Dick Crumbleholme (1916-1998) including transcription of his  WW2 Diary of 1939 - 1940 (Dunkirk)

My father Richard (Dick) Albert Crumbleholme [Cro0254] was born in Weymouth, Dorset on 1st May 1916 the son of William Clarke Crumbleholme   [Cro0250]  his wife Ethel (nee Brown).[Cro0251] . They lived in Merton House, 28 Great George Street, Weymouth. They owned a strip of land in Weymouth on Greenhill running down to Melcombe Avenue behind. They designed and built a beautiful house 23 Greenhill - this was finished just before WW2 in 1939. 

Dick had attended the local St Marys Primary School in Weymouth prior to attending Taunton School as a boarder.

From here he attended the LCC Brixton School of Building in London and graduated c 1936/8. (to be checked). I (RC) attended the same college in 1968-1971 - now part of the University of the South Bank.

Above left :  Dick at Taunton School in 1931 aged 15/16 years (back row 2nd from left)

Above right : c 1933/4 ? - Relaxing on the lawn at 23 Greenhill, Weymouth with his elder sister Vi. [256]. The house on this plot was designed by Dick and his mother and was completed just before the start of WW2 in 1939.  A house on an adjoining plot (24 Melcombe Avenue) was started before WW2 but was not completed until afterwards. Dick with his wife Pam moved into 24 Melcombe Avenue C1949. Sons Richard (me) and William (Bill) were both born there.

Transcription of his "Dunkirk Diary" made by his elder son Richard Crumbleholme (RC) in May 2009 (some 70 years later) after seeing the diary for the first time. All notes in italics are made by Richard Crumbleholme.

Diary Start : February 1940

(page 30/1/40) “First notification from Flight Lt Hooley to get in touch with Messrs Constable Hart re general construction companies. Wednesday’s post brought a letter from Con-Hart to report immediately to Sidney Hall (Weymouth) for medical inspection, signed all forms and was attested on Thursday. First pay = 4s : 10d. Told to report to Clacton on Monday 5th February.[1]  = Note see footnotes are bottom of this section

Cleared up all things as much as possible and took (?) farewells (!?) (sic). Saw the fellows on Saturday night as usual. Caught 7.10am train complete with kit (civilian) reported Clacton 2.30pm met the gang of five fellows and kept together. Waited in queues for blankets and towels – then to chalets – 2 to each. Chalets very damp and the bed mattress soaking – no heating – lousy altogether and cold.

More queues for food – 263 men in my company 682nd General Con Company RE[2]. Had full uniform on Thursday. Parades, squads – drills etc no rifles yet. Time off after 5pm went into town saw 2 flicks. On Friday we were all inoculated 75% in left arm and 15% in right arm. Felt pretty lousy and left arm damn stiff – had 48 hrs excused duty. Tuesday (13th) left Clacton came to Margate – weather damn cold snow 6” deep. Kept in billets Tues and Weds but allowed out after 5. Good billets and good food.

Spent time drilling on the promenade – then full kit. Put all this together and then “on” – my gosh – not so blinking good – started first march under full marching order a matter of eight miles – a bit of a row about this – after all a bit too far for first time.  C.S.M on one parade showed us a man – a deserter poor blighter – he got caught.

We spent our nights at flicks – or at our favourite pubs. Nobly (sic) & I went out several times alone. Frank gone with advanced party. Had 72 hours leave 17th to 20th – lovely time. Mother keeping up pretty well. Bought new wrist watch at Vincents £7 : 7s : 0d.

Word given that we are leaving tomorrow. Nobly & I dined and had some beer at the White Hart – Fairweather[3] stood us a drink – quite nice evening – turned in at 11pm and was called at 2am – stood by. Left Margate 4.30am this morning, (2nd March ) marched to station with full kit all in dark – boarded train and settled down to sleep – we had 8 in a carriage so there was not much room. Arrived at Southampton boarded the boat and spent the night aboard – landed at La Harve midday and stayed all day at a big shed on the dock. Moved and boarded train in late evening – spent night in train and 1.30pm arrived at Dievall[4] (sic)

(following sentence inset at base of previous page: ) For food on the boat and train we were given tin “meat & veg” – pretty lousy when cold but passable when hot - also army biscuits and every now and then a can of tea. From here in motor lorries (our own transport) to billets place called (blank).

My billet was in an old tower – bloody terrible – no beds and cold. Felt pretty bad. This morning (6th Feb) saw M.O. who had me taken to the 14th Field Ambulance (2nd corp) by our own lorry. Frank White came and Bill drove – lousy journey but was pretty well past caring.

Saw M.O. here, was still on a stretcher – gave me some pills – I was as sick as a dog - could take no food. Pretty bad service and very uncomfortable trying to sleep on stretcher. This place is a closed down dance hall – noise going on all the time – no peace.

