The National Ex-Prisoner of War Association

Summer 2009 Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

Terry Waite and Charlie Waite at the opening of the Imperial War Museum exhibition on prisoners of war in Manchester.

 

            SUMMER 2009 NEWSLETTER           

                                                                                        

                                               

ASSOCIATION NEWS from Les Allan, President.

 

99 Parlaunt Road, Langley, Berkshire SL3 8BE. Tel/Fax 01753-818308

 

 FALLINGBOSTEL VISIT by Sally Spring

 

“My father Charles Mayhead and I, along with Les Allan and Percy Lewis, attended the Memorial weekend 23^rd -25^th April at the site of the former prisoner of war camp, Stalag X1B in Fallingbostel, Germany.

 

“We had a wonderful time and the hospitality shown to us by the British Army 2^nd Battalion REME was second to none. On the Friday morning we were treated to a wonderful breakfast in the Officers Mess, where we were introduced to many officers who joined us. We were then shown around the Museum by Kevin Greenhalgh, who showed us a DVD of the liberation of the camp which was very moving. As we watched, one ex-prisoner, Percy recognized himself pushing against the gates of the Camp, waiting to get out and in the background was the wonderful voice of Vera Lynn adding to the nostalgia!

 

“The museum was amazing with so much to look at ranging from WW1, WW2 and more recently Afghanistan. Kevin and his colleague had taken every opportunity to fill the museum with interesting artifacts, it was like an Aladdin’s cave of treasures from the past to remind us of those times and Kevin presented everyone with a DVD of the liberation of the camp as a souvenir.

 

“In the evening, we had a buffet meal in the Officers Mess and spent the evening chatting and relaxing with the officers and other invited guests.

 

“On Saturday morning we joined in the last few hundred meters with the four walkers who had walked from East Poland to Fallingbostel over several days, re-tracing the steps of those prisoners who were forced to do this walk in 1945, ill prepared, only in the clothes they stood up in and wooden clogs. This walk, I was told, was aptly named “The Shoe Leather Express”. The walkers aimed to raise £20,000 for the Help the Heroes fund, which I understand these amazing men and women have achieved. Local TV and reporters were there to cover the final stages of the walk.

 

“In the afternoon, Kevin had arranged an interesting display of Army vehicles old and new and soldiers were dressed up in the original German Army uniforms. There was another chance to have a look around the museum – so much to see and definitely worth another visit!

 

“On the Saturday evening there was a formal regimental dinner in the Officers Mess and we were treated to a banquet! The presentation was fantastic with the very best silver ware gleaming on the tables. Officers in their smart uniforms and ex-prisoners wearing their medals and all the ladies in their finery! There were speeches, toasts, various presentations and the ex-prisoners were held in such high esteem it was just amazing! And to finish off there was a Disco and dancing for those who were up for it!

 

 

 

Photograph above shows the footsore walkers being welcomed by Les Allan and each given an NEXPOWA Association tie. Left to right; Captain Tony Armstrong, our President Les Allan, Mrs Jen Armstrong, Staff Sergeant Anya Beeforth, Captain Craig Beeforth. The team had walked the equivalent of a marathon a day to raise £20,000 for ‘Help

 

 

“Sunday morning we were driven to the Memorial Gates where the ex-prisoners and other representatives laid wreaths and a Scottish piper made the Service even more poignant. Officers and their families attended. The priest welcomed and thanked all the ex-prisoners and we sang hymns and said prayers in the lovely sunshine. After the service lunch was waiting for us back at the Officers Mess.

 

 

  

Photo above was taken at the memorial gates. In the centre of the group is William Percival Lewis with Les Allan on his left and Charles Mayhead on his right. Bill and Charles were both captured later in the war and taken direct to the camp. Les had to walk there from Poland!

 

 

 

“We left later that afternoon and transport was provided by the Army as had been all weekend. We all had a very memorable weekend and made many friends and addresses were exchanged. Dad told me that he had finally laid all the demons of Stalag XIB to rest. He will now look back at all the good memories he has of Fallingbostel and our wonderful British Army hosts REME and here’s looking forward to next year!”

