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Date received: February 2006 From: Nicola Cutts
On behalf of: John Charlesworth
I am trying to find out more about my grandfather, Sapper John Charlesworth, who served with the BEF and was captured near Dunkirk in 1940.
I don’t know what happened to him immediately after that. My grandmother was initially told that he had been killed, but later received notice that he was being held as a prisoner of war. His POW number was 11963 and the book 'Prisoner's of War British Army 1939-45' gives his camp as Stalag 344 (which I understand was previously Stalag VIIIB). I have a photo of him that has a Stalag VIIIB stamp on the back.
I know that he worked in the mines at the camp. He was a miner before the war (a reserved occupation, I believe) and was presumably called up because he had joined the TA, aged 18, in July 1938.
I never had the chance to talk to him about the war as he died in 1974, when I was still a small child. But I remember him and would really like to find out more about what happened to him. So if anyone knows anything about him, that would be really great!
Date received: January 2006 From: Helen Ufton
On behalf of: William Guthrie
William Guthrie was my Father, he died in 1993. Amongst his papers I found a diary and maps (handwritten) with Red cross postcards and photos taken in the PoW Camp, mainly of men in womens clothes doing theatricals. The paper is so fine and written in pencil that is it virually unreadable, plus the land has changed nationality and name places have been changed since then.
My Dad said very little about his time as a PoW but he did mention one incident. We were at the wedding of a cousin in Northampton, the reception was held at the RAFA Club, downstairs was an exhibition of flyimg machines from the Ist World War to the present day. Dad looked at one plane and said... that b*****d got my breakfast....asked to explain he told the following tale. They had been marching for days, no break, little food, they liberated a lorry carrying Red Cross parcels and settled down to cook breakfast. They dug cooking trenches, had the lot goiong, porridge, bacon, eggs, you name it they cooked it. There was one building in the area, a large ruined barn. Suddenly the cry went up.. Air Raid, Air Raid, they all dived for cover as a Sterling Bomber came over and released it's bombs. It totally missed the building and landed right in the cooking trenches, blowing breakfast to kingdom come.
Does anyone have any recollection of this incident? If so I would love to hear from you, maybe you can help me fill in the years my Dad was a PoW.
Date received: December 2005 From: Ruth Baker
On behalf of: George Baker
My father was a prisoner of war, number 7800, in this camp. We believe he was a Lance Corporal and a driver in the RASC before his capture at, we think, Dunkirk. Sadly he passed away in 1992, but have recently found his documents, and would love to hear from anyone who remembers him.
We have very little information as he never talked about his incarceration. We do know that he suffered mentally after the War as a result of various incidents both witnessed and experienced during his time at the camp, and undoubtedly he wanted to let these painful memories reside in the past.
He was very musical, and played the accordion and piano, and was probably in a concert party. This is a picture of him with his fellow prisoners. We have found other photographs, published in Photos 5
of what we assume are various shows in the camp, including ‘Fairy Glen’ and ‘Romany Revels’. We also have a photo of a show ‘Coconut Grove’, handwriting on the back reads ‘Poland 1941, Lensinham, Near Posen’.
We have photographs of a place called ‘Setzdorf’, and the writing on the back indicates that my father worked with Working Party 173, at Anton Latzell Stone Quarry.
We believe he escaped with others in 1945, but do not have any details of this, only some photos of Czechoslovakia taken post-escaping.
Interestingly, we have a copy of a camp magazine ‘The Clarion’, printed Xmas 1944, with a forward by S. Sherriff, camp leader.
There is more material in the Photos5
Date received: December 2005 From: Ray Newman
On behalf of: Roland Sykes
You have a group photo on Photos4 that was submitted by relatives of Bill Wells in which I
was delighted to see features my grandfather. He was Gunner R. (Roland)
Sykes of the Royal Artillery (service no: 1536602, POW no: 10060, camp:
Stalag 344 (VIIIB), and he is at the very left of the back row in the
photograph.
He was born in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, and grew up in Blackpool. He
was a keen motorcyclist before the war, and was a despatch rider in the
army. He talked very little about his experiences, but did tell us that
he was captured at Dunkirk whilst "acting as a decoy" away from the
evacuation beaches. He learned quite a bit of German as a POW, and
played a lot of football.