Taken to No 5 casualty clearing station at Bethune[5] on stretcher where I was put on a bed – what a relief ! Doc. saw me gave some more pills – feeling slightly better in myself but not able to eat anything, sick again – had decent wash.

  (Monday 11th March) Was sent to No 3 Central Hospital (at Offranville)[6] by train – carried to train on stretcher and then put on ambulance train proper bed bunks and very comfortable. The train waited all the afternoon and moved in the late evening, we arrived at No 3 Hosp. late Tuesday morning . Was very well received and put into a bed, given pyjamas and had a jolly good sleep. Wards are run by Sisters – all very nice. The M.O. also very good told me to stay in bed and that my right side was still pretty bad – have a high temperature 103 deg etc and listed as bronchial pneumonia – am not coughing so much. By the way I wrote home on Tues 5th, Sun 10th  Thurs 14th - wonder when they’ll reach home. Received letter from home am jolly glad that they know that they know that Mother knows what is wrong with me.

At No 3 General Hospital life is not so bad. English sisters to nurse you and R.A.M.C orderlies to do the odd jobs. I stayed in bed until the 25th and was feeling quite well. The food also is jolly good – at first week I ate nothing (sic) and then was put on chicken diet consisting of tinned chicken and potatoes, greens now and then and a sweet rice or something. Was allowed up and put into hosp blue uniform. We were allowed out into the village and I had a few meals. Easter passed pretty well unnoticed. Received parcels from home and the issue was a bottle of beer. Spent my time writing letters and reading – had some decent books from home.

I wonder what they are doing at home now. Sent a whole lot of letters also a few duty ones. The M.O. visited us every morning – jolly good fellow. They were changed pretty often but we our best one back after the 1st week. The other fellows in the ward are pretty good with all the complaints I can think of – mostly bladder trouble, and a few nerves. One fellow a mental case, climbed the tent pole one night and we had to hold him down, he was eventually sent to UK. One or two other fellows also sent, heart feet trouble etc. Two fellows I know have definitely worked their ticket. I’ll be glad to get back to the company. Had a letter from Frost saying he had applied for me. It won’t be long before I leave here for the company camp.

(Monday1st April) Told by the M.O. that would be going to company camp tomorrow at C……??  Dieppe. We drew all our kit at 2 pm and was told at 4pm that it was cancelled until the end of the week – however kept uniform and went to the village in the evening time – had good fun the last few nights – and am glad to say my broncho pneumonia has cleared up. Had a good last walk and farewell with the boys.

(Friday 5th April) Left No 3 gen hosp Offranville and came up to No 1 convalescent camp Dieppe. Sleeping in iron Nissen huts – very good.

Went out with Holland and Lawton saw D. and had photos taken – received letters from home on Sunday also enclosed was £2 – had no fags but went for a whole day walk with Lawton on Sunday to Verengeville [7](sic), had beer at the Mayor’s pub and a full course dinner – jolly fine. On Monday I hauled coal – black all over. Went out every evening American Bar : Café Suisse etc good fun.  P.T in mornings – saw a few rugger matches. Wrote home etc. Holland left on Tuesday – I don’t suppose I’ll ever see him again. Laws arrived on Wednesday.

Left No 1 con camp for the base – the gang unfortunately split up – had last night with Laws – good fun. Arrived at No 1 Base Depot for RE’s at (Friday 12th April) This is a canvas tent, we had no ground sheets etc just one blanket I had. I saw the S.M. but he had no stores whatsoever. So had to borrow a gas cape which I used as a ground sheet – all ground very wet. Did no fags on Sat. but did my first Spud (??) on Sunday morning. Went to the village in the evening had a meal and some beer – rather late getting back but sans faire rien ! Went all day Mon & Tues on work party in woods digging trenches – easy work but weather lousy – we did not work in the rain and my gosh it did rain. The trench is for pipe water lines . Also Weds got paid 100 francs on Tuesday. Wrote home every day but received none.

I left Thursday (18th April) at 4am and went to station. Put on cattle trucks and arrived Awas (?) on Friday night. Taken then to Seveoux[8] (sic) which was the next camp. Slept here. Sarg Cotterill with me – goodnight’s rest.

Taken again back to the station on Saturday and saw RTO again who said that we were to catch 4.30pm train to Deville (camp). Walked round the town and had some food, happened to run into one of our own ration lorries Corpl Ray – good work. Fixed it with RTO and returned to our camp on Sat. Wrote home right away – also received a letter.

Had first day to see our M.O. reported F.F.D and had first day’s work on Monday. Saw Ken – who is now Sergeant of Transport and fixed me with a store man job to the calcretors (sic) = concreting) machines. He arranged this with Lt Farrow. Saw all the boys and the old gang all OK and glad to see me back.

We had 22 machines[9] made by Winget and I have to be sure that we have everything for them – juice, spares etc.  Spent the first week running them in and getting hoses ready – jolly interesting work. Social life OK we have own canteen. Had 2 parcels decent ones for my birthday (1st May). Had a good feast and celebration also played rugger – good show. Went into the village had bath on weds & thurs. Sarg Burn’s birthday also.

