Journey to Hazebrouck: BBC From Our Own Correspondent
I was honoured this weekend to be given the chance by BBC Radio 4′s great programme, From Our Own Correspondent, to tell the moving story of the death of my mother’s WW2 fiance, Martin Preston, nephew of the poet Robert Graves; and the heroic resistance put up by the Bucks Batallion at the siege of Hazebrouck in 1940, which allowed thousands of British soldiers to reach Dunkirk and England before the advancing German armies could engulf them.Their story has rather been forgotten but it was one of the most intense firefights of the Second World War. Martin’s young life was cut short at the age of twenty-two but it was not until nearly a year and a half later that my mother received definitive confirmation of his death. Like many women in her situation, she went on hoping against hope that he might still be alive. The man she married, my father, Philip Worrall, had been a member of SOE; and survived. The story contained in the box of love letters I found after her death will be become my next book, I hope, titled: The Very White of Love. Here is a link to the From Our Own Correspondent website: http://goo.gl/eIBdG
Simon Worrall was born in Wellington, England and spent his childhood in Eritrea, Paris and Singapore. He has written for publications all over the world, including National Geographic, Smithsonian, London Times, The Guardian, Paris Review, GQ, The New Yorker, The New Republic, Conde Nast Traveler, Maxim, Playboy,Die Zeit and the New Statesman. He divides his time between Herefordshire and the East End of Long Island.
I heard your moving and interesting item yesterday. My father was in the 1st Bucks btn Ox and Bucks and was at Hazebrouck.
So pleased to hear this on as the role of the regiment is, as you say, a story which has faded fast and almost forgotten. The regiment also played a siginificant role in the D Day landings.
I have a copy of the regimental diary for 1940 and found the reference to 2nd Lt Preston’s patrol and his disappearance.
There appears to be little formal recognition for the Ox and Bucks in local museums and I regularly tell myself that I will do something about this — not sure what — but hearing your piece has spurred me on.
Thank-you and I look forward to the book.
Dear Simon, my family and I were deeply moved by your piece on Martin Preston and the Bucks Battalion at Hazebrouck, in particular because my wife’s father, Joe Cripps, who died 30 years ago, was a Sgt in the Bucks Battalion (1st Ox & Bucks LI) who was wounded and captured at Hazebrouck. Last year we made a pilgrimage to the town to try to find the Battalion HQ where he lay injured in the cellar with many other wounded, but failed to find it, and we were very disappointed that the Library and Town Hall Staff seemed to be completely unaware of the Battle, despite the many who fell and are buried in their graveyards. I would be extremely grateful if you feel able to let me have sight of any information which would help us to find the orphanage, and any other information about the battle not available in the book ‘Hazebrouck 1940′ by Michael Heyworth. We intend to return to pay our respects once more.
My father-in-law was a fine man, and was a trombone player in the regimental band, also the pioneer Sgt, as he was a builder in his father’s firm in Waddesdon. He had no need to go to war, as he was well past the age group involved, but as you will already know, the Bucks Btn. was almost a ‘Pals Btn.’ with many relatives serving together. Indeed, it was Joe’s nephew who saved his life when he lay in the path of the circling Panzers with MG wounds to both legs, by running out of HQ under fire and carrying him back to ‘safety’. Subsequently, as he lay wounded in the cellar, his pal CSM Pat Badrick was leaning over him to light him a cigarette when shelling caused the roof to cave in on all the wounded, killing many, but Joe and Pat fortunately escaped, with Joe sustaining a further injury, a broken nose! They both finished as POW’s. I hope I have not bored you with my prattle, but, like you, I feel that this is a forgotten battle, which enabled others, including my own father, then a CSM in the QORWK’s, to escape through Dunkirk. Joe was repatriated in 1944 with only one leg, but led a full life running his building firm until retirement, and I shall always be grateful for the sacrifice that he, Martin Preston, and so many others, made at Hazebrouck.
Thank you for reading this.
