Military Medal for France May 1940 - Glosters

[OldBraggs]

Military Medal: 5185378 PTE. J.E. BARNFIELD. GLOUC.R.
39-45 Star / Burma Star / Defence Medal / War Medal
Efficiency Medal (GVI): 5185378 CPL. J.E. BARNFIELD. R.E.M.E.

Jack Ernest Barnfield was born in Cheltenham 18 May 1920. He enlisted in 'C' Company, the 5th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment on 1 May 1939 and received his mobilization notice, to report to Cheltenham Drill Hall 1 September 1939.

14 January 1940 the Battalion sailed from Southampton for France. In very cold, snowy conditions they helped with preparing anti-tank obstacles at Thumeries. In the spring they moved into the front line, taking over a sector in the Saar front, beyond the Maginot Line. During a patrol in the Grossenwald-Grindorff-Bizing area they had their first engagement with the Germans. End of April they were billeted at Auby. 13 May moved to Waterloo.

After an engagement on the River Escault, at Bruyelle, the 5th Glosters were ordered to withdraw on 22 May 1940, to Aix. Next day they moved to Nomain. Then followed a long march to Oost Capelle. 25 May the Battalion moved to Wormhoudt. Orders were issued in early afternoon of 26 May for the 5th Glosters to move forward and hold outpost positions at Ledringhem and Arneke.

While the companies established defensive positions, L/Cpl. Barnfield's platoon was sent to defend Brigade HQ at Rietveld. Under constant attack, the 5th Glosters held Ledringhem, even making a bayonet charge up a street to drive out German attackers. Eventually, German armour and troops surrounded the town. All contact was lost with the battalion. Lance-Corporals Barnfield and Mayo then volunteered to attempt to get into Ledringhem with the order to break out and withdraw to Dunkirk for evacuation.

They took over 4 hours to pick a way the 3 miles through the German units and into the town. "They were both awarded the MM for their brave and timely action, without which the Battalion would have stood fast and would have been eventually overrun. The plan of withdrawal was based on a timed thinning out from all positions, a concentration in the orchard where the MT had been parked, and a stealthy creeping away by the fields and hedges remote from the road." (Major Priestley, Adjutant 5th Glosters)

As the men prepared to move out, the Germans rushed into the town churchyard and another bayonet charge was needed to prevent a break in the defences. At 0015 hours 29 May the battalion began to slip out of Ledringhem in single file, helped by the smoke from the burning town. At 0630 the head of the column reached Bambecque, where the 8th Worcesters were waiting.

The Adjutant of the Worcesters wrote: "During the early-morning stand-to I saw a wonderful sight. Round the corner as I came out of Battalion HQ appeared the survivors of the 5th Gloucesters. They were dirty and haggard, but unbeaten. Their eyes were sunken and red from lack of sleep, and their feet as they marched seemed to me no more than an inch from the ground. At their head limped a few prisoners. I ran towards Colonel Buxton, who was staggering along, obviously wounded. I took Colonel Buxton indoors, assuring him again and again that his men were all right."

The Battalion embussed later that morning and taken to Rexpoede. All the wounded were evacuated, prisoners handed over, and the remaining 13 officers and 130 men were soon on their way to the coast for evacuation. The move to the coast commenced after midnight on 30 May. The beaches were reached close to Bray Dunes at about 0430 hrs. During the day the men waded out to small boats for transport to ships.

The Battalion eventually concentrated at Kingstone, Herefordshire. 2 officers and 83 men were killed, and many more wounded or missing.

5185378 L/Cpl. Barnfield's Military Medal was gazetted 20 August 1940.
"L/Cpl. Barnfield volunteered with another man to take forward to the Battalion the important order to withdrawal. Although the distance was only 3 miles the Battalion was surrounded by enemy mechanised forces and the task of getting through took them nearly five hours. To these men is largely due the successful withdrawal of the Battalion from Ledringhem."

Transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps until 1 October 1942 when he transferred to the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
Promoted Corporal 1 January 1943 and sent out to Burma.

The last unit that he served with was 1st (W.A.) H.A.A. Regt. He was finally transferred to the Reserve 26 March 1946.
In April 1947 the 5th Glosters Old Comrades Association presented Barnfield with a certificate of service.
His Efficiency Medal was sent to him 14 February 1949.

Jack returned to Cheltenham, where he lived until his death in December 1999. He kept all of his documents, dog-tags, badges etc which I was able to purchase from the family.