[dsms]

Yet another request for info re 5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. This time their deployment in France/Belgium during May 1940.

My father, now dec'd), served in this battalion and as usual the information he passed down was rather sketchy to say the least. We have obtained his military service records from the MOD which answer some questions but as is normal throw up many others which of course now he can't answer and it is with some hope that someone may be able to point us in a direction to try and find further info.
We have found that he served for quite a number of years in the Bat before WW2 and from what he told me he was a gunner in a Bren Carrier. It would appear that he was 'called up' into full time service on outbreak of war and was promoted to the rank of corporal and embarked with the reg to serve in France/Belgium with the BEF. Where exactly he was is unknown and something I would like to find out, cannot find any info on the 5th batt bren carrier operations at all, would he have been in a bren carrier even at that time.
His service records show scant details other than he was wounded in the right thigh at some stage, the records show his admission to St Lukes Hospital Bradford on 28th May 1940 then to various other hospitals through to the end of 1941 when he was discharged as unfit to serve due to his wounds.

From what I can find the batt was deployed around the La Bassee region of France but what they were doing or if they were involved in any battles rather than skirmishes I cannot find out.
Also with an admission date of 28 May in a Bradford Hospital this would indicate he was wounded at least a few days before perhaps even a week before, would his admission date to hospital indicate he came home before the main Dunkirk evacuation or is it likely he was on one of the first embarkations from there and was quickly shipped north?


Any info appreciated to get a clearer picture

thanks