1939-45 Star and War Medal and paperwork of Guardsman 2734880 Cyril Parkin.
Guardsman Parkin was a resident of Hull and a regular soldier. He was a member of 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards and the unit arrived in Boulogne on the 22nd May, 1940. His Company formed the apex of the defensive line, east of the town up on the slopes of Mont Lambert.
The positions of 3rd Company were some of the most vulnerable and exposed of all the units defending Boulogne. They were directly in line with the Desvres - Boulogne road where any attack from the east was likely to emanate. Furthermore, due to their limited numbers, their hastily-dug positions meant that platoons were simply too far apart to support one another and the defence lacked depth. There were only a few anti-tank guns and due to the lack of tools and time, these had not been properly dug-in.
Elements of 2nd Panzer Division began attacking the defensive line at 7.30am on the 23rd May. German light tanks burst out of the village of Mont Lambert and in small groups, began to methodically pick off 3rd Company's positions, causing many casualties. Some German tanks were knocked out by the anti-tank gunners, but after an hour, some of the tanks began to attempt to outflank the defences. After holding out for over three hours, the withdrawal of the neighbouring 2nd Company compelled Major J C Windsor-Lewis O/C 3rd Company to begin to pull back his own men for fear of them being cut off. The order came too late for many, who by this time were surrounded by German infantry and tanks. Those that did retire had to run the gauntlet of machine gun, artillery and tank fire and many were killed or wounded in the attempt. It appears that Cyril Parkin was one of those wounded and taken prisoner.
The correspondence includes the missing in action letter sent to his mother, various letters and postcards attempting to ascertain Cyril's fate and finally, the first letter which his mother received from him advising that he was safe and a POW in Stalag VIIIB. The date on the MIA letter of the 24th May, is presumably the date of the first roll call when the Battalion had returned to England.
