Raising money for a memorial for the 97
Tax deductible
We are undertaking a charity walk in period kit in order to raise fund for a memorial for the 97 men killed at the Le Paradis.
The Le Paradis massacre happened during the Battle of France, on 27 May 1940, at a time when the British Army was attempting to retreat through the Pas-de-Calais region to Dunkirk. It was a war crime committed by members of the 14th Company, SS Division Totenkopf, under the command of Fritz Knöchlein.
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Norfolks and 1st Battalion The Royal Scots and other units, had become isolated. They occupied and defended a farmhouse against an attack by Waffen-SS forces in the village of Le Paradis. After running out of ammunition, the defenders surrendered to the German troops. The Germans led them across the road to the wall of a barn where they were massacred by machine gun fire. Ninety-seven British soldiers were killed. Two survived although injured (Albert Pooley and William O'Callaghan). They hid for several days until they were captured by other German forces
While there are several memorials dedicated to the men who lost their lives on this tragic day there is not a single memorial in the country where these men came from. he 97 who were massacred by the Waffen SS deserve special recognition because they died not in the heat of battle but, having surrendered, had every right to be treated as prisoners-of-war. In France the 97 have the recognition they deserve with at least four memorials. In the United Kingdom there are none. Support our campaign and together we can achieve our aim of a memorial recognising their service and sacrifice.
In an attempt to raise funds fro the memorial charity on the 15th and 16th of August a group of reenactors shall be walking 47 miles from Thetford to Holme by the sea in period correct kit. This is to recreate similar walks that would have been taken by troops in 1940 in a desperate struggle to make it to Dunkirk in order to regroup.
All funds raised will be donated to La Paradis Memorial Appeal
Registered charity number 1184870
The Le Paradis massacre happened during the Battle of France, on 27 May 1940, at a time when the British Army was attempting to retreat through the Pas-de-Calais region to Dunkirk. It was a war crime committed by members of the 14th Company, SS Division Totenkopf, under the command of Fritz Knöchlein.
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Norfolks and 1st Battalion The Royal Scots and other units, had become isolated. They occupied and defended a farmhouse against an attack by Waffen-SS forces in the village of Le Paradis. After running out of ammunition, the defenders surrendered to the German troops. The Germans led them across the road to the wall of a barn where they were massacred by machine gun fire. Ninety-seven British soldiers were killed. Two survived although injured (Albert Pooley and William O'Callaghan). They hid for several days until they were captured by other German forces
While there are several memorials dedicated to the men who lost their lives on this tragic day there is not a single memorial in the country where these men came from. he 97 who were massacred by the Waffen SS deserve special recognition because they died not in the heat of battle but, having surrendered, had every right to be treated as prisoners-of-war. In France the 97 have the recognition they deserve with at least four memorials. In the United Kingdom there are none. Support our campaign and together we can achieve our aim of a memorial recognising their service and sacrifice.
In an attempt to raise funds fro the memorial charity on the 15th and 16th of August a group of reenactors shall be walking 47 miles from Thetford to Holme by the sea in period correct kit. This is to recreate similar walks that would have been taken by troops in 1940 in a desperate struggle to make it to Dunkirk in order to regroup.
All funds raised will be donated to La Paradis Memorial Appeal
Registered charity number 1184870
Organizer
Luke Willson
Organizer
PARADIS COMMEMORATION GROUP MEMORIAL APPEAL
Registered nonprofit
Donations eligible for Gift Aid.
