Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War
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Last Stand at Le Paradis (Hardcover)
Loot Price: R527
Discovery Miles 5 270
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(15%)
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Last Stand at Le Paradis (Hardcover)
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List price R619
Loot Price R527
Discovery Miles 5 270
You Save R92 (15%)
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In early September 1939, the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment
were one of the first complete infantry units of the BEF to land in
France.returncharacterreturncharacterThe first months of World War
Two were relatively quiet but after deploying to the Maginot Line
sector during January 1940 they came into contact with those
Germans manning the West Wall or Siegfried Line. A patrol led by
Captain Peter Barclay entered German territory and was attacked. As
a result, the first decorations of the war were awarded. Barclay
received the Military Cross and Lance-Corporal Davis the Military
Medal while the remaining members of the patrol were mentioned in
despatches.returncharacterreturncharacterTwo days later, the
battalion suffered a tragic first when Lieutenant Patrick Everitt
was mortally wounded while leading a daylight patrol. Everitt was
the first British officer to be killed in action in the Second
World War.returncharacterreturncharacterWhen the Germans launched
their offensive on 10 May, the BEF advanced to the River Dyle in
Belgium. Within days the Allied Armies had been forced onto the
back foot by the speed and ferocity of the German breakthrough. The
Norfolks withdrew to the River Escaut where the BEF was to make a
stand. On 21 May, the Company Sergeant Major George Gristock
courageously destroyed some German machine-gun posts and won a
posthumous Victoria Cross.returncharacterreturncharacterAs the
Allies withdrew towards the Channel, the Norfolks were ordered to
defend a section of the Canal Line between Be'thune and Le Cornet
Malo. Already down to around half strength, the Norfolks held their
sector from 24 to 27 May. By the time the order was issued for them
to withdraw, it was too late, Battalion HQ at Duries Farm, Le
Paradis was surrounded and they had no alternative but to
surrender, although 'C' Company held out until the following
morning.returncharacterreturncharacterAfter the surrender,
ninety-nine men of the Battalion were marched to a paddock where
they were machine-gunned in cold blood by their SS captors.
Miraculously, two men survived and were instrumental in bringing
the SS officer responsible, Fritz Knoechlien, to justice after the
war.returncharacterreturncharacterWhen the remnants of the
battalion reassembled in England, its strength was just five
officers and 134 other ranks. The remainder had either been killed
or captured as POWs.
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