Started on the main runway, my job has developed into time and log keeper also general seeing to the job under Sarg Haywood who is a good fellow. Job going jolly well and we are going to try to break the record. Rather a lot of breakdowns but we manage them alright. Lt Farrow saw me on Sun and said that he had noticed that I was getting on with things and said he would be giving me a stripe but would have to make arrangements as per usual. Started the record and beat it doing 3.33 bays – one bay 150’ x 75’ – nice work. Have not been to village lately – actually there is not much time, have had quite a few letters from home.

On Thursday (9th May) 4.30am terrific bursts of gunfire, German planes overhead and 10 bombs dropped round about – not so good ! Work carrying on, our section is important – all other fellows of Coy. Digging trenches round the huts and each morning at dawn 4am we have to get in them for an hour. Damn cold at nights and feeling we all pretty tired.  Things are generally moving. 692 moved on Saturday to Bel (Belgium ?) and some talk of us following. Had registered letter and charged 2 quid, many need French money now.

I am writing this sitting in a sand bagged dug out on the railhead – am on guard, 4 other fellows with me. The night is clear – good moon and time 2.15am. We are doing 1 hour on and 3 hours off. Rifles loaded at 12.30, there was a jerry plane over and the air raid sirens went twice. Actually this is my first night guard on active service not so bad as I thought but I must admit it is better in the dug out. These last few days a big scare has been on. All of us sleeping in clothes and full kit – rifle and ammunition at your side. Every night we have to go to the trenches at 3.30am and stay there varying times, one night we went out for alarms 3 times. Jerry planes passed over and dropped bombs about quarter of a mile away – no damage to us. One or two nearby places have had it.

On Wednesday went to Br… [10](sic) on the lorries and saw all the refugees coming out of Belgium. We are 14 miles from Belgium frontier – it was a pathetic sight. How is this going to end ? Heard that we are moving and the concreting closing down.

Left camp for Morest[11] (sic) on Friday all the others left on Thursday what a scramble ! Stayed in Morest until Sunday evening all standing by – was able to get a meal or two also on rations for 3 days. On Sunday after sleeping in cowsheds left on lorries for Morbercyne[12] (sic) 30 miles away. Frank & I on a lorry with 8 more fellows and all our kit half way in the convoy we were and the journey pretty awful – we are right on the Belgium border now and tons of stuff and refugees passed us of course going the opposite way – also RA guns coming with us.

Our lorry broke down and the convoy left us – had to push the lorry under some trees and shelter. Two jerry raids and we saw their planes. Tons of gunfire. Laid all the lorries in a long leafy lane, camouflaged them and stood by. Mon night another air raid more gunfire – we have now posted our guns around our camp. Actually, I am writing this while lying under a hedge with 4 jerry planes just gone over. We do not know what we are going to do yet. On Saturday last we went back to the camp and disabled all machinery and put all movable machines on the main runways to block jerry planes landing. Wrote home in a green envelope on Monday. As yet no more post has been collected.

Left B camp on Thursday to Hondschoote[13] 10 miles from Dunkerque. Had billets in a closed school, slept on floor but not too bad. On Friday am moved lower down the road to a cowshed where we made HQ. In afternoon moved again up to the school and of course this meant all our kit etc rifles all the time – we now have 40 rounds of ammo each. I had a guard on Friday moving over the rations about 3 miles from the school. 35 jerry planes – I counted them went over, bombing Dunkeque, saw fire in the distance and as the jerry planes went over our guns fairly blazed. 3 jerry planes came down Frid am and 4 in the pm saw one actually come down. For food we have our rations biscuits, bully, no bread but I made myself friends with some French people in a house nearby where I bought bread and eggs. Paid in francs changed some English money and loaned some as no one has any money.

Turned in Friday night 10.30pm. We were all called out at 3.30am told to pack all kit. Ken came in to me and told me that he was staying and all the rest of us going to England. 682 Company is now disbanded. About 50 fellows to stay behind. The rest to go to England, have 10 days leave and then to be trained for the Infantry.

I saw Farrow and volunteered to stay also, it appears that the other fellows are being got away as Jerry is advancing. Farrow said see Frost, who said OK and thanks, he said perhaps others would volunteer as he wanted 10 more men. 60 in all including transport. Frank did not know what to do and at last decided to go as his wife.(sic) The mob moved off and we had a good night’s sleep.

