WAR MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH OF NORTHOP
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
Charles Bayliss Blomley
Dunkirk Veteran
Dunkirk Veteran
Charles Bayliss Blomely a long time resident of Northop, was born and raised in Birmingham. When he was twenty he found himself in the Royal Army Service Corps as a Dispatch Rider (with a motor cycle). This was World War 2 and British troops were facing Hitler's threat. Charles recalls no training whatsoever but does remember being issued with a rifle which was a relic of World War 1. He had his 21st birthday in Lille in France.
The event that for him defined World War 2 and much of the rest of his life was being stranded on the hell that was the beach at Dunkirk. He recalls the chaos that reigned and the horror of comprehending the order - 'Every man for himself!' He remembers a particular naval officer who tried his best to instill some organisation by firing a revolver into the air and ordering men to form a zig zag line to try to effect an orderly evacuation from the beach to the waiting boats. All this was under a constant bombardment from the German troops and aircraft. He witnessed a horrifying incident as a German plane dropped a bomb down the funnel of a hospital ship that was off shore. The sights and sounds of that particular horror have never left him.
As Charles weighed up the possibilities for himself his dilemma was stark. He had two options. The first was to turn and walk towards the German forces and hopefully be taken as a POW but he knew he was more likely to be shot and killed. His second option was to wade into the water to a waiting boat. His problem with that was, he couldn't swim and the boats were out of his depth. He opted for the water and the firm belief that he was going to drown. Luckily for him, a Liverpudlian soldier saw him stuggling and lifted him out of the water and dropped him, exhausted into a boat. He recalls nothing of the voyage back home but knows that they landed in Harwich.
For Charles that was the end of the war. He was hospitalised for six months, traumatised by his experiences. He lost the ability to speak. His wife patiently over months had to coax him and teach him how to speak again.
Charles at ninety is still a dedicated member of the British Legion and believes deeply in its importance. He asked that we emphasised on this website, just how much work the Legion does on behalf of ex servicemen and just how many are supported and helped through the organisation.
He was also a member of the Dunkirk Association until it was disbanded in the year 2000 and he was President of the
Chester and District Branch from 1998 to 2000.
The event that for him defined World War 2 and much of the rest of his life was being stranded on the hell that was the beach at Dunkirk. He recalls the chaos that reigned and the horror of comprehending the order - 'Every man for himself!' He remembers a particular naval officer who tried his best to instill some organisation by firing a revolver into the air and ordering men to form a zig zag line to try to effect an orderly evacuation from the beach to the waiting boats. All this was under a constant bombardment from the German troops and aircraft. He witnessed a horrifying incident as a German plane dropped a bomb down the funnel of a hospital ship that was off shore. The sights and sounds of that particular horror have never left him.
As Charles weighed up the possibilities for himself his dilemma was stark. He had two options. The first was to turn and walk towards the German forces and hopefully be taken as a POW but he knew he was more likely to be shot and killed. His second option was to wade into the water to a waiting boat. His problem with that was, he couldn't swim and the boats were out of his depth. He opted for the water and the firm belief that he was going to drown. Luckily for him, a Liverpudlian soldier saw him stuggling and lifted him out of the water and dropped him, exhausted into a boat. He recalls nothing of the voyage back home but knows that they landed in Harwich.
For Charles that was the end of the war. He was hospitalised for six months, traumatised by his experiences. He lost the ability to speak. His wife patiently over months had to coax him and teach him how to speak again.
Charles at ninety is still a dedicated member of the British Legion and believes deeply in its importance. He asked that we emphasised on this website, just how much work the Legion does on behalf of ex servicemen and just how many are supported and helped through the organisation.
He was also a member of the Dunkirk Association until it was disbanded in the year 2000 and he was President of the
Chester and District Branch from 1998 to 2000.
Charles Bayliss- Blomely at the Memorial in Northop Church and inset wearing his medals.
The medals in close up on the right are
The 1939 -45 Star, The 1939 45 War Medal, The Defence Medal (Top row)
The Dunkirk Medal (awarded by the French Government) and the Hors de Combat (Recognition of outstanding bravery of British service men and women who have sustained wounds or injury in the line of duty) (Bottom Row)
The medals in close up on the right are
The 1939 -45 Star, The 1939 45 War Medal, The Defence Medal (Top row)
The Dunkirk Medal (awarded by the French Government) and the Hors de Combat (Recognition of outstanding bravery of British service men and women who have sustained wounds or injury in the line of duty) (Bottom Row)
British Legion Member Charles Bayliss-Blomley