T H E C O V E N A N T E R
make his way back. Then old Archie defending the port, but why weren’t there
appeared grazed in a couple of places. some spare from us?!! We were only 250
I told him of the C.O. being wounded
strong when we reached the perimeter,
and he went off to see if Burke was still
and had the rotten luck to get some 30
in the land of the living, and get or make
more casualties on the actual beach, from
a decision as to whether I had to hang on
a couple of bombs. Luckily I was doing 2nd
or not. Message came back that I’d to hang
i/c at the time and was at the rear of the
on while Burke saw the Brigadier. We must
Bn, as my Orderly and Coy S.M. who were
have been up there an hour or so - quite
at the head of my Coy - where I normally
the worst of the whole party as we were
would have been - were both hit. When
completely isolated. Eventually a guide
we did see our air force in action they
arrived to lead us into positions a mile of
were grand, you would see three of ëem
so back. One of my Subalterns informed me
go straight for anything up to 20 Bosche
bombers, and knock down five of six, but
that after bayonet charge and subsequent
there were always plenty more.
heavy shelling Roy Money was with him.
The rest of the letter is unfortunately lost.
Roy was O.C. our picked P1. of patrol men.
Apparently he then led some five of these
Rank and Name: Captain P.L. Hendriks
forward towards the enemy entirely on his
Unit: 2nd Bn. The Cameronians (Scottish
own initiative.
Rifles)
This must have been well to my left and
Decoration for which recommended: Military
towards where Michael Turner - his great
Cross
friend, - had been hit earlier on. Details: During the operations between
None of them were seen again. I had sent the 11th and 30th May, 1940 this
a Recce patrol out that way to my left, but Officer commanded a rifle Company
they reported no signs of any of our own with exceptional courage and ability. In
troops on that side of the hill. Of course
particular on the 28th May, 1940, when
numbers of chaps in that sort of show got
this Company was holding an advanced
lost and turn up with other Regts and so
position near WYTSCHAETE, by his
forth, so there is always hope. Roy told me
personal example in directing the small
himself that earlier that day he had seen the
arms fire of his Company and the Artillery
Bosche shoot down some or our chaps they
supporting his sector he succeeded in
had captured. However, they were quite
beating off a strong German attack and
reasonable to wounded in the last war, so
inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.
let’s hope they are in this one. As I know
Later, owing to his coolness and ability,
that on several occasions it was impossible
his Company - acting under orders - was
to get all the (Brickman was wounded in
successfully withdrawn when in close
contact with the enemy.
the bottom & I believe evacuated to U.K.
)(Padre seriously on the beach) wounded
away and dressing stations had to be left
Alexander Craig
with a couple of Medical Orderlies in
20 Diamond Crescent
charge. What a party it was. We were left
Belleville
with only a few Brens in working order at
Ontario
the end. The Bosche had several different
Canada K8N 5G6
sorts of Mortar and they were very skilled
27 Sept 2002
indeed in using them. We only had some
Smoke bombs for our 2’ Mortars - never any Sir,
H.E. Their sniping and use of ground was
I have enclosed a short article, and
excellent too. Besides our 3 in Mortars had
photograph of a gravestone of a former
been called in just before the party started
Cameronian. I think this is an unusual
and we never got ëem back! As far as we
find as the Cameronians did not see much
were concerned in the actual fighting areas,
service in North America.
the enemy had complete air superiority.
If you find the article of interest and
We had the sky black with enemy planes you think other Cameronians would like
at times. In spite of seeing an enormous to read it, you may wish to consider it for
amount of S.A. fire, I only saw about three publication in the Covenanter.
planes brought down by it. For seven I placed a Cameronian Glengarry (size
days we never saw one of our own. On
7&1/8) next to the stone to give a visual
nearing the perimeter one of our fighters
reference as to the size of the stone.
passed overhead - all the troops raised a
My late father was a serving Cameronian
derisive cheer. Doubtless they were busy
and I am a member of the Cameronian (SR)
64
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