First-Hand
Accounts of Soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force on the Run in World War
Two
due to be
published 28 June 2022 Hardback £18.99
.
FROM A HARD
PLACE TO A ROCK - First-Hand Accounts of Soldiers on the British Expeditionary
Force on the Run in World War Two
Col Jimmy
Johnson DSO OBE MC, RWF has been described variously as a formidable soldier
and a legend. Commissioned in the RWF in 1930, retiring in 1961, his service
took him to many parts of the world. He now features in a book written by one
of his nieces.
At the outbreak
of war in September 1939 Johnson was with 1st Battalion which embarked for
France with the BEF. When the battalion was tasked to delay the Germans at St
Venant, B Company, under the command of Johnson, was ordered to outflank the
Germans at Robecq. After bitter fighting B Company found themselves surrounded.
Johnson was badly wounded by a sniper and the following day he and B Company
were captured. Sent to a German controlled hospital for treatment, Johnson
managed to escape at the earliest opportunity in the company of a Royal
Artillery officer Captain 'Tommy' Trythall.
Jimmy's cousin,
Captain Chris Waters 1st Field Squadron Royal Engineers had arrived in France
on 17 May with 1st Armoured Division. The Squadron was soon attached to the
51st Highland Division which surrendered at St-Valéry on 12 June. After a week
of forced marching up and down the coast Waters had had enough. He and a fellow
office from his Squadron, 2/Lt Dennis Lennon, jumped through a hedge and lay
low until the column was well out of sight.
This
fascinating tale; part memoir, part social and part military history, tells a
compelling story of war-time escapes from Occupied France. In addition to
meeting a cast of interesting people from helpful farmers to obstructive petty
officials and frustrated diplomatic staff, we learn of an outrageous attempt at
extortion back home in England. Waters and Lennon wrote a journal of their time
on the run, Johnson's story is largely told through letters sent home from
internment camp and a later tape recording. Both stories are supplemented by
first-hand accounts recorded by escapees they met en route.
As the men
travel through France to Spain (where the two cousins were reunited) and on to
Gibraltar their journey becomes more and more hazardous. It is miraculous that
anyone completed a 'home run'.
Timandra has
opened a Facebook page #fromahardplacetoarock .
In the run up to publication she will be listing some of the events that
happened on the corresponding day in 1940 which may be of interest.
FROM A HARD
PLACE TO A ROCK is due to be published 28 June 2022 Hardback
£18.99
Copies can be
purchased from the RWF Museum or the publisher at
https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/history-politics-society/from-a-hard-place-to-a-rock-hb/
Dedicated
signed copies can also be purchased direct from Timandra Slade. Please message
her through her Facebook page for further details. #fromahardplacetoarock
