reforming. The party Ex-S.S.Canterbury went to Camberley, then to Plymouth and on to Norton Manor Taunton where all S/L Regiments were being congregated.
The party ex-Maid of Orleans proceeded from Dover to a reception Depot at Tweasledown near Aldershot and from there to Woolwich on the 27th. On the 29th May they were re-despatched to Arborfield near Reading, and on June 6th went on to Taunton to link up with other party of 2nd S/L Regt.R.A. Strength of Battery on arrival at Taunton on June 6th was 5 officers and 206 O.R.s.
Extracts from Personal Letters Written by L/Bdr J.A.Soanes
Monday 27th May 1940
I'm actually in England stationed for today & maybe tomorrow at Bagshot, now that does make you feel very happy indeed, so it does me. I know you're surprised & so am I, even more than you, things are pretty bad over in France, bombing, machine gunning & shelling. I'm pleased to say I came through that lot untouched, our Regiment has been properly busted up, in fact out of about 1,400 men, only about 400 are here, of course some may still be alright but that is neither here nor there.
Tuesday 28th May 1940
...I'm writing this time from Fort Austin, Plymouth & still can't reply, as were told in a day or so we'll be moving again, where to I can't say...
...let me tell you how it all started, we were sent to a small village somewhere in Belgium to rest after being in action, the rest was very welcome as for a long while we had not had any decent sleep, just an hour or two now and then, that was nearly always when we were travelling, after being there two days our ISM came in the barn & told us to grab our packs rifles, bren guns, and be ready to move in 5 minutes, after that they loaded into as few lorries as possible & off we went, not knowing what was going to happen next, on the way they gave us as much ammunition we could carry, naturally we thought we were going to have a go at infantry street fighting somewhere or other, never did we expect to come back to England., we arrived at Dunkirk at 12 o'clock midnight, what sight that was, you've heard I suppose that it has been bombed, well never would you think a town as big as that is could be in such a state, not a civilian to be seen, houses bombed to pieces, then the docks, you've heard of the oil boat set fire last week at Dunkirk, well it was still burning furiously on Sunday when we left, the smoke in the sky spread for miles & miles, all told there were three fires in the harbour, everywhere we have been in France so the Germans have followed both in the air & in tanks, & while at Dunkirk lining up to get on the boat over they came again dropping his eggs everywhere but we all came through safe & sound.
Leaving there at about 1.30 AM we arrived at Dover at 3.30 AM where we got a hot cup of tea (no sugar) a sausage roll & 2 d bar of Cadbury whole nut, then a train to Bagshot I think, then a lot of messing about & a meal or two & I wrote to you, after which I laid down fully dressed with my overcoat over me intending to sleep for an hour or so, instead of that, I must have been tired I slept from 5 o c until sometime in the middle of the night, I don't suppose I'd have woke up then if I had my blankets over me but I was cold, that must have woke me, half asleep & half awake I put my blankets over me (I still had my battle dress on) & sleep till 6.15 this morning, what a lovely sleep, I certainly felt much better today than I have for a long time, now don't think that I shan't want any sleep when I get home, will you.
From there we caught a train at 9.30 arriving here at 3.30 now I'm waiting for 9.30 when were going to get a real hot dinner, after living on bully & biscuits for two weeks or more its going to be a real treat...