Saturday first thing the “Last Legion” moved down to the barn again. I had a good breakfast at No12 (my house!). Stood by and at 2.30pm we paraded and were formed as B company RE field Sect 1 – Pollard the Section Sergeant also 8 other sergeants. I have now “palled” with a fellow called Bill Bone, good lad. The other Gen Con Companies have closed down and the fellows left behind are with us. 4.30pm all packed and put in lorries moved 10 miles further up across the Belgium / France border just inside Belgium. Billeted Sect 1 alone in another cowshed. Have had tea (I bought a loaf with me all rest is now hard biscuits)   

 I am now on guard for 24 hours with 5 other fellows, we have Lewis gun posted and all ready. We have a separate officer – quite a nice fellow, he called us out just now and said that Jerry is 3 miles away. English RA in front of us and on our left and the French on our right. (By the way I will destroy these pages if anything drastic happens)

 God forbid it does but there it is – everyone is calm a good lot of fellows. I myself am surprised how cool I feel ! The guns are still firing and just now a piece of shrapnel fell about 20 yards away but no force. As we came up we saw the rest of 682 in trenches about 8 miles behind us. They have been unable to get through and are now waiting their chance, also ready to back us up. The trouble is that they have never fired their rifles, most of us here have, yesterday I let a couple go in the air at this plane – it gave me security feeling !!! (sic).

However, it is now 9pm Saturday 25th May and I go on guard 10 til 11 pm – as I write this again the jerries are over again. 2 this time, all guns starting. In farmhouse, 9 o.clock has just sounded, they are giving it to them now – one can see tracer bullets. Gosh, where are our planes ? They don’t seem to hit them – gosh ! they’ve got him, he’s down. More arriving on left – well there it is, will now see if I can get some news from the wireless in the farm. At 1.30am we all had a call to get out and man the trenches, this we did until 3am. Jerry tanks were close but we saw none. The news came through when I was on guard.

Sunday 27th (May) – 4 volunteers needed to go to Dunkeque[14] – this was burning furiously. Ken, I and 2 Irish fellows and the lorry driver. Tons of traffic on the roads and we had a hell of a time. We had to get 2 small cars – We went right through the docks which were absolutely burnt out and still burning. When we got to the end of the docks (12 times larger than Southampton) air raid warning and straight away 3 flights of jerry planes – 12 in a flight I counted them, went over and bombed continuously. We sheltered behind a large mound of earth and my God, it seemed impossible to escape.

We saw a ship – small French destroyer get a bomb right amidships- my God what a mess, however, we got out and went to a wood where there was a dump – 100’s of cars, we pick 2 small ones – Ken drove one and I drove the other. What a drive, just as we got into the town, we were stopped and asked to take a fellow to hospital suffering from shell shock – poor fellow. Took him eventually to a French Maritime (sic) Hosp. When we got on the road another air raid. Stopped the 3 cars and got in the ditch, one plane came very low, we let him have about 10 rounds each – by the way, my rifle is a treat. Got back to our camp and had some food 

From this farmstead we moved again in Hondschoote and picked up 4 lorries for the 50 of us. Then went 14 miles into Belgium to a crossroads, where our job was to stop everything that came by. Lorries carrying troops in one dump, stores in another and ammunition in another. Ken and I did the driving of these lorries, in fact I drove anything necessary. Jerry came over pretty well every couple of hours and no sign of our planes.

We had a “great” time looting the lorries, we could have taken anything we liked. I had one or two souvenirs. The first I acquired was a map and a compass.[15] (see below).  

(to page 5) We could take what we liked, ate pretty well and had tons of cigarettes. We have not had our clothes off for 5 weeks and no bread for 3 but “c’est la guevre” (sic) . The French are in a pretty bad way and seem to be hurrying out of the way. The idea is a mass retreat to the shores of Dunkirk, all our fellows walking, except tanks, artillery and Red Cross.

We stayed on the crossroads just inside the Belgium frontier, Houndschant[16] (sic) until Thursday morning when no more stuff came through. We thought that it was about time we moved. At dinner time we all had a damn good feed and boarded the lorries. We had 4 lorries altogether and tried to keep together – gosh ! what a mix up of cars, trucks and every damn thing. We met a large French convoy and got jammed, last sight of one lorry. Jerry bombed and machine gunned us in the afternoon – felt OK myself and tried to reassure the other lads – after that stopped for tea.

We had to pass for about half a day different dumps which had been set on fire, the shells, ammo and petrol tins were whistling about but no one got hurt. The French horses were set free and were running all over the fields and roads. The French very panicky. Passed two bridges which had been blown up and as we passed another that was put up behind us. Eventually got in such a jam that we had to stop about 12pm Thursday night. So all tried to sleep.

On our journey every car, lorry etc that was in the road and in the way we had to dump. We came through about 5 miles of swamped road which had been purposely flooded. Hundreds & hundreds of cars, lorries on side of road wrecked and we added all the rest which were in the way. About 20 miles of dumped lorries, cars on each side of the road. We came to a halt just inside the Bray Dunes – Wemborne & I got in a wrecked ambulance to sleep – had a fine sleep. When we woke up next morning the lorries of ours had moved on. We started walking and picked them up again after 2 miles. Got right down to the beach and parked the 4 lorries and went to the sands to a place left for our company. Pollard put me to guard the lorries whilst the others took their stuff to the sands. God ! what a job – two of our fellows and Frenches all with no food. I gave out as much as I dared to them and had to have my rifle ready - could not turn around unless some one getting in a lorry. I then was relieved and took my stuff down where we dug trenches. I was still with Ken.

