| Notes: | CMP. 10/5/40 died. He was born in Exeter and resided in Devonshire. Killed entering the village of Drionville with CSM Dugdale and Cpl Smith on the 22/5/1940. See Corps Journal 3/1996. Casualty List 288, BEF, France, Missing, 10/5/16/6/1940. Casualty List 415, France, Died previously shown on Casualty List 288 as missing, 10/5 to 26/5/1940. Casualty List 667, corrections List No. 415, BEF, France, casualty date should read, 10 - 26/5/1940 date not reported. No inscription on gravestone.
Joseph Pepperell Boon. Born 22/8/1900.
Part of an article "Killed In Action 22.04.40 By Capt. V L R Dugdale, Royal Signals the son of CSM Dugdale. See RMP Journal, 3-1966, page 4 for full article.
On the 22/5/1940 my father on his motorcycle was approaching the village of Drionville, situated on the D341 between Boulogne sur Mer and Therouanne, having driven from the direction of Nielles les Blequin via Vaudringhem. The Germans (possibly leading elements of Rommel's 7 Panzer Division had apparently reached Drionville from Thiembronne heading for Wismes. Two NCO's namely No. 7683624 Cpl Walter Smith and No. 7683902 L/Cpl John Pepperell Boon, were following my father in a small "truck" (15 CWT?). They were all with 151 Pro Coy (General Gort's HQ and were possibly marking a route to Boulogne where a ship was waiting to embark the Rear HQ of the BEF.
As my father drove into Drionville he was warned by an inhabitant that the Boche were in the village, but he took no notice (lack of sleep/language/suspicion of 5th Column? and continued on the Rue de Calais towards the crossroads on the D 341 which bisects the village.
As he was passing 25 Rue de Calais a German machine gunner opened up from the side of the crossroads and struck him with a rapid burst of fire killing him instantly.
The motorcycle then swerved across the road and my father fell onto the pavement against the wall of 25 Rue de Calais. The two NCO's were killed by a second long burst at the following vehicle which was outside 16 Rue de Calais.
When the firing ceased the family crept out to find my father lying dead against the side wall of their house. The exact place was pointed out to me. The three men were buried together by the villagers in a 'tent canvas' in a field by the road to Vaudringhem, now known as the 'English Field'
After the war, they were exhumed, placed in coffins and buried in the churchyard at Vaudringhem in a plot belonging to Mr Jean-Baptiste Evrade, Gendarme, who was on of the three men wo exhumed and carried them on a farm cart to Vaudringhem churchyard. Mr Evrarde put up a large wooden effigy, Christ on the cross, at the head of my father's grave with his helmet on top, and wooden crosses on the NCO's graves. he maintained the graves until he died a few years ago. The then Major Mr Ernes Baillard and Mr Alfred Tellier a road mender, who is still alive, were the other two men who re-buried the three military policemen. |
FRANCE