One story he did tell was about the time he spent building an oil
refinery - although this may have been at a different camp - which he
said was bombed by the RAF within hours of being completed on several
occasions. Another was about the forced march from Upper Silesia to
somewhere in Germany, through the Black Forest (I don't know if this is
accurate), on which he said several of his comrades were shot, being
unable to keep up.
I would, of course, be interested to hear if anyone remembers him.
I visited Lambinowice (Lamsdorf) in 2004, and found the experience
extremely moving. The museum staff were very helpful, and arranged for
an English speaker to talk to me. She looked at the photo and
told me that it was probably taken whilst out on a working party, or
possibly even at another camp.
Date received: November 2005 From: Elaine Shelley
On behalf of: Francis (Jack) Jones
My mother Doreen (nee Williams) & brothers would love to hear from anybody who knew my Dad, Francis Jones known as Jack (POW No.6610. Dad was in the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards and captured in France on 24 May 1940 fighting the rear guard, having previously successfully assisted the Dutch Royal family to England. Once captured he was admitted to hospital to have his middle finger removed due to a shrapnel wound, however he was posted missing believed dead at Boulonge. His mother then received a notification that he was a POW at Camp XXA - the next she heard from him was that he had been transferred to Lamsdorf.
During his time in Lamsdorf he was in various working parties cutting down trees and working the land, but also spending time in solitary confinement for attempting to escape. Dad celebrated his 21st birthday in October1940 working on a farm where the farmer gave him a glass of schnapps to celebrate. To repay the kindness, when Dad met a German POW in his home town on Christmas day 1945, he invited him back to the family home for a glass of whiskey. On the 5th Dec 1943, he wrote in a letter about cutting trees with working party no 569 and visiting the church of St Mary’s Help which is a well known pilgrimage spot in Europe.
He was released by American soldiers at Magdeburg on 13 April 1945, fed and given a gun for “one last go” when he was wounded again before being repatriated by plane to Great Missenden on 25 April 1945. To see Dad with his fellow PoWs in the camp, click on Photos
Date received: October 2005 From: Jo Halkett
On behalf of: Edward (Ted) Paul
I am trying to find out some information about my grandfather who was a prisoner of war during the Second World War.
His name was Edward Thomas Walter Paul (Ted to his friends) of the East Surrey Regiment (Private 12575). My grandfather passed away when my mother was only fifteen years old, so the only information we do know, we have heard through relatives who have now sadly all passed away (so we are not sure of its accuracy). But they believed that my grandfather was captured in Northern France (possibly Lille) some time in 1940/41 and marched to Poland to Stalag VIII B. We have found a “dog tag” with Stalag 8B – 12575 on it.
There is a photo here of my grandfather with some of his fellow PoWs.
Date received: October 2005 From: Clare Mitchell
On behalf of: William Mitchell
I printed all the pictures on your site and posted them to my gran in South African to see if she could recognize my grandfather in any of the pictures. And she surprised us all by finding him on this one
submitted by Bill Wells! My granddad is the 3rd from the right on the front row (next to Bill Wells). Now I would like to know if anyone remembers him and if they have any stories of his life in Stalag 8B. Below is some info I have on my granddad.
William Stanley Mitchell served during World War II as a gunner; 8 November 1940 and was officially discharged on 26 November 1945. He was 16 years of age when he entered the war and was 21 when officially discharged. He was captured at Tobruk, North Africa, and was a prisoner of war in Italy where he was in hospital for some time. He was later moved to Poland and was a prisoner of war in the German camp Stalag VIIIB. When the camp was liberated by the Americans he was transported to Czechoslovakia, from there to France and then on to England where he was transported back to South Africa.
My gran still has his access card to the German camp (date of entry, 24 July 1942,
it is stamped Stalag VIII B, 32090).
Date received: September 2005 From: Peter Lewis
On behalf of: Bryn (Bob) Roberts
My uncle, Bryn Roberts (also known as Bob), spent a long time in Lamsdorf, though mostly on working parties, including a sugar beet factory, numerous mines and Auschwitz Concentration Camp. He was a Private in the East Surreys and was captured in Belgium in 1940.