Jerry was over all the time – the fellows on the seashore trying to get to the boats got the worse. Tons and tons of our troops and the bay with about a dozen ships also more smaller ones. Bodies lying about not even buried – we put one fellow away. We stayed here until 7pm when we had orders to move to Dunkirk – we thought this was to build out pylons (sic) etc. Walked along the seashore all soft sand 6.5 miles – a terrible journey. I had rum in my bottle - gosh ! never again will I carry spirit on a run like that, We reached Dunkirk at midnight, being bombed and shelled now all the time.

Took our places up in the “queue” and waited moved a few yards every hour – carried stretcher along the Moll – poor fellows, the Moll was hit several times and wood planks were put over to walk.

The following extract has been taken from a letter written by Dick in October 1996 replying to an invitation from a Mr Hayes to see the relaunching of a “little ship” named “Tom-tits”

….”I eventually got to Bray Dunes, took my turns standing in the water hoping to board “a little ship” with no avail, so went in to Dunkeque and took my turn on the moll pier with 3 others carrying a wounded man on a stretcher to board HMS Ivanhoe – the medic at the gang plank said our casualty was dead and we had to go back for another stretcher.

The return to Ivanhoe was very rugged because of the damage to the pier – anyway we made it, standing up shoulder to shoulder, back to Dover – Ivanhoe, we heard later was bombed and sunk [17] on her next trip. 

How vivid memories come back ! I was a corporal in the BEF then eventually came through 142/ DT ??? Aldershot OTC ?? various postings ….. including London and back from Burma as a Captain RE in a Field Company 14th Army”…... (Source : From a letter written in 1996 (see below) accepting an invitation to a restored "little ship")

A further note made by Dick in the front of the "Home from Dunkirk" booklet (see below) : ...."I was on the sands (Bray Dunes) for 3 days waded out each day but couldn't get on a boat- walked in the night to Dunkirk and eventually queued up on the long pier (Mole) and came back on HMS Ivanhoe"

A newsreel from the time :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdAaZFpxdLM

Diary again :

We landed in England[18] on Saturday night (1st June 1940 )– gosh what a relief. Sunday morning 7 am phoned home and Mum & Robert (Jolliffe) came up. Ken & I went out with them to Ringwood where we met Vi and Dad with my car. Said hello and then cheerio – it was a lovely reunion.

On Sunday, I buzzed off with Bill Cumberland[19] and we had a night at home. It was easy to get petrol – just say BEF. My photograph in all the papers and the folks at home snowed under with enquiries. Had a write up in the Echo. Returned to the camp – Bushfield and parked the car each night just inside the grounds. Went all over the place also took Ken, Pollard & Bill had a damn fine time – one or two girls just to get in trim. Had to leave the car, which mother picking up at a station garage.

Left Winchester at 6.30am, arrived Ripon at 7pm. Given 6 blanklets and a jolly good meal. The name of this place is Gordon Barracks, Ripon, Yorks. Not a bad camp but inclined to be a bit too military !  The fellows won’t stand for it anyway.

Ken and Pollard left Winchester on French leave (sic) on Friday so I sent them both telegrams. Pollard arrived Ripon OK on Monday and Ken Wednesday – nothing said ! Went out every night and had a jolly good time – had to send home for £5 by telegram. Wrote home, meet 2 sets of G’s (sic) and have addresses. Ken and Pollard went on leave Weds.

Went out last 2 nights with Jack and made whoopee ! Mucked up one set but put Bessie OK (sic). Arrived back in taxi right thru gates. Had 72 hrs leave from Ripon after seeing the O C in charge BEF. Left 2pm and travelled all night landing in Dorchester 4am and catching 6.15am train to Weymouth. 

Walked home with full kit. Mother was sleeping at Wyke Road with Vi. Surprised Dad and Kim and then cooked breakfast – jolly good. Took Dad to office and then picked up mother. Saw most of the men and went to bank for wages. Stayed with mother most of the time and took Vi and her shopping. Went the rounds on Sat night. Went to R T O Sun morning and decided to report back to Tavistock where the company is. Had a lovely day Sunday with all the family. Vi moved to 42 Greenhill – so much better for mother.

Caught 7.20am Monday train after a pretty lousy journey arrived Tavistock Mon 2pm. 682nd Company moved on Saturday to Scotland. Had a night out in Tavistock and left Tues 7am, arrived London 4pm and left London 10.15pm for Leuchars[20] Fifeshire. Saw Betty D in London and had a few drinks and a meal. Arrived Leuchars 11.30am Wednesday after 4 air raids en route. Saw all the lads, Farrow had a few words. White here – I was told in Tavistock that he was killed by a lorry.

