Oignies, 26-27 May 1940
The action on the Haute Deule Canal south of Oignies on 26-27 May 1940 was the battalions first significant combat in the Second World War. Assaulted by more experienced German units, the inexperienced battalion was eventually forced to retire and began its retreat to Dunkirk the following day.
Allied Units engaged in the Carvin – Oignies area, 25-28 May
British Expeditionary Force (Field Marshal Lord Gort)
150 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier J. A. Churchill)
​6th Durham Light Infantry
7th Durham Light Infantry
8th Durham Light Infantry
​
British 46th Division (Major-General H.O. Curtis
​16th Field Regiment RA (34/85th and 27/72nd Field Batteries)
225 Field Battery RA
8th Anti-Tank Battery RA
​
139 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier J. R. Chichester Constable)
2/5th Sherwood Foresters
9th Sherwood Foresters
2/5th Leicesters
​
French 1st Army (General d’Armée Blanchard)
Cavalry Corps (General Prioux)
3rd Light Mechanised Division (General Langlois)
11th Dragoons (Motorised)
​
French III Corps (General Laurencie)
1st Moroccan Infantry Division (nk)
1st Regiment Tirailleurs Maroccain (1 Battalion)
2nd Regiment Tirailleurs Maroccain (3 Battalions)
7th Regiment Tirailleurs Maroccain (1 Battalion)
80th G. R. D. I. (Horsed)
Elements of the units below may also have been engaged
64th Artillery Regiment
264th Artillery Regiment
​
2nd North African Infantry Division (nk)
11th Zouave Regiment ( 3 Battalions) (Colonel Bosquet)
40th North African Artillery Regiment
Elements of the units below may also have been engaged
13th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
22th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
92nd Reconnaissance Battalion
240th North African Artillery Regiment
​
Other Units
106th Motorised Infantry Regiment (3 Battalions) (Colonel Tardu)
99th (Alpine) Infantry Regiment (Colonel Lacaze)
​
The source for the French units is primarily Oignies 28 Mai 1940: entre Mémoire et Histoire, produced by ONYACUM.
The Oignies battlefield showing location of Allied units, morning of 26 May
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2/5th Sherwood Foresters organisation, May 1940