31/5/40

0800 Three guns in action. P2 = 2. P3 = 1. Consolidation of positions in progress. Enemy air activity NIL.

30/5/40

0800 Three guns in action. P2 = 2. P3 = 1. Consolidation of positions in progress. Enemy air activity NIL.

Frank was attached to the Battery Headquarters which was being established on this day 70 years ago.

NANTES

29/5/40

0800 Three guns in action. P2 = 2. P3 = 1. P1 personnel on site.

0900 B.H.Q. deployed and established. Telephone communications being installed.

28/5/40

0800 Three guns in action. P2 = 2. P3 = 1. Personnel deployed to P1 to prepare for guns. B.H.Q. ordered to deploy AM 29/5/40.

The Battery was equipped with 3" guns which were ineffective against high flying planes and dated from the WWI. It is interesting to note that admidst all the chaos of the Battle of France there was still hope that new 3.7" guns would arrive.

27/5/40

0800 Two guns in action P 2. One gun in action P 3. Three 3.7" positions reconnoitered by Battery Commander on anticipation of arrival of 3.7".

This is the first letter from Frank in over a month and it took the form of a standard issue "Field Service Postcard" where the writer deletes lines as appropriate to show the message. This postcard reads:

27/5/40
I am quite well.

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you lately.

F.A.Faulkner

On the first day of the Dunkirk evacuation the 157th Battery is regrouping in Nantes completely cut off from the BEF.
E.A.A stands for Enemy Air Activity.

26/5/40

0800 P 3. Section deployed to P 2. 2/Lt Schofield. R.E. stores arrivng. Necessary work on camp at night in hand. E.A.A. NIL.

25/5/40

0800 Map ENVIRONS DE NANTES (PROJECTION LAMBERT - II - ZONE CENTRALE)

Locations 157 Bty HQ CHAU BALINIERE
P I LA METAIRIE
P 2 JAGUIERE
P 3 LA RONJONIERE
One section (Lt. Ross) deployed to P 3. Personnel under canvas

1600 One gun in action P 3. Enemy air activity NIL (in area)

24/5/40

0800 "Stocktaking" of stores, personnel etc. Reconnaisance of three gun positions south of river LOIRE carried out by Battery Commander. Redistribution of personnel with three sections (ie 2 - Two guns and 1 - Three guns). Fitters and working parties sent to Ordnance to assist with guns and instruments.

The Battery has arrived in Nantes and is being rested while its guns are repaired.

NANTES

23/5/40

0300 Trained arrived NANTES. Off loading commenced immediately. All guns and instruments delivered to Ordnance repair and overhaul. Personnel placed under canvas at CHATEUX LOMBARDIRIE, NANTES.

22/5/40

0500 Journey in progress. One gun broke through truck floor during journey had to be man handled to fresh position on truck.

21/5/40

0400 Preparation for evacuation of Battery to NANTES No.2 Base Sub Area. Orders issued that Battery would move at 1200 hours.

1145 Battery column assembled. Took cover while a few bombs were dropped on area.

1200 Column moved off. Destination railway station ROUILLY-GEROUDOT road

1345 Battery column complete arrived at destination. Many evacuees on roads. Loading of guns commenced immediately. This was a very difficult task as guns had to be side loaded on to trucks about 10 inches above siding platform. All guns were manhandled on to trucks one or two breaking through truck floors and having to be hauled up and moved. Tasks completed and train ready to move approx. 2200 hours.

1900 Road party moved off at approx. 1900 hours.

20/5/40

0800 Detailed instructions received re. reorganisation of 12th (A.A.) Brigade received and put into action. Transfer of personnel carried out and equipment handed over. Instructions re. move of remainder of Battery to NANTES received.

Salvage was stopped probably as a result of the capture of one officer, 6 men and the Padre, Captain, the Rev. Hobling by German forces whilst returning to the abandoned gunsites.

19/5/40

0800 Orders received that no further salvage forces will be sent out. Two guns in action ST LUCIEN FERME. One in action POUAN (EAST). One in action POUAN (WEST). Preliminary instructions received re. reorganisation of 12th (A.A.) Brigade.

After the chaos of the evacuation the salvage from the old gunsites continues.

18/5/40

0800 Further salvage parties sent to old gunsites for guns and stores. New positions at ST LUCIEN FERME and PUAN reconnoitered by Battery Commander.

1140 Two guns on site at ST LUCIEN FERME.

1330 One gun on site at POUAN (EAST).

1715 Two guns in action ST LUCIEN FERME. Two guns on site POUAN (WEST). All guns recovered together with practically all stores and ammunition.

17 May 1940

The day after the evacuation, the Battery has to attempt to recover the abandoned guns and equipment.

17/5/40

Droupt St Marie

0800 Battery concentrated in billets at MERY and district. Salvage parties sent to evacuated gunsites to recover guns and stores left behind.

