1/5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers

France

1940

Sgt John Henry Hocking


He was a 1/5th Battalion Fusilier when he joined in 1939 and was their clerk having been enlisted from a legal office. He went with the BEF and was evacuated from Dunkirk before making the transition to 108 Regt RAC LF when they converted to the armoured role. He ended up in 51st Training Regt RAC when 108 disbanded in 42/43



Sent in by Ross Hocking



Click here to see the Norman Prior feature

this photo was taken at Newbury Race course
click on photo to enlarge it

Norman Prior and his mate Tommy Barron was with 1/5th LF at Dunkirk.
He was bitten by an adder at Roman Way Camp Colchester following Dunkirk, and died there.

"The 1/5th Bn The Lancashire Fusiliers went to France in April 1940 with 125 Brigade in 42(East Lancs) Division,
along with 1/6th LF and 1/8th LF.
This is a short account of the move to the Dunkirk beaches and the role the 1/5th LF played in the withdrawal.
The account is taken from a report by
Captain Michael Westmore LF and researched/adapted by Joe Eastwood."

 








2nd from right top row Capt H.P.Cain, Middle at back Percy Lavender


Harry Wroe (sen) in the white shirt with knife in his hand


click on above to enlarge
"John Fitt ( Steve Fitt's father ) fought with the 1/5th TA Bn LFs at Dunkirk .
He was buried alive with 3 others at Dunkirk for nearly 48hrs and Steve was told by Len Dunk and a couple of others that they were discovered by chance ,a piece of equipment moved and some one saw it and they were dug out.
Len also told Steve on the day of his father's funeral why his father was frightened of water.
When he was being carried of the beach they where machine gunned by German aircraft and he ended up in the water ( he could not swim).
On return to the UK, he was transferred to the 2nd Btn Staffordshire Regiment, after 12 months,he came back to the 2nd Btn LF.
Ge was awarded the TA Medal, 39-45 War medal, Victory medal, Dunkirk & Certificate, Italy & Africa Stars, he also had a Belguim medal, possibly the Albert medal.
His medals are in the museum.

Steve's Uncle Arthur Fitt also served in WW2m but research is needed to establish his service details.

The Fitt family used to live on Moor Bottom farm close to the rifle range at Holcombe.

In early October 2011, Steve happened to visit the "Shoulder of Mutton " pub in Holcombe Village.

Steve took a pic of a framed scroll of 52 names of men from Holcombe village who had served in WW2, including 4 names at the top of men who did not return.

Steve was delighted to see that his Father and his Uncle are both named on the scroll."

Joe.
Omnia Audax XX

Fusilier Ronald Bainbridge Nuttall, 3452389