On Saturday, 18 militia men came to the camp and I took 9 of them to Dyce[21] the other side of Aberdeen where Section 3 is Ken, Dorking, Adams stayed the night there and came back Sunday afternoon. On 25th June (1940), it was put up on orders that R A Crumbleholme is made Lance Corporal – wrote home of course. 

On guard Weds evening. We actually have 5 pill boxes to man each night – 1 NCO and 3 men on each from 10pm to 4am. Next parade in morning at 10am – not too bad but so far every other night is a bit thick.. On Friday, took F… ? to St Andrews – quite good place. Went out with Bill every night and as we guard on same night, always get back in time. Went to Tayport[22] and Cupor  – quite nice little places but not so good as old England ! 

Went to Dundee on Monday (1st July) and then across the Tay by ferry – called in on Tom Allen his wife pretty good. Had a spot of beer, missed the bus so took a taxi. Stayed in during evening to write about the colcrete mixers for Farrow who asked me for it.

Had a course on demolition in the morning, on wall in the pm (sic = ?). All main machinery in the camp is mined ready to explode. Went to St Michaels and a dance in the village – good show.

Working party on erasing (sic = ?) by a wire fence – easy work. Stayed in this evening and wrote up about the colloidal mixers for Farrer. On guard this evening and wrote 10 pages. Was paid on Sat. Frost talked about the telegram and that my people had been in touch with the War Office – and had written lately – God, what a cheek ! I told him it was the fault of the “missing report” on the telegram – about a third of the company have received them – this is not right for these to be sent out to our people.[23]

Put on shifting party. Pollard & Jarman left he knew O…..(sic) carried on with my party ok. Wrote home. Bill & I took out the motor cycle in evening went to Tayport.

Went to a dance at St Andrews with Bill had a drink first – danced with two girls both very nice – mine Elsie engaged. They came to the village to the dance on Weds and on Thurs evening Bill and I had supper out in their hotel in St Andrews where they were on holiday. They went home Friday. (note elsewhere in rear of diary : Elsie McKay, 10 Craigton Avenue, Mannofield, Aberdeen).

Work in the mornings and afternoons – the rain is a bit of a bugger – still on wiring. Had 2 air raid warnings and still on guard every other night.

Friday (12th July) Bill and I had a letter writing night – good effort. On Sat. went to Dundee had a date with 2 girls who we met on the road when we went out on the motor cycle. Took them to a dance at “Kidds” good show – but got fed up with them and left them. Saw 2 more in a chipper and arranged and met them on Sunday – again not so good – girls are no good anyway.

Work still ok – more wiring and in the afternoon drilling – and firing on the range – 25-100-200-300 yards as yet. Lousy weather still. Took over the prisoner guard at 6pm – 3 men – 4 prisoners raining like hell and we are using 3 tents – pretty wet. Ray/Swarbrick/Mingey/Woode. Frost came round 8pm created hell – saw the magazines (sic).

I stood up to him and told him it was not the place to keep prisoners if they had to be in solitary confinement. He finished up ok and I was damn careful the rest of the guard 24hrs (sic). Took them for a bath and meals.  Had a working party on wire in morning - went to Dundee in evening had a jolly good time – caught return bus ok. Drill on Sunday morning “stood by” in trenches Sunday 3 – 6pm – a bugger. St Michaels in evening. Had 24hrs guard of prisoners again  - this guard finishes on Weds.- thank goodness.

Bill & I went to St Andrews to a dance – quite a good show. Working party all day on sandbagging – wrote home also received news from home – letters arriving pretty well every other day.

(Friday 26th July) Sandbagging in morning – drill on the main square in the afternoon – went to St Andrews on the lorry. Paid today. Work in morning, Farrow quite pleased with the drills. With Bill in evening to Dundee.

Drill in morning then afternoon free – had field manoeuvres at St Michaels in evening – slept in afternoon – met Edna with Bill. Working party in morning had drill all the afternoon – separate subsections . Wrote home from the Mission hall – guard tonight.  (note gap now to Wed 4th Sept)

(4th Sept) Today escort to Lee and had a slack day. Wrote home re Wemborne coming with me on leave. In the evening went to St Andrews first and then to the village dance – not bad ! (note gap now to Tuesday 8th October)

(8th Oct) Left Weymouth 1.35pm travelled to King’s X and then to Leuchars (Fife) – had several warnings on the way up. Arrived Leuchars Weds 10am via Dundee. Found that the company had moved Tues - very sudden to Cambridge Square Paddington, London[24]. Catherell was left behind – we travelled Thursday afternoon and then arrived London 10.30am.