16 May 1940 - Code word "SCRAM" Issued as Germans Breakthrough

A fascinating diary entry which sums up the chaos that was caused by the swift advance of the German armoured columns through Frnace.

16/5/40

0200 Code word "SCRAM" received from R.H.Q. (copy of message attached). Telephone communications out of action. Lines severed. O/C PIP I & III advised (by D.R.)

0430 O/C PIP I again warned to "SCRAM".

0500 O/C PIP III ordered to "SCRAM" on verbal instructions received from Brigade Commander. As it was not certain whether the 'stages' contained in Emergency Move Orders would operate on the order as given, the Battery Commander visited R.H.Q. leaving B.H.Q. at 0230 hours. Considerable difficulty was experienced on the road due to convoys and considerable numbers of evacuees, fires and traffic accidents. Was told by C.O. and adjutant to 'get out' as quickly as possible as enemy armoured vehicles were only a few miles away North - possibly on the Aisne Canal. Returned to B.H.Q. and issued orders to O/C PIP I & II as above. Transport was limited and guns not ready for the road. PIP III were ready to move and did move complete, transport having been delivered to them p.m. 15/5/40. Remainder of transport spread over B.H.Q., PIP I & II who were in position to take instruments and personnel only, in the case of PIP I and instruments only in the case of PIP II. Personnel marched south and were picked up later. B.H.Q. took valuable stores and personnel. Sufficient PIP I vehicles were off loaded at BERGERES (T26.37) and sent to THIBIE (T43.43) to pick up PIP II personnel. The Battery rendezvoused at MERY (Map Michelin PARIS - CHAUMONT 61). Battery H.Q. established at DROUPT- ST-MARIE 2 miles S.E. MERY - One section at BEAULIEUFME E. MERY on MERY -POUAN road. Remainder in MERY.

After almost 6 months of digging and building during the Phoney War period the Unit is dismantling its gun positions and preparing to evacuate only 5 days after the Battle of France commenced.

15/5/40

0400 Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired.

0816 One Do. 17 brought down by Hurricanes. Many pointer rounds fired. AUBERIVE Aerodrome bombed. Considerable bombing and aerial combats in REIMS area. At least two enemy planes seen to be brought down by fighters. Emergency move orders issued and explained to Station Commanders.

0935 Instructions received to prepare for moving guns. Sections in action all day. Gun walls removed and stores packed in readiness.

Day 4 of the German invasion of France as recorded in the Unit Diary.

14/5/40
0600 Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired. PIP I placed four rounds in middle of formation of 21 Dorniers. Formation broken up. One brought down by fighter plane. Considerable activity all day. Emergency move orders received from C.O.

13/5/40

0400 Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired by both gun stations.

0625 PIP I engaged enemy planes at height 4,700'. One brought down by gun fire. Bombs dropped on AUBERIVE Aerodrome. Enemy activity continued all day.

An optimistic report on the success of the battery and supporting small arms fire during the Luftwaffe attack on the previous day.

12/5/40
0800 - Considerable enemy air activity. Pointer rounds fired. Enemy engaged by fighters. Two enemy planes seen to crash.

Report received from H.Q. that eight of fifteen planes engaged in attack on VRAUX Aerodrome on 11/5/40 crashed in our territory on way home. Said to have been damaged by small arms ground defence fire. This could only have been inflicted by gun station and R.A.7 ground defences. The Battery PIP II credited with minimum of two. Considerable bombing in area.

11/5/40

0400 Five guns ready for action.

0545 Low flying attacks on VRAUX aerodrome by 16 Do. 17s at between 10-100 ft. Engaged by PIP II shrapnel two guns only. Two guns nearest line of attack out of action, fire of remaining two guns restricted by safety arc. About 60 bombs dropped on aerodrome. Six machines damaged. Petrol dump fired. Enemy planes machine gunned gun positions from about 50 ft. One casualty (foot). Tactics used by enemy - one high plane as decoy two Hurricane fighters in pursuit. Low attack by 16 planes approaching along Mame Valley - turned north to attack Aerodrome - wheeled and came back to attack guns and made off flying very low in easterly direction. Further indicator rounds fired by both stations during day.

On the 70th anniversary of the German invasion of France the 157th Battery Diary gives no hint of what is to come.

10/5/40

0403 Five guns ready for ction.

0450 Considerable enemy activity. Indicator rounds fired by both stations PIP I and II during day. Work on huts and field works continued.

An extract from the Unit Diary a day before the German attack on France and the Low Countries began. With that in mind it is ironic that 2 of the 8 guns were taken out of action. PIPII was located at Vraux. 16 Blenheim IVs of the Advanced Air Striking Force were based at Vraux.

9/5/40
0800 - No. 1 and 2 guns at PIPII (south) placed out of action owing to the removal of receiving dials to change over from A.R.C. to "M" Type transmission. (Predictors).