Patrick Gerard Francis Bourdillon, Captain, 4th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Patrick Bourdillon was born in Kent in 1912 to Gerard Leigh Bourdillon and Cara Phyllis Bourdillon.
Gerard Leigh Bourdillon had been born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1886. He was the son of Gerard Bourdillon who, in 1881, had emigrated to Tasmania where his brother-in-law was a clergyman. Gerard Bourdillon died there, aged 40.
Above photo: Patrick Bourdillon’s grandfather, Gerard Bourdillon (1)
“News was received in the city on Saturday that the Rev. Gerard Bourdillon, M.A., died at noon on that day at the residence at his brother-in-law, Rev. L. T. Tarleton, incumbent of St. Mark's Anglican Church, Deloraine, at the age of 40, after a protracted illness. The deceased gentleman was the son of the Rev. Mr Bourdillon, a well-known English clergyman, who wrote many devotional books and tracts, some of which have been widely read in the colonies, especially in Tasmania. He was a scholar of Worcester College, Oxford, in 1874, and was ordained in 1877. His first curacy was at Brenchley, in Kent, in the same year, and he remained there for three years. Then he took a curacy in Nutfield, in Surrey, for part of 1880 and 1881, and left Surrey for a curacy at St Matthew's, Croydon, where he labored in 1882. At that time he was suffering from consumption of the throat, and left England for that reason, thinking that the climate of Tasmania would be beneficial to him. Accordingly he came to this colony, and resided for some time with his brother, Rev. B. K. Bourdillon, who had charge of the Church of England at Emu Bay, and who subsequently left for South Africa, where he died of consumption. The subject of this notice was not able to do any work for some time after his arrival in Tasmania, but, his health improving, he undertook the duties of secretary for Bishop Sandford, and subsequently accepted the position of inspector of state schools under the Tasmanian Education 'Department. His duties necessitated a good deal of travelling through the country, with the result that he was very much improved in health, so much so that after two years' work he believed he would be able to do duty again in the church. He therefore accepted in 1889 the curacy of St. John's under the Rev. E. Champion, and also held the position on leave of absence, owing to ill health, under the Rev. B. C. Nugent Kelly, M. A. He was obliged at last to retire from active work, and since his resignation, with the exception of a short visit to England, he lived principally with his brother-in-law, both at Scottsdale and Deloraine. The deceased gentleman married a daughter of Mr W. M Tarleton, P.M., of Hobart, and leaves a widow and two children, besides numerous friends, to mourn their loss.” (2)
By 1901, Gerard Leigh Bourdillon, Patrick’s father, had returned to England and was attending Marlborough College in Wiltshire as a boarder.
In 1911, Gerard Leigh Bourdillon, now aged 24, was residing at 12, Scarborough Street, West Hartlepool. He is described in this census as a deacon in holy orders living in a two-room accommodation (including kitchen).
By 1914, he is a curate at Spring Hill House, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.
Above photo: Spring Hill House, Nailsworth, today (3)
The “UK Navy Lists 1880-1970” states that Gerard Leigh Bourdillon was an acting temporary chaplain (Royal Navy) for the duration of The Great War.
In 1917, he married Cara Phyllis Evan-Thomas whose family resided in Builth, Breconshire.
Like his father before him, Gerard Leigh Bourdillon emigrated, to Canada, with his wife, Cara and three young children, including Patrick who was six.
In 1933, the Bourdillons made the return trip to UK. In the “UK and Ireland Incoming Passenger Lists”, their last permanent Canadian residence is stated as Sandwick and Courtenay Vicarage, Vancouver Island, Canada.
By 1934 the Rev. Gerard Bourdillon is a vicar in the parish of Fownhope, Herefordshire.
Above photo: Fownhope Parish Church, Herefordshire (Wikipedia)
By 1939, Gerard Leigh Bourdillon is the rector of St Mary Church, Pembridge and the family is living at The Old Rectory, Pembridge.
Above photo: St Mary Church, Pembridge (Wikimedia)
It is reasonable to assume that Patrick Bourdillon would have spent considerable time growing up in both the Fownhope and Pembridge rectories.
Above photo: The Old Rectory, Pembridge, circa 1935
Although it is quite likely that, like his father and grandfather who had boarded at Haileybury and Marlborough College respectively, he would also have attended a public school and would thus have been absent from these rectories for two-thirds of the year.
Patrick Bourdillon is not registered on The England and Wales Register of 1939. This registry was dated 26th September, 1939 and any existing military personnel were absent from it, their registration being dealt with by the military authorities.
During the spring of 1939, the deteriorating international situation had forced the British government under Neville Chamberlain to consider preparations for a possible war against Nazi Germany. Plans for limited conscription applying to single men aged between 20 and 22 were given parliamentary approval in the Military Training Act in May 1939. This required men to undertake six months' military training, and some 240,000 registered for service.
By 3 September, 1939, on the day that Britain declared war on Germany, Parliament immediately passed The National Service (Armed Forces) Act imposing conscription on all males between 18 and 41 who had to register for service.