 

 

 

Photograph above shows Les Allan and ex-Desert Rat RASC Corporal Charlie Mayhead looking around the POW museum created  by Kevin Greenhalgh. Charlie fell in the bag in the Desert, escaped in Italy and was later recaptured and taken to Germany.

 

 

DONATIONS. We would like to thank the following for their kind donations to the welfare fund. Tony Grant £40, Mr and Mrs Sutton £10 and Maureen Pierce £10 for the Memorial Plinth, Alf Keates £10, Bill Crighton £15, John Banfield £20. From Geoff Watson in memory of his late father Private L R Watson of the Cheshire Regiment who was a POW in Campo 73 Carpi, Italy £20. Donations given in memory of the late Frank Hewlett £307.50. Lawrence and Melinda Weisberg $100 on behalf of Alexander Weisberg, a former patient at Obermassfeld. A big thank you and apologies to anyone we have missed out!

 

NEW MEMBERS. We would like to welcome the following new members; Mr P Jamieson, Mrs Doris Williams, Mr Dean Blanshard, Mr Alan Cavanagh whose father was in the Lancashire Fusiliers, Miss Lynn Gittings, Miss Samantha Letters,  Miss Jacqueline Kimbell, Mr Ken Timmis in Spain, Mr and Mrs Ashby.

 

 

OBITUARIES. We regret to report the passing away of the following members; Dennis Boden from Stroud in Gloucestershire in October. He was with 189 Field Ambulance RAMC and fell in the bag in Greece. Mr L R Watson who was with the Cheshire Regiment and a former resident of  Campo 73 at Carpi. Frank Hewlett who passed away in April aged 93 years. Harry Fagg passed away in January in Slough, Berkshire. He was a life Vice-President of the Association. In the photograph below Harry is shown below on parade in Windsor in 1995.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also regret to report the passing away of Eric Howe (photo above) in December. He was previously the President of the Nottingham Ex-POW Branch.

John Banfield, the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Royal Air Force Ex-POW Association informs us that his wife sadly passed away in October.

Our loyal and hard working Belgian Delegate Gerard Van Herck passed away earlier in the year.


Our Haywards Heath fund raiser Fred Goddard passed away on 10th March, aged 93 years. Our sincere condolences go out to the families. We will remember them.

 

         

 

Colonel The Reverend Sam Davies passed away on 15^th March aged 91 years. He was the chaplain of the 1^st Bn Gloucestershire Regiment during its heroic stand against Chinese forces at the Imjin River during the Korean War. On the eve of the battle he held a Holy Communion service and later joined his comrades as a prisoner of war in a Chinese POW camp in North Korea.

 

A DAY AT THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM IN MANCHESTER. Allan Jones kindly drove member Charlie Waite to the Imperial War Museum in Manchester on 22^nd May, to represent the Association at the formal opening of their prisoner of war exhibition ‘Captured’. The celebrity enlisted to officially open the exhibition was Terry Waite, who spent a number of years imprisoned as a hostage in the Lebanon. Could the two Waite’s possibly share the same genes? Allan told us afterwards;

“Well, we had a great day at the Imperial War Museum and were looked after very well from start to finish.  It is a great venue and the new exhibition would be of huge interest to all the Association members. Charles was a POW from May 1940 until May 1945 at Stalag XXB Marienburg; he only survived the Death March (from January 45 to May 45) due the comradeship and unfailing support of his five close friends who had been together for most of his 'war'.

“The opening was very informative and Terry Waite shared some of his experiences of his time as a hostage/prisoner in Beirut, he injected some humor and explained this was essential in any challenging environment. Charles met Terry Waite and they had quite a long chat, away from the 'hub-bub' of the crowd. They decided they are not directly related but both having their full grey beards indicates there just may be something in the gene pool!

“The 'Captured' exhibition is thoughtfully assembled, thoroughly researched and very professionally displayed.  It opens with displays and film clips from the two most famous POW films - The Great Escape and The Bridge over the River Kwai; the museum Director explained this is where people get most of their knowledge. The exhibition then deals with reality, this includes a flavor of life and experiences in German camps, Japanese camps, Italian camps, British camps and camps used to detain women and children.  There is a special feature on Colditz including a model of the glider that was build but never flown. There are story boards, verbal recordings of prisoner’s recollections and the opportunity to smell the aromas associated with huts and other aspects of confinement. The display of artifacts and memorabilia evoked many memories for Charles, just one example was the tins of KLIM, which he explained was dried milk powder; he recalled that one of his friends, Ebbey, could make all sorts of things out of the empty tins and just as he did so he spotted a teapot and drinking mugs fashioned in the way he had described.