(Saturday 21st Dec) Went to rugger match in afternoon. Took Pam (sic ?) – had tea etc was leaving Swiss Cottage when bombs started to drop. An incendiary dropped and scattered – 2 parts went in the hole at Avenue (sic = ?) Everyone started running. I got down and put one out – was just covering the second one when it exploded – a bit went through my cheek and a bit in my leg. Anyway I went to Swiss Cottage Hospital had 2 stitches put in. Left the hospital phoned up our transport and Bird came up to fetch me.

My mouth started bleeding  again so saw our MO and he put another stitch inside. Pretty rotten at the time. Went to Millbank on Sunday morning saw MO and he sent me to Westminster Hospital. Wrote home on Sunday evening. Spent a pretty good night and slept all day.

On Tuesday evening at 6pm I was ….. entries end here

(Monday 30th December) = “Leave” noted in diary.

Telegram after Dunkirk July 1940 after bomb injury at Swiss Cottage

18th February 1941 : R A Crumbleholme reported to War Office casualty section for the 24 hours ending 09.00. List No 441; rank (unpaid) acting corporal. RE 682 Construction Company; Location : Home.  (Source  Army Records ref WO 417/22)

Dick was commissioned later in 1941 :

Seniority Date : 21/09/1941; Rank : Second Lieutenant; R E  (Regular Army Emergency Commission)

Dick went to India and then on to Burma where he was working as a Royal Engineer on the infamous Burma Road

War Substantive Lieutenant 14/10/1942; Temporary Captain : 14/10/1942    (Source : UK Army List January 1945)

From a photograph album that Dick made (I now have it), and other sources, it has been possible to list the locations that he was posted to :  

January 1941 - London : injury from air raid (see above).

Sept 1941 - Brighton - Transfer to army RE from BEF ? see right hand side above

1942 -  Dick must have travelled by boat to India sometime between these dates ^v

June 1942 - Rawalpindi - travelled up to here from Bombay.

July 1942 - Staying at a bungalow in Murree

Sept 1942 - Jacobabad

Nov 1942 - Stayed with the Ramchandram family in Hyderabad (had to be armed at all times as this was a martial law area)

Dec 1942 - On River Indus near Kotri.

1943 - Karachi (drove by car through desert from Karachi to Jacobabad)

Aug 1943 - Darjeeling 

Jan 1944 - Tiddim (Burma) see reference to 1/4" maps and also "secret" memo below

July 1944 - Roorkee

1944 - Haimi. Tal

4th June 1945 : "Dangerous ill" in India ? Location not known (see casualty list below) - this is when he had contracted smallpox & malaria.

Christmas 1945 - Deolali  - presume recovered. Dick may have been in hospital here ?  

April 1946 - Presumed back in England - see letter about his demob suit.

Near the end of the war, Dick (now a Captain) had contracted malaria and also smallpox. I recall him saying that he thought he may have contracted this whilst sorting out wage payments to the many labourers working on the road. He insisted on paying them all personally one day to stop the corruption that he found was going on. He was noted as "dangerous ill".

^ Above : Dick is listed at the bottom of the “secret" 

Casualty List of June 1945 as “dangerously ill”    (this must have been smallpox)

Date of action : 4/6/1945; Incident date : 15/6/1945;  Casualty List No 1783 Service No 204976; Location : India; Rank : W/Lieutenant; RE (Source : Archive Ref WO 417/9)

1945 - October : Dick Crumbleholme [Cro0254]  is listed in the Royal Engineers Regular Army Emergency Commissions (p1120) 

                          2nd Lieutenants :   21/9/41;   W.S./Lt  14/10/42; T/Capt 14/10/42   (doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense !)

The war in the Far East did not cease until Sept 1945 (in Europe it was May 1945). It is not known exactly when Dick returned to England. although a note for Civilian Clothing to be made to special measurements (Dick was 6ft  4") was sent to him at his Weymouth home in April 1946. (see below)

Return from War !

1948 - Dick Crumbleholme [Cro0254] returned to Weymouth where he married Pamela Mary Large [Cro0255] on  5th February 1948 at Holy Trinity Church in Weymouth. 

Pamela's parents were Bill & Stella Large - see The Large Family : https://sites.google.com/site/crumbleholmefamilyhistory/large-family

He joined the family firm R. Crumbleholme & Son Ltd and retired in the 1980's. He played Rugby for Dorset in the late 1940's. He was a very keen sailor and a very active member of Weymouth Sailing Club. Dick was also a Justice of the Peace (JP) - I remember him resigning when he said that JP's had their hands tied and could not make sensible decisions. He was also a founder member of Weymouth Round Table 173  in 1948. He also was a member of Weymouth Masonic Lodge - no doubt, encouraged to join by his uncle Harry Crumbleholme.

1950 / 1954 : His elder son (me) Richard Crumbleholme [825] was born on 4th August 1950 and his younger son William Albert (Bill) Crumbleholme [832] was born on 10th September 1954. 