C J Inward
Dear Val – thank you so much for contacting me: it’s always the most rewarding for a writer to know that something he or she has written has touched someone. Your father must have been profoundly affected by his experiences at Hazebrouck. Did he go on to fight at D Day? Is he alive still? I ask because I am trying to interview as many survivors as possible for the book. As to recognition: a person who has worked tirelessly to get the Bucks Batallion’s story out is Ingram Murray. He’s the son-in-law of the adjutant in Hazebrouck ( Capt. James Ritchie) and has devoted much of his retirement to the regiment. He has also been instrumental in getting some space at the Oxfordshire regimental museum. His email is: ingrammurray@btinternet.com. Best Wishes, Simon
I just listened to your ‘Journey to Hazebrouck’. I found it a interesting and also very moving love story.I look forward to reading the book. Also am glad to have seen the other posts here which have added beautifully to your tale. Thank you.
Thanks very much for contacting me, and for your generous words about the broadcast. For a writer, there is nothing more uplifting than to know that something he or she has written has touched the reader ( or in this case the listener). And I am glad that the other Posts here on the website have been of interest. Are you or your family somehow connected with the Bucks Battalion? I am trying to assemble as many stories as possible for the book. With best wishes, Simon Worrall
I heard your moving piece and share your sentiments about the Bucks Battalion.I have been interested in the story for some time. My father was CO at the end and died on the 28th. If my book would be of interest to you or your correspondents please let me know. Best wishes Michael Heyworth.
Dear Mike – I have tried repeatedly to reply to your several emails. I think your Inbox may be full? All my replies come back saying there is a Permanent Fatal Error your end. Will keep trying. Hope you get this. Simon Worrall
Sorry youhave been bombarded.My messages came back as having failed. My in box was full so that is the answer. I will fix it…Mike
Dear Simon
Thank-you for the suggestion with regard to Ingram Murray. A couple of days ago I sent an enquiry to the Milton Keynes heritage dept which was passed to Ingram and he has kindly emailed and offered some advice and support.
My father was captured and was not part of the regiment’s later exploits. As with many others he spoke little of his war time experience.
I do believe that my father’s reticence was due both to the depth of his experience in 1940 but also the perecieved ignominy of PoW status. He died in 1999 but I think would appreciate the growing recognition of these less talked about but hugely significant events.
Michael, I would love a copy of your book -how can I obtain one?
Thank-you to everyone for the interesting posts.
No worries. I will resend my email once I hear from you that the logjam is cleared! Am very interested to learn more about your father. Best Wishes, Simon
Dear Val – I am glad that you are in touch with Murray. He is very much the man when it comes to knowledge of the siege at Hazebrouck – and has made an enormous contribution to keeping alive the memory of those distant events. Your comments about your father’s reticence are very interesting. I suppose, as you say, there was a certain degree of (undeserved) ” shame” attached to having spent the war in a POW camp. I hope that my own contribution will also serve the cause that your father fought for. Thanks, Simon.
Val..my e mail address is mcheyworth@supanet.com If you send me your address I will send a copy. No charge. donation to British Legion if you wish. Michael
Dear Mike – I just tried to send you an email again and it came back. Please let me know when you have sorted out the problem and I will reply to your original email. Simon
Dear Simon,
My father,William Alan “Bill” Nelson was a lieutenant in command,I believe of D “platoon on the day.It might have been him who was ordered to make the patrol and I would not be here.He spent 5 years as a pow but hardly ever mentioned Hazebrouck although I remember he was scathing about some of the weapons especially the Boyes anti tank rifle.I have a booklet entitled”A study ofExperiencesand perceptions held by the soldiers of the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion”By Ian Watson.A Dissertaion for M.A.War studies.This has a map and other interesting info.I have some photos and one has GHQ building written on the back.If you are interested in seeing these let me know.My tel no is 01273 542145.My father died in 2007.
Dear Stephen: thanks so much for contacting me. The broadcast obviously rekindled quite a lot of memories, as I have heard from a fair few people. I am sorry for the loss of your father. That great generation is becoming more and more rare. Like everyone at Hazebrouck, those events must have left a deep impression on him. ” D” company was the one at the station, was it? Thanks very much for the offer of seeing those materials. I actually have the Watson study. But I would be interested in seeing the photos and perhaps hearing more about your father. The more ” characters” I can bring to life, the better the book will be. Unfortunately, I am now on the other side of the Atlantic, in the States, until the end of the summer. But I will contact you when I return, if that is okay? Best wishes, Simon Worrall