Green, J (John)

Green, J (John)
Fusilier John Green, of 19 Walkers place, Londonderry, was a married man and had three children. He served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; 2nd Battalion.
John’s battalion had been in France between 1939 and 1940 and had fought many desperate rear-guard actions before being eventually evacuated from Dunkirk.[1] He had only been there for three months after volunteering for service when the war broke out.
On the 26th of May 1940, John’s battalion was told to hold the lines at Ypres, Comines Canal, and railway embankment.[2] Here they dug in and a night of shelling and machine gun fire from both sides then followed. During the next day, the Germans were starting to gain the upper hand and broke the line that the Cameron’s were holding to the right of the Inniskillings.
This began a fighting retreat to woods some distance behind and heavy casualties were sustained by the battalion. The day ended with their headquarters being surrounded, forcing them to surrender. By this stage most of the officers were either dead, captured or wounded. They retreated towards Wyschaete,[3] having to pass through enemy lines to reach their own troops. They were down to 150 men.
On the 28th they continued to skirmish with the Germans around Wyschaete and managed to find another 60 troops who re-joined the battalion.
The battalion’s casualties were eventually evacuated that evening and not long afterwards the Inniskillings were withdrawing again. At some stage during these few days Fusilier John Green was shot in the chest and the back and was evacuated. He unfortunately passed away later in Folkestone, England.
John’s wife was with him at the end. She collected his remains and took them back to 19 Walkers Place, Londonderry. John left three children in her care. His brother was still serving in France.
Fusilier John Green was accorded a full military funeral and had a large turnout. He was Derry’s first B.E.F.[4] casualty.
Date of Death: 29/05/1940
Service: Fusilier, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion.
Service Number: 6980554
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, Sec. N. Class B. Grave 405.
[1] British suffered around 68,000 killed or captured at the Battle of Dunkirk, around 340,000 where rescued.
[2] Ypres, Comines canal and railway embankment are all areas in southern Belgium.
[3] Wyschaete is a small area in southern Belgium about 4 miles south of Ypres.
[4] B.E.F. – British Expeditionary Force – sent to France to try and prevent the advance of the Nazi’s during the Second World War. They were eventually evacuated at Dunkirk.