The 4th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry that Patrick Bourdillon had enlisted in was a territorial battalion so, it is safe to assume that that he had enlisted, at the very least, by May 1939, some three to four months before war was declared. Given his age and lack of experience he would have been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 4th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. This battalion would become part of 159th Brigade.
“In late August 1939, due to the worsening situation in Europe, the brigade, with headquarters at Hereford, and the 53rd Division, together with the rest of the Territorial Army, were mobilised for full-time war service on 1 September, the day the German Army invaded Poland. Two days later, the Second World War officially began and all units of the division were soon brought up to strength.
“The German invasion of Norway and Denmark in April 1940 made raids against Northern Ireland, if not a full-scale invasion, possible, and it became essential that the troops in Northern Ireland should be reinforced. The threat of invasion became more real after the Dunkirk evacuation. There was also the possibility of Irish Republican action which in some areas was sympathetic to Germany.” (4)
Thus, in December 1939, the 159th Brigade was sent to Northern Ireland to join the 158th and 160th Infantry brigades which had been sent there earlier in the year.”
When the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) which had been fighting in France and Belgium was evacuated from the continent in the Dunkirk evacuation, the brigade began training to repel an invasion (Operation Green, which never took place). The brigade was to remain in Northern Ireland until March 1942 when it was sent, with the rest of the 53rd Division, to Kent.
On 17 May 1942, the 159th Infantry Brigade was detached from the 53rd Division to help form the 11th Armoured Division.
“The creation of the 11th Armoured Division in March 1941 was part of the British Army's answer to the success of the German Army's panzer divisions in the previous years. During the invasion of Poland in September 1939 then in Western Europe in the Netherlands, Belgium and France in mid-1940, the German armoured elements had clearly displayed new tactics and methods of fighting; the Allied Forces now had to address those developments in Europe. In November 1942, together with the rest of the division, the brigade was warned to prepare for overseas service in the Tunisia Campaign as the Allies invaded North Africa as part of Operation Torch. The order was cancelled as it was decided, due to the nature of the country, that more infantry were needed.” (Wikipedia)
“The 159th Brigade landed in Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord (codename for the Battle of Normandy) on Juno Beach on 13 June 1944, seven days after the initial D-Day landings on 6 June 1944. During the Battle for Caen the brigade took part in Operation Epsom.” (Wikipedia)
Above photo: British troops landing at Gold Beach, June 1944 (IWM)
Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a British offensive in the Second World War between 26 and 30 June 1944 during the Battle of Normandy. The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen, an important Allied objective, in the early stages of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of north-west Europe.
Above photo: An ammunition carrier of the British 11th Armoured Division explodes after it is hit by a mortar round during Operation Epsom, Battle of Caen 26 June 1944 (Wikipedia)
In mutually costly fighting over the following two days, a foothold was secured across the River Odon and efforts were made to expand this, by capturing tactically valuable points around the salient. By 30 June, after German counter-attacks, some of the British forces across the river were withdrawn and the captured ground consolidated, bringing the operation to a close.
Then the 159th Brigade took part in Operation Goodwood. Planning and execution errors, coupled with strong German defences, led to a tactical British defeat. Goodwood was cancelled on 20 July, with the 11th Armoured being withdrawn from the front line to rest and refit. In only two days of fighting, it had lost 126 tanks. Many casualties were suffered by both sides.” (Wikipedia)
Above photo; Soldiers of 1st Welsh Guards in action near Cagny during Operation Goodwood, July 1944 (Wikipedia)
159th Brigade’s next engagement was Operation Bluecoat (30 July – 7 August 1944). “The geographical objectives of the attack were to secure the key road junction of Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon. Strategically, the attack was made to support the American exploitation of their break-out on the western flank of the Normandy beachhead.” (5)
Above photo: Universal carriers and infantry of the 15th (Infantry) Scottish Division move forward during Operation Bluecoat, 30th July 1944 (Wikipedia)
“Though Operation Bluecoat failed to create a breakout, it kept German armoured units fixed on the British eastern front and continued the wearing down of the strength of German armoured formations in the area. By the time of the American breakout at Avranches, there was little to no reserve strength left for their effort at a counter-attack. The static defense that Hitler imposed upon his army in Normandy coupled with the Allied domination of the skies during the day resulted in a large entrapment of German forces at the Falaise Gap.” (6)
“The Falaise pocket or battle of the Falaise pocket (12–21 August 1944) was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War.
Above photo: 4 KSLI crossing the Orne in Normandy shortly before the attack on Montgaroult and Sentilly in August 1944 (7)
Allied forces formed a pocket around Falaise, Calvados, in which German Army Group B, with the 7th Army and the Fifth Panzer Army (formerly Panzergruppe West) were encircled by the Western Allies.
Above photo: Prisoners on the road between Ecouche and Argentan with advancing British armour in the background, Normandy, August 1944 (NAM)
The battle resulted in the destruction of most of Army Group B west of the Seine, which opened the way to Paris and the Franco-German border.”