I am now putting together his POW memoirs and would be most interested to hear of anyone who came across him. There were four Welsh Guardsmen from the 2nd Battalion: Smith, Price, (Len) Perrett and (Albert John) Allman, with whom he seems to have had a series of escapades. Also on one occasion he swapped identities with a Flight Lieutenant Ruthcliff from Portsmouth, to enable the RAF man to go outside the camp.
I would also like to hear of any Lamsdorf prisoners who spent time in Auschwitz.
From my researches I have found that British POWs were sent to Auschwitz 3 at Monowitz and I believe
their impartial testimony could be important.
Date received: August 2005 From: Bernie Ross
On behalf of: Cyril Hamersma
The photos on this site mostly look as though life in Stalag VIIIB was very dignified compared to some of the descriptions my father, Cyril Hamersma, finally came out with after 40+ years of bottling it up. He died in 1994. He was one of the ‘Belisher Boys’ – called up in the first batch 1939 – and was in the Royal Army Medical Corps when captured in Greece. There's a photo of him on the White Pages.
The first 12 months or so of his capture were the worst because no humanitarian efforts were in place, but it seems that gradually things got a little better.
He was a passionate artist all his life and even at the tender age of 20 he was sketching scenes from the tiny window in the crowded cattle truck journey across Eastern Europe and in the camp itself. He taught painting and drawing to his fellow prisoners when the Camp School was set up.
Years later, when he was able to confront the horrors he experienced, he sketched the scenes from memory and wrote a short account of his four years of incarceration.
I am trying to compile a book of his writings and sketches relating to this period of his life. There is currently an illustrated biography entitled ‘Hamersma: Inspired with our Environment’ (ISBN 0 9544465 1 8) which describes his life and work from the 1950s onwards. Here is a short excerpt from the introduction:
Cyril Hamersma spent his life observing colour, shape, shadow and the magical effects of light that was surrounding him and surrounds you now.
He was difficult to live with, at times, but as children we don't know any different do we? And by adulthood our love, companionship and respect is so established that our parents’ temperaments are a characteristic taken for granted.
The depth and complexities found whilst studying his notes may never be fully understood. The breadth of his embrace to incorporate the human condition and its desire for the belief in the power of good is a refreshing and important angle in art which will confirm Hamersma’s place in the history of Art.
I believe the war experience and subsequent release from captivity had a profound effect on him and yet informed his art throughout his life. If you remember Cyril Hamersma, or would like to buy a copy of his biography please email me, Mrs Bernie Ross on info@creativewritinglife.co.uk will keep all informed on progress with the new book. Its working title is ‘Hamersma: War Artist Unrecognised’.
Date received: May 2005 From: Tom Pitcher
On behalf of: Matt Pitcher
My father, Matt Pitcher was captured on Crete and ended up in Stalag 8b,after hiding in the hills
with the Partisans for about 9 months. I was wondering if anyone remembers him. He
did the six hundred mile march with a bloke named Ham Monk. He didn't
talk about it much - can't say I blame him. He did say, though, that the Commandant's dog
tasted alright.
Date received: May 2005. From: Brenda Cooke
On behalf of: Bertram Clayton
My father, Bertram Clayton was born in 1919 and lived in the Southwark and Camberwell area of London, where he had lots of brothers and eventually married Win. He became a Rifleman with The Kings Royal Rifles, 2nd Battalion and was taken prisoner of war on 26th May 1940. He spent the rest of the war in Stalag V111b (also known as 344) and worked in the coal mine and iron works, and also did forest work (see Photos) .
Dad was liberated 1st May 1940, but sadly, he died in 1960, aged 39, after many years of
lung-related illness. He never spoke much about his time in the POW camp and only briefly mentioned
the long march as the reason for his flat feet.
Date received: March 2005. From: Malcolm Lally
On behalf of: John Lally
My name is Malcolm Lally and I'm a grandson of the late Pt. John Lally . My grandfather was from Leeds and a PoW at Stalag VIIIB until he was repatriated in late 1943. Some might remember him for his wooden leg. Here are some Photos of him when he was in the camp. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who knew him.
I'm a big believer in that what these men gave for there country should never be forgotten.
