Richardson - Tigers at Dunkirk : the Leicestershire Regiment and the Fall of France

The following sources were used in the preparation of this book.

Published material

Collier, Richard, The Sands of Dunkirk, London, Collins, 1961. A valuable work including many first-hand accounts and anecdotes (including some by members of 2nd/5th Leicesters), only let down by its lack of an index.

Greasley, Horace, Do The Birds Still Sing in Hell?, Alicante, Libros International, 2008. An autobiographical novel based on the authors experiences with the 2nd/5th Leicesters in France and in captivity, including his extraordinary relationship with Rosa Rauchbach.

Kynoch, Joseph, The Naked Soldiers, London, Excalibur Press, 1995. A memoir mainly covering the authors experiences with the 1st/5th Leicesters in Norway. However, the author served initially with the 2nd/5th battalion.

Lynch, Tim, Bayonets Against Tanks, in Military Illustrated, July 2009. Superbly researched and illustrated account of the background and experiences of the Territorial digging divisions sent to France in 1940.

Montefiore, Hugh Sebag, Dunkirk Fight to the Last Man, London, Penguin 2006. An overview of the 1940 campaign by a respected modern historian.

Moore, Major Peter, No Need To Worry, Bishop Wilton, Wilton 65, 2000. An excellent memoir written by an officer who joined the battalion after Dunkirk, but nonetheless knew many of those who had been involved in the campaign.

Richardson, Matthew, Fighting Tigers: Epic Actions of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, Barnsley, Pen & Sword, 2002. Contains a chapter on the 2nd/5th Leicesters in the Battle of France.

Shaw, Frank and Joan, We Remember Dunkirk, Hinckley, Echo Press, 1990. The Dunkirk evacuation described first-hand in the words of those who witnessed it. A valuable work covering the experiences of soldiers, sailors, nurses and civilians.

Spring, Gordon, Gordon the Tiger, n.d. Privately published memoir covering the authors military service. A worthwhile voice from the ranks that counterbalances other sources mostly prepared by officers.

Thompson, General Julian, Dunkirk Retreat to Victory, London, Sidgwick & Jackson, 2008. A weighty volume that provides a useful analysis of the campaign, by a former soldier. Looks at events at political and strategic level, but also contains a good account of the evacuation from the beaches.

Underhill, Brigadier W.E., The History of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, Eastbourne, Anthony Rowe, 1957. Contains a chapter on the 2nd/5th Leicesters in France 1940. Much of the material in this history of the regiment was contributed by former or serving officers. The second part of the chapter was contributed by Richard Everard, and is almost identical to A Soldiers Tale referenced below. The first part, though not credited as such, is believed to have been written up from notes supplied by Major Kenneth Symington.

Various contributors, Green Tiger, various editions. The newspaper of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. Contains contemporary reports on the doings of the 2nd/5th battalion. Also obituary notices.

Wilson, Patrick, Dunkirk, Barnsley, Pen & Sword, 2000, part of the Battleground Europe series. Although the 2nd/5th Leicesters are mentioned only briefly, this is a handy pocket guide to the 1940 campaign.

Unpublished material

At the National Archives, Kew:

WO166-4419 War Diary of 2nd/5th battalion Leicestershire Regiment, April May 1940.

WO167-396 War Diary of 139th Brigade Headquarters, May June 1940.

WO344 MI9 Ex-POW Debriefs. About 50 per cent of POWs appear to be represented. Those from the 2nd/5th Leicesters that were traced were:

Arlott, George
Chaplin, Gordon
Croxall, Andrew

Greasley, Horace
Haywood, Philip
Jennings, Maurice

Sharp, Robert
Vincent, Richard
White, David

At the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, Wigston, Leicester:

Leicester Evening Mail
Leicester Mercury

DE7221 Brown, Captain Sidney, manuscript notes on operations of HQ Company 2nd/5th Leicesters, May 1940 (prepared in captivity, written in an exercise book stamped Oflag VIB Gepruft).

DE7221 Ruddle, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth, confidential report (covers events 25 29 May 1940).

DE7221 Sharp, Robert, manuscript notes on operations May 1940 (written in the same exercise book that was used by Brown, see above).

DE7221 Anonymous, notes on the activities of the 2nd/5th battalion The Leicestershire Regiment April/May 1940 (this document was clearly prepared by an officer, possibly Major Kenneth Symington. Similarities with Underhills chapter referred to above suggest that he was aware of it. The final entry is for 25 May 1940).

Privately held material

Bingley, Leonard, manuscript letter and diaries, 1939 45.

Clough, Victor, tape-recorded interview.

Everard, Richard, A Soldiers Tale, unpublished memoir.

French, Don, tape-recorded interview.

Harper, J.L., manuscript recollections.

Simons, Harold, tape-recorded interview.

White, Joe, manuscript letters and postcards, 1940 45.

Web sources

(All URL details correct at time of publication.)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar online resource containing memories of wartime experiences , submitted to the BBC by members of the public.

http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/ similar online resource to above, but privately run.

http://www.wwiimemories.com/ another similar private online venture.

http://en.auschwitz.org.pl official website of the Auschwitz Museum.

http://www.pegasusarchive.org online resource containing much material concerning British POWs in the Second World War.