“Once the battle for the Falaise gap was over, the 11th Armoured Division liberated L'Aigle on 23 August and crossed the Seine on 30 August. After a night move, and an unprecedented advance of 60 miles in one day (the fastest and deepest penetration into enemy territory ever made until the Gulf War in the early 1990s, the division liberated Amiens on 1 September. The 11th Armoured Division then turned northward to Belgium and captured the city of Antwerp on 4 September.”(Wikipedia)
Above photo: Liberation of Antwerp by 11th Armoured Division, 4th September 1944 (IWM)
“Two days later, it tried to establish a bridgehead over the Albert Canal, but the attempt, due to intense enemy fire, was not successful.
Above photo; A British tank crossing the Albert Canal by Bailey Bridge, whilst refugees make their way back into a safer area, 1944 (NAM)
After this failure, 11th Armoured had to cross much further to the east, at Beringen.” (Wikipedia)
Above photo: Beeringen Bridge, British armored vehicles roll across the Albert Canal at Beeringen in Belgium - the original bridge was destroyed by Nazi demolition squads but was rebuilt by Allied engineers to allow troops to advance (8)
By mid- September, 1944, 159th Brigade was approaching the Dutch frontier.
The brigade spent the period between 14th September-19th September, 1944 near Hechtel, in the province of Limburg, close to the Dutch frontier.” (Wikipedia)
According to the war diary of Brigadier J. B. Churcher, Commanding Officer of 159th Brigade, the Brigade spent this period as follows.
“Remained in rest area, clean-up, maint (maintenance), sleep etc – At 1300 hrs on the 18th an Airborne landing took place. During the week little took place. On two nights the Bde(brigade) sent a Bn (battalion) to BREE to prevent the Hun infiltrating WEST of the CANAL.” (9)
Above photo: John Churcher, CO 159th Infantry Brigade (Wikipedia)
On 20th September, the day that Patrick Bourdillon was killed in action, a war diary written by an officer in the 3rd Division Royal Artillery describes the following -
“3rd Divisional Royal Artillery HQ reports “No move as road over bridge at Lille St Hubert reserved for 11th Armoured Division. Opportunity targets engaged.” (10)
Also, on 20th September, 1944, John Churcher mentions in a war diary Patrick Bourdillon’s death -
“The Div was now under comd (command) 8 Corps with 3 British Inf Div, being prepared to act as right flank protection to 30 Corps, to move across a bridge to be built by 3 Br Div with a final objective of railway line EINDHOVEN – HELMOND. At 1230 hrs the Bde moved off on one route. The route was PEER – PETIT BROGEL – LILLE ST HUBERT across 3 Br Div class 40 br – HALMONT – BUDEL – SOERENDONK. Opposition was met in the villages NE of HALMONT which was cleared by 3 MON (Monmoutshire) and 3 RTR (Royal Tank Regiment) PW (prisoners of war) were taken from 10 SS Pz Bn (10 SS Panzer Battalion) and 21 Pz Grenadier Regt of 10 SS Div, also a mass of SS tps (troops) from various battle groups. The PWs report their orders were to withdraw EASTWARDS towards GERMANY. By last light the Bns (battlaions) were in the following posns – 3 MON, 3 RTR at SOERENDONK, 4 KSLI and Bde HQ at DUDD, 151 Fd Regt (Ayshire Yeomanry)) around NULBE. Main Bde HQ – just WEST of HALMONT. In fact, the Bde was spread over two countries – HOLLAND and BELGIUM, the frontier being at HALMONT. During the afternoon, the 4 KSLI, Capt. Bourdillon, was killed by being blown up by a mine whilst going to look for a harbour area in his carrier.” (11)
Captain Patrick Bourdillon was 23 years old. He is buried at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium.
Above photo: Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium (CWGC)
“There are about 35 original burials in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery associated with isolated engagements in or near the town in May 1940. Of the remainder, some are burials from a military hospital which was established at Leopoldsburg during the latter part of 1944 and others were brought into the cemetery from the surrounding district.
There are now 767 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War in the cemetery, 16 of them unidentified, and a number of Polish and Dutch war graves.” (CWGC)
On Patrick Bourdillon’s headstone is the following inscription - “ALL YOU HAD HOPED FOR ALL YOU HAD, YOU GAVE TO MANKIND”.
By 1971, Patrick Bourdillon’s mother and father were residing at Llandrindrod Wells. It’s where they both died in that same year.
Rory MacColl
Sources
1/ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195676277/gerard-bourdillon
2/ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195676277/gerard-bourdillon
3/ https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1186714
4/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/wars/wwii/
5/ www.military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Operation_Bluecoat
6/ www.military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Operation_Bluecoat
7/ https://www.soldiersofshropshire.co.uk/world-war-two/
8/ https://www.littlerock.gov/residents/parks-and-recreation/park-facility-trail-information/macarthur-museum-of-arkansas-military-history/exhibits/allison-photo-collection/allison-collection-august-1944/
9/ www.tracesofwar.com/docs/wardiary
10/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/day-by-day/viewday.php?day=20&mth=September&year=1944
11/ https://www.tracesofwar.com/docs/wardiary.asp?docid=56&lineid=2598&menu=1