Major John Henry Elwes - Commanding Officer of C Company of the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment
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Above is John Elwes photographed in the 1930s. Below is a photograph taken at Oxney Camp in September 1939. Major Elwes is on the front row second from the left and next to Captain Peter Barclay.
We are extremely grateful to the family of Major Elwes for supplying the details and the photographs for this tribute page
John Henry Elwes (1906-1940) was born and raised at Congham House, Congham, West Norfolk.
A countryman at heart he was an accomplished equestrian who enjoyed horse racing, hunting and polo; representing the Regimental team at the latter. He was also a keen fisherman and shot.
He was commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1926 with tours to Gibraltar, Egypt, India and Shanghai in the Far East.
He married Pamela Cathleen Brinton in February, 1938, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar.
In January, 1940, they had a daughter - Diana Eve Elwes. Long-standing friend and fellow serving officer in the Royal Norfolks, Peter Barclay (later Brigadier) was made her Godfather.
While the fate of many in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment centred around battalion headquarters at Le Paradis on 27th May, 1940, Acting Major Elwes was in command of ‘C’ Company close to Locon, a few miles to the south.
On 28th May, with all communications to battalion headquarters down, and with no knowledge of events at Le Paradis, completely surrounded and heavily outnumbered, ‘C’ Company engaged the advancing Germans following earlier orders to fight to the “last man, last round”.
Leading a charge on the advancing Germans, Major Elwes was killed. In order to save further casualties, 2nd Lieutenant Simpson gave the order to surrender with about 40 men remaining.
Two narratives from the papers of Captain (later Major) R. J. Hastings, attached to the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment.
26th May, 1940
“As I was near to ‘C’ Coy area I decided to consult Elwes. He was very pleased to see me and quite refreshed now by his sleep. He insisted on splitting a bottle of wine with me and we sat on the edge of his capital HQ, which was a slit trench enlarged and embellished into a dugout. We discussed current events. He confirmed my opinion of the map. It was hopeless. But he was able to tell me something about the probable position of the Manchesters and directed me to a party of gunners who, for some reason, he thought would be likely to know.”
28th May, 1940 (after capture)
“At Locon we were put into a barn, the floor of which was covered in straw. Still no food and we were a bit more hungry. There were many other British troops in the barn amongst them members of our own ‘C’ Coy whose fate up to then we had not known about. They had been mopped up that morning and the company commander Maj JH Elwes had been killed in circumstances of great gallantry.
“He had, I was told, personally led a bayonet attack against Tommy guns at short range and had been shot dead.”
Norfolk historian and author Neil R. Storey's great uncle Verdun Storey, as the senior surviving NCO of 'C' Company, may well have been with Major Elwes to the end. Verdun Storey was sergeant to Major Elwes. Neil recalls his great uncle stating that he owed his life of Major Elwes who ordered him to escape to the beach head whilst he could. You can read our tribute to Verdun Storey by clicking here.
A countryman at heart he was an accomplished equestrian who enjoyed horse racing, hunting and polo; representing the Regimental team at the latter. He was also a keen fisherman and shot.
He was commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1926 with tours to Gibraltar, Egypt, India and Shanghai in the Far East.
He married Pamela Cathleen Brinton in February, 1938, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar.
In January, 1940, they had a daughter - Diana Eve Elwes. Long-standing friend and fellow serving officer in the Royal Norfolks, Peter Barclay (later Brigadier) was made her Godfather.
While the fate of many in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment centred around battalion headquarters at Le Paradis on 27th May, 1940, Acting Major Elwes was in command of ‘C’ Company close to Locon, a few miles to the south.
On 28th May, with all communications to battalion headquarters down, and with no knowledge of events at Le Paradis, completely surrounded and heavily outnumbered, ‘C’ Company engaged the advancing Germans following earlier orders to fight to the “last man, last round”.
Leading a charge on the advancing Germans, Major Elwes was killed. In order to save further casualties, 2nd Lieutenant Simpson gave the order to surrender with about 40 men remaining.
Two narratives from the papers of Captain (later Major) R. J. Hastings, attached to the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment.
26th May, 1940
“As I was near to ‘C’ Coy area I decided to consult Elwes. He was very pleased to see me and quite refreshed now by his sleep. He insisted on splitting a bottle of wine with me and we sat on the edge of his capital HQ, which was a slit trench enlarged and embellished into a dugout. We discussed current events. He confirmed my opinion of the map. It was hopeless. But he was able to tell me something about the probable position of the Manchesters and directed me to a party of gunners who, for some reason, he thought would be likely to know.”
28th May, 1940 (after capture)
“At Locon we were put into a barn, the floor of which was covered in straw. Still no food and we were a bit more hungry. There were many other British troops in the barn amongst them members of our own ‘C’ Coy whose fate up to then we had not known about. They had been mopped up that morning and the company commander Maj JH Elwes had been killed in circumstances of great gallantry.
“He had, I was told, personally led a bayonet attack against Tommy guns at short range and had been shot dead.”
Norfolk historian and author Neil R. Storey's great uncle Verdun Storey, as the senior surviving NCO of 'C' Company, may well have been with Major Elwes to the end. Verdun Storey was sergeant to Major Elwes. Neil recalls his great uncle stating that he owed his life of Major Elwes who ordered him to escape to the beach head whilst he could. You can read our tribute to Verdun Storey by clicking here.
Family Photographs
Photographs of John Elwes and family are featured above. John married Pamela Brinton in 1938 in Gibralter. There is also a photograph of John with his daughter Diana as a baby. Opposite is a photograph of Major Elwes' daughter Diana Page (nee Elwes). |
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More Elwes memorabilia is included below (click on the photographs to enlarge them)
Polo Winners
The winning polo team who were (left to right) - Captain Wilkins, Captain Elwes, Captain Barclay and Lieutenant Jickling.
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The Norfolk A and Norfolk B teams for the polo competition.
Shooting Winners
The first battalion of the Royal Norfolks at Amritsar in the Punjab. The central figure at the front is believed to be Major Elwes. The photograph is 1929 or 1930. Major Elwes was Station Staff Officer at Amritsar. This was in the years before he transferred to the Second Battalion. The cups were for shooting. Photograph courtesy of Andrew Whyte and the Preston Family.
Memorials To John Elwes
With no known grave for Major Elwes in any of the CWGC cemeteries in Le Paradis and surrounding villages, his name can be found on the Dunkirk Memorial (right), and in the Register (above).
The images below are from the Regimental Chapel at Norwich Cathedral. His name is at the bottom of the middle column in the image below, and below right. Click on the images to enlarge them. |
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St Andrew's Church, Congham.
More Information on Major Elwes
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