On the 26th and 27th May 1940 the SS Regiment (I Bn SS-T I R 2) HQ was in Mont Bernanchon on the south side of La Bassée Canal. The trial that would convict Knoechlein concentrated on the massacre mostly of Royal Norfolks captured at their HQ at Le Creton Farm and shot nearby at the Barn at Le Duriez Farm because there were two surviving witnesses, Royal Norfolks Privates Pooley and O’Callaghan. The SS accounts relate to events at Le Cornet Malo which was C Company’s position.  Knoechlein’s unit only fought The Royal Scots on 27th May.  Lt Elliott acting OC C Coy has no known grave. There are Royal Scots and Royal Norfolks buried at Mont Bernanchon including two Platoon Commanders from A Company 1RS, one of whom had been sent to find out where C Company were. There are also a large number of unknown fallen from the battle.  The 97 were mainly Royal Norfolks, a number of Royal Scots and a smaller number of members of other BEF units. 

On 25th May the 1/8  Lancashire Fusiliers, the 3rd Bn in 4 Bde, were to have taken up position at Le Cornet Malo and were re-tasked to reinforce the Royal Irish Fusiliers  north of Bethune, so to the left of 4 Bde as they faced the Canal. They were not involved in 4 Bde’s action thereafter. It was on the same day that SS Patrols crossed the Canal (possibly exploiting the gap created by the re-deployment of the Lancashire Fusiliers).

“Throughout all the day on May 25 of 1940*, the English unleashed an intense mortar and artillery fire on the positions of the division. Having an increasing number of casualties and several vehicles burning, the Commander authorized that some combat patrols crossed the channel.
One of them led by Obersturmführer Harrer crossed without being detected and soon after, they captured an English messenger who moved in a motorcycle (knocked down by a shot in his shoulder); the soldier did not respond to the questions that were formulated to him and therefore was executed by the patrol leader with a pistol’s shot, being his body thrown in a near ditch. That same afternoon several members of the patrol were ambushed and then captured although the Obersturmführer could escape wounded.”
* On 25th The Royal Norfolks opposed the initial German attack.

Augustus Muir  records “When Colonel Money got news of an enemy patrol in the vicinity of Ferme de l’Etang … Lt Elliott was sent out with C Company to find the Patrol and deal with it. He carried out his task with despatch and returned with prisoners.”

“When another enemy party was spotted coming from the direction of the canal 2nd Lt Page took out a Platoon, killed eight of the enemy and returned with prisoners who were found to be members of an S.S organisation”  Augustus Muir, “The First of Foot” 1961

One of these patrols may have been Harrer’s.

Emil Stuerzbecher, from I Bn SS-T I R 2 reported a later conversation when Knoechlien was mentioned “You know, I could have told you what was going to happen because when on the day before the action at Le Cornet Malo , Harrer and another NCO of 3 Coy were killed whilst on a recce patrol, Knoechlein said “The British have killed Harrer and …; I will pay then back for that”.