#OTDH1940, W/Lieut. Roy Hollinrake, my great uncle, was serving in 53rd (Bolton) Field Regt, R.A.
By 27 May, his unit, part of 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, were at Cysoing, just southeast of Lille. Below are a few extracts from the Regiment's War Diary. #Dunkirk80

23 May 1940, Cysoing: "Though the position was supposed to be a prepared one, little work of military worth had in effect been done ... in F Troop position two of the pits could not be used.
209 Bty occupied windmill in front of line as OP."

24 May 1940 "French 75mm battery in our area worked in close conjunction with us during the short period they were there - we had no telephone communication with them."

25 May 1940 "Aerial bombardment. Many targets taken on during day. Fire put down to encourage the French, considerable fire put down on Wannehein Woods through which, French Zoauves on our right stated, the enemy were infiltrating.
Windmill OP hit by 5.9" shell from 1500yds."

Uncle Roy was in the windmill when it was hit. There were no casualties, but all comms. kit lost. Roy then acted as runner, observing fall of shot then running to/from gun positions to help direct fire. He might have used his signal lamp at some point, which still works:

"Zouaves of the 1st North African Division assisted the retreat to Dunkirk before being surrounded and crushed at Lille, while other Zouaves fought along the Somme line in the last desperate stand of a dying France." from https://emergingcivilwar.com/2016/05/15/les-zouaves/

W/Lt. R. Hollinrake during training on Salisbury Plain. Uncle Roy on right, image from "Bolton Remembers The War" http://ow.ly/Wx1i30qK0xG  #Dunkirk80

"From May 20th there was practically no bread and biscuits were supplied in lieu. The supply of fresh and frozen meat ceased completely about 22nd May and orders were given to kill suitable animals in evacuated farms."

26 May 1940 "Quiet day except for attack by enemy aircraft. [Earlier entries mention units attacked by Lysanders captured by enemy.] Order to prepare to move, possibly after dark, but never carried out."

27 May 1940: "Germans broke through on right flank - order to prepare to move to Watou-Abeile area via route Lille-Armentieres-Ploegsteert-Neuve Eglise-Westoutre-L'Abeile. B Troop detailed and put under 123 Bde to cover crossing of Deule Canal."

27 May 1940 (cont):
"1655hrs Defensive fire called for and answered - enemy attacking from Wannehein Woods.
1800hrs Order changed by HQ RA and Regt. ordered to stop at Lambersart after dark."

27 May 1940 (cont): "2000hrs Germans very close, so immediate evacuation of position ordered.
Arrived Lambersart 2200 and bivouaced in former billets. All guns safe. 209 Bty truck driver shot through arm - vehicle ditched and abandoned. 209 Y2 shot in both tyres and turned over."

27 May 1940 (cont): "2/Lt W.G.P.Birtwistle and car missing. 1 Motorcycle 209 Bty abandoned. 210 Bty complete."
[Readers, he made it: William Birtwistle had been captured.]

28 May 0030hrs "Orders received for unit to move to Ploegsteert Woods. Travelled very slowly during night - road blocked with British/French vehicles & guns. 210 Bty established one OP to cover river and another on left flank to observe towards Wanneton." http://www.boltonswar.org.uk 

Most of the Bolton Wanderers football team served in 53Regt. Harry Goslin is credited with destroying four tanks during the withdrawal to Dunkirk. All but one of the players who served in 53rd survived. Goslin was killed in 1943. @OfficialBWFC #Dunkirk80 https://spartacus-educational.com/BOLTONcgoslin.htm

More to come tomorrow from 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment's War Diary covering the last days in France. #OTDH #Dunkirk80