“Thank you very much for thinking of Charles and passing on the invite.  I cannot stress just how good the exhibition is, we will definitely make a return visit. The museum is located on the Salford Quays regeneration site only a few hundred yards from Old Trafford stadium, the road network and signing make for very easy access. The building is a magnificent new structure ensuring easy movement for the less abled - Charles is in this category but a wheel chair was available for his use throughout the visit.  Getting around inside the building is very easy.

“ Whilst there I was chatting to a chap who organizes an Association of 'Children of Far East POWs'.  They have booked a room at the museum for a re-union this summer, it may be something you could think about for NEXPOWA and there is a Premier Inn only a few hundred yards from the Museum.  The Restaurant in the museum could take care of catering etc.  Combining a re-union with access to the Exhibition may have some appeal and perhaps a 'flyer' in the next newsletter asking for expression of interest could help gauge the level of interest. Finally Charles would like to thank the Association for this opportunity and every one at the museum for making his visit so memorable.  This was a magnificent day out. Best wishes, thanks again.  Allan.”   

      

 

LOST BERET. Fred Taylor, 1 Davenants, Pitsea, Basildon, Essex SS13 1QX would like to know if anyone found a rifle green beret with Rifle Brigade badge, possibly lost at Lakeside, Hayling Island last reunion.

 

 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

 

Contact Phil Chinnery, Newsletter Editor, 59 Pinkwell Lane, Hayes, UB3 1PJ Email NEXPOWA@fsmail.net

 

Ronald Redman has written in regarding the Swedish YMCA medal mentioned by Peter Morrey from Melbourne, Australia. ‘Yes, I received one, along with two other Geordies, cannot remember names, in Auschwitz for promoting recreation etc. My personal task was organising a six-a-size football competition. This was in an adjoining field near our camp. The idea was to relieve the tension caused by the frequent American and Russian bombing air raids.

          ‘I found it difficult to keep the fixtures, getting players to get off their bunks, in their free evening time or Sundays, also arranging necessary German guards who supervised the games. Unfortunately my medal, along with any other meagre possessions, was looted in one of several Russian field hospitals I was forced to be in during the evacuation from Auschwitz. It was not worth any value – except as a memento, but one gets no sympathy from Russians!’

 

Mr Alan Cavanagh, 13 Chatsworth Road, Radcliffe, Manchester M26 4NT would like to hear from anyone who knew his uncle Frederick Cavanagh of the 1^st/8^th Lancashire Fusiliers who was a resident of Stalag 20B and who sadly died during the long march to the west on 21^st March 1945. If you knew Fred or were on the march from Marienburg please drop a line to Alan.

We are an independent television production company who have specialized in historical documentaries, primarily World War II and we are in the early stages of producing a documentary, alongside The History Channel, about POWs marching across Germany at the end of the war. We are looking for war veterans who took part in The Long March to take part in the documentary.   It would require a short interview, where you would be asked questions about your experiences, retelling your personal account of what happened.  We would ideally like to start filming late July, however dates and schedules have not yet been finalized. Stephen Saunders Producer, ASA Productions (UK) Ltd, Ashleigh House, 42 Hammelton Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 3PY. Tel 020 8464 7929.