1963 : Dick and his family moved from 24 Melcombe Avenue to 23 Greenhill, Weymouth  with his father William Clarke Crumbleholme living with them.

Both Dick's sons followed their father into the family company. R Crumbleholme & Son Ltd was wound up in 1998. Richard then worked as a senior surveyor for Dorset County Council before retiring in 2013. Bill is a potter based in Upwey near Weymouth.

1998 - Dick Crumbleholme [254] died on 28th September 1998 aged 82.

After Dick's death Pam sold 23 Greenhill and in June 2000 moved to Old Manor Cottage, Winterbourne Steepleton to share this hoiuse with her eldest son Richard and his wife Vivien. In March 2024, Pamela moved to Maiden Castle Care Home in nearby Dorchester and spent the last few months of her life still in good health. 

2024 - Pamela Mary (nee Large) Crumbleholme (Cro0225) died on 21st June 2024. She would have been 100 years old on 7th November 2024 (more to be written)

Foot Notes : (mostly relating to Dunkirk diary)

[1] RC recalls Dick saying that he worked on the Pier Bandstand (Weymouth) when first joining Constable Hart Ltd ?

[2] Dick’s Army Number was 1917672

[3] Fairweather was Dick’s commanding officer – not liked by his men. Dick recalled that later whilst in London digging out bombs, his men would grease planks hoping that Fairweather would slip in whilst resting on his swagger cane which he carried when inspecting the works ! RC worked whilst at college in London in 1969 for Fairweather Ltd and met him once. Dick’s brother in law Robert Jolliffe did business with Fairweathers during 1960’s and came to know him as well.

[4] The only place name in the area resembling this is Deville some 15miles east of Dieppe.

[5]  Bethune is approx 5 miles inland SE of Dieppe

[6] Dick notes the name Offranville (approx 4 miles SW of Dieppe) when leaving the hospital on 5th April

[7] Varengeville –sur-mer – coastal resort a few miles west of Dieppe.

[8] Cannot locate this placename

[9] Later in the diary, Dick refers to these concrete mixers as being “colloidal”  (ie the mixing of a substance uniformly through a second substance!) RC remembers Dick describing these as paddle mixers with a large horizontal rotary paddle s.  There were Royal Engineer Quarry Companies who presumably sourced the vast quantities of materials required. This was the first time that the Royal Engineers had made airstrips in wartime & 60 such companies were involved. Dick may  have been selected due to having attended the Brixton School of Building a few years before.

[10] Brouckerque – some 6 miles SW of Dunkirk is approximately 14 miles from the Belgium border.

[11] Cannot locate Morest. It may be to the south as Dick then travelled further south to Morbecque

[12] Morbecque – as Dicks states about 30 miles away inland south of Dunkirk

[13] Although difficult to read in the diary, Hondschoote is approximately 10 miles from Dunkirk, close to the Belgium border and some 8 miles directly from the coast.

[14] It is not clear why Dick was sent on this trip into Dunkirk. However his wife Pam Crumbleholme recalls him telling her that they took a lorry to Dunkirk to get food. They became entangled in the chaos and Dick’s comrades persuaded him to put on a high ranking officer’s uniform that they had found – “you can carry this off” they said !  They got through and back again but presumably, if true, Dick had taken quite a risk in doing this.

[15] RC has Dick’s army compass – it is stamped as issued in 1940 – wonder if this is how he “acquired” it !   Dick always filled it with gin as the dampening spirit !

[16] Houndschant cannot be located but is very similar to Hondschotte mentioned before which is just inside to French border on modern maps (did boundary change ?)

[17] The destroyer HMS Ivanhoe (1370 tons) did have a bomb rip through her forward funnel and explode in the boiler room. Some on board transferred to the minesweeper Speedwell which came alongside.  However, Ivanhoe remained afloat and was towed home by the tug “Persia” .  A sister destroyer was sunk at the same time. (information – p 169 “Dunkirk” by Robert Jackson  pub Casell 1976).

[18] Dick was originally posted as missing and his parents received a telegram to this effect. Dick appeared in national newspapers waving from a train and it is understood that this is how his parents learnt of his safe arrival.  See copies at end of this transcription.

[19] Bill Cumberland visited Dick in Weymouth in late 1960’s – RC can remember meeting him.

[20] Leuchars is a small village between Dundee and St Andrews (the famous golf course). Leuchars has a RAF base nearby on modern map.

[21] Dyce is close to the present day Aberdeen airport just north of the city itself.

[22] Tayport is on the south side of the Firth of Tay across from Dundee. Cupor is some 10 miles south of Dundee and is approximately the same distance inland from St Andrews on the east coast.

[23] This would seem to refer to correspondence sent by Dick’s parents to the War Office upon receiving the presumed missing telegram.

[24] RC remembers Dick recalling this time spent in London digging for unexpoloded bombs to allow bomb disposal to deal with them. See footnote 3 for his remarks about his commanding officer Col (?) Fairweather.

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