Date received: February 2005. From: Christine Parry
On behalf of: George Hawkins
My father, George Hawkins was in the Second Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. He was captured
near Hazebrouk on May 28th 1940. He was sent to Stalag 8B and worked in
Arbeits Kommando E72 (see photo) - the Hohenzollern coalmine, Beuthen, for the duration
of the war. He was marched out on Jan 22nd 1945 and "walked the whole length
of Czeckoslovakia". The Americans eventually picked him up and took him to
Erfurt . He returned home via ship to Tilbury, in April 1945.
Date received: February 2005. From: Ian Wilkins
On behalf of: Leonard Wilkins
My late father Leonard Wilkins (who died in 1985) was a founder member of 3 Commando who,
like Paddy Habron was captured on the evening of 19 Aug 42 at Berneval-sur-mer
(from under the cliffs on the beach) and also ended up in Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf.
My father had previously been a member of the Loyal North Lancashire Fusiliers, "The Loyals",
and had previously taken part in the raids of the Lofoten Isles as well as Vaagso. His legs
were badly burnt at Vaagso, as the landing craft he was in was smoke bombed by the RAF
as they were running into the beach. He managed to convalesce and retrain at Largs in time
for the Dieppe party on 19 Aug 42.
Like thousands of others he was also part of the infamous "Death March" from Lamsdorf,
being repatriated by General George C Patton's Army and flown back to the UK by Lancaster bomber.
My regards to one and all.
Date received: February 2005. From: Frank Stapleton
I was a corporal nurse of the Royal Army Medical Corps 168 City of London Light Field Ambulance,
and I was captured during the battle of Crete in June 1941. We were sent to Stalag VIIIB, where I
helped out in the hospital there. Then, in 1943, I was extremely fortunate to be among 150 or so
others who were returned home in an exchange of medical personnel.
Date received: February 2005. From: Brian Wells
On behalf of: His late father, Bill Wells
After being captured at Calais, my father, Bill Wells , a sergeant in the Royal Signals,
was imprisoned in Blechhammer. an offshoot of Stalag VIIIB. Here is what he told the Portsmouth
News before his death in 1986.
?We were at Blechhammer to build a refinery and power station, and we were supervised by a German
prince from his castle in the mountains nearby. You could hear the bells tinkling as he drove his
sleigh down to the camp. At other times of the year, he arrived by landau and pair. He was
pro-British, and married to an English girl who had returned to London at the outbreak of war.
So he used to cover up for some of our capers.
?My role was to look after the camp electrical system. For the most part, though, it was a
question of keeping yourselves fully occupied. All sorts of activities went on to keep morale
high. There were concerts, sports, (see Photos, page 4) lessons and parties.
Pirates of Penzance
?Concert parties were very popular, especially with the C.O. We persuaded them to convert one
hut
into a theatre. We dug an orchestra pit and the Red Cross sent us some musical instruments.
We put on all sorts of productions:The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Night Must Fall..
They were so successful that we used to take them up to Genshagen, in Berlin, where there was a
rest camp for P.O.W.'s who had been working in the mines.
"Once when we left to go there, we smuggled out a Welshman that the Gestapo were looking for.
On another occasion, a New Zealander got away, dressed as a woman. Someone helped him get through
the wire and he was out some time before he was caught. When they brought him in, they made him
wear the woman's clothes, but not the wig, thinking to humiliate him. It rebounded, though,
because he was cheered by the rest of us.
Secret radio room
?We had a secret radio room and a hidden photographic section. The Gestapo were always trying to
find it, but never did. The huts were on stilts, for security reasons. Under one room we had dug
out a hidey-hole. You dropped down through the floor of a room, raked aside the sand, lifted some
planks and there was the room. There was just space to crouch and listen to the radio. A bloke
took the news down in shorthand, then reports were written out and circulated.
?On January 22, 1945, with the German Army on the retreat, we were marched out of the camp.
We walked 50 miles, but had to turn back because of troop movements. A second evacuation was
mounted, and them we began the hardest episode of our spell in detention. Now known as the
Lamsdorf Death March, we walked for 13 weeks, sleeping rough, often in pig-styes and barns.
?Eventually, we were released by General Patton's Army, flown to Rheims, then to Ford Aerodrome,
Sussex. It was certainly a time I wouldn't want to live through again."
If you'd like to read more from former PoWs,
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