Roderick M Barron, P.O.Box 67, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3WW, barronrm@hotmail.com  I am currently researching the wartime history of the 5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1939-1946. I am trying to compile a comprehensive list of men from this Battalion who were taken prisoner by the Germans during the course of the War and to find out as much information about each one of them as is possible.  I would be very interested to hear from any surviving 5th KOSB POWs and/or the family and relatives of such men.  A number of men from the 5th KOSB were captured during the evacuation of Cherbourg in mid June 1940.  At least 2 were sent to Lamsdorf /Stalag 344. One of them, 3193639 Private Douglas Boys, aged 22, sadly died 16 February 1941 at a German Military Hospital in Hindenburg, Upper Silesia.  During the Battalion's 1944-45 campaign in Europe, a number of men were captured in engagements along the Dutch-German border in the winter of 1944-45 - on 28th December 1944 (Kievelberg) and on January 21st 1945 (Waldfeucht).  About 65 men, including one officer, were captured during these two engagements.  At least two of the men ended up at Fallingbostel /Stalag XIB/357 during these last few months of the war. Unfortunately the official British POW indexes compiled in 1945 do not list the Camp locations or POW numbers of any of these 65 men. If anyone of your readers and subscribers should have any further information relating to 5th Battalion KOSB Prisoners of War, I would be very interested to hear from them. With many thanks & best regards, Rod Barron.

 

Samantha Letters, 67 High Road, Ickenham, Middlesex UB10 8LQ would like to hear from anyone who studied any subject and possibly passed exams whilst in the camps.

  

 

 

Rifleman Alec Jay, Queen Victoria’s Rifles   My late father, Alec Jay was a Queen Victoria’s Rifleman. He was captured in Calais in May 1940 and spent the following five years in various German POW camps including Lamsdorf – Stalag VIIIB. He is in the photo on the left, with the moustache. I was wondering if anyone might recognise any of the other prisoners in this photo. His other camps included Setzdorf, about which I can find very little on the internet other than the fact that the place name has been changed to Vápenná, and various other obscure locations including Groschowitz, Neudorf, Jägerndorf and Gruschdorf. These may be the locations of working parties. My father escaped on a number of occasions and was on the run in Prague on VE day having met up with Czech partisans. John Jay, 84 Belsize Road, London NW6 4TG. My mobile phone number is 07836 621930. John Jay email  jjay@NewStarAM.com

 

 

Marie Green, 10 Central Avenue, Walkden, Worsley, M28 3RY would like to make contact with anyone who was taken prisoner on Leros. Her father William Durkin of the Kings Own Regiment fought there and was taken prisoner. Sadly he died on 1951. Marie would like to visit Leros in September.

 

I am hoping to visit the POW camps in Italy in which my father Frederick James Lightfoot was held and I am trying to find the specific locations of the camps. I wondered if you had these details or could recommend how I might find this information.  The camps were PG70 (Porto S Giorgio), and PG62 (Bergamo).  Whilst at PG62 he also was at a farm work camp, which I believe was referred to at PG62/62.  Any further information about this camp would also be very welcome. Thank you in anticipation of your assistance. Alexandra Lightfoot, 29 Linden Grove, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, TS5 5NF

 

 PHOTO OVERLEAF shows the men of Arbeits Kommando 971 at Gardelagen, Germany. Leslie Frederick Moore is third from left at the back wearing the ‘chip’ hat.  If you knew Leslie can you drop a line to his son Christopher Moore at 15 Grange Farm Close, Toton, Nottingham NG9 6EB.

 

 

HISTORIANS NEWS by Phil Chinnery

 

Contact address - 59 Pinkwell Lane, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 1PJ

 

I have obtained four photographs sent home by the late Sergeant Jack Jewiss of the Royal Signals. The photo on the front cover as well as the photo immediately below and the two on the opposite page were taken in Campo 75 at Monturano in Italy. Recognise anyone?

 

 

 

The board in the photo above reads ‘Monturano Football Final 40 Group Winners’. Can anyone explain the 40 Group part? Jack must have taken the photo with him to Germany, where he befriended a Russian paratrooper. On the rear of the photo is a list of English words and the Russian translation.

 

 

Do you recognise anyone? Click thumbnail Below for higher resolution image

 

ARBEITS KOMMANDO E27 AND E535 registered to Stalag 8B. I have obtained a collection of photographs showing a funeral at E535 and Sports Day 6^th July 1943 at E27.  The location of E535 is listed in the National Archives as Preussag, Milowitz, but I also have a note of it being at Sosnowice.  E27 is listed in the National Archives as a cement factory at Oppeln, but it is named as Jakobswalde in the book ‘Despite Captivity’ by John Borrie. If you were on either working party, please drop a line to the newsletter editor.

 

Copyright 2009. The National Ex-Prisoner of War Association.