The National Ex-Prisoner of War

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

Well dear members, another year has gone by and it is now sixty one years since our war came to an end and we returned home again. Many of our comrades are no longer with us and this year we will remember them. Christmas has come early this year for one of our members. If you cast your mind back a couple of years to Winter 2000 you may recall that the International Organisation for Migration was handling claims for compensation for people who carried out slave or forced labour, under the German Forced Labour Compensation Scheme. The fund was financed in equal parts by German companies, some of whom used forced labourers, and the German State. I reported at the time that “I have just received a letter from the International Organisation for Migration who are handling the claims against the New German Fund. They tell me that "POWs may be eligible for compensation if they were either discharged as a POW or were sent or transferred to a concentration camp." They also urge potential claimants to file if, as a POW, "they were sent to a ghetto, or another place of confinement, where they were subjected to inhumane conditions, insufficient nutrition and/or lack of medical care." If any member believes that he might come under that heading, please write to them and request a claim form. Write to the IOM, 26 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR. Tel. 0207-233-0001.” The deadline for applications for compensation was 31^st December 2001.

Some of you sent claims into this body, especially those who spent time in concentration camps such as Auschwitz and all were rejected on the grounds that prisoners of war were not considered eligible. However, Member Denis Avey appealed against his decision and fought the IOM all the way until September this year when he succeeded in overturning the initial rejection of his claim for compensation for imprisonment in arbeits kommando E715 at Auschwitz. The IOM Appeals Body concluded that “the applicant had been subjected to forced labour in a concentration camp or in another place of confinement under comparable conditions as defined under the Foundation Act. The IOM Appeals Body therefore decides to reverse the initial IOM decision.” The maximum amount payable to applicants classed as Slave Labour is 15,000 Euros. Dennis now has a good cause for celebration this Christmas and we congratulate him on his persistence and success. I suggest that if you feel that your claim was unfairly rejected you write to the International Organisation for Migration, 26 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR. Helpline 0845-6013642.

For the record, Auschwitz was a bad place to be held for a number of reasons. Contrary to the Geneva Convention the Nazis continued to confine prisoners in places of danger, especially possible targets for Allied bombers. We reproduce a report by Ron Redman which first appeared in the newsletter five years ago;

The bombing of Auschwitz by Ron Redman. “Our working party E715 Auschwitz came under Stalag 8B. Forty of the prisoners were killed on the first bombing raid on Auschwitz. Our camp was just off the perimeter road around the huge I G Farben industrial factory as were the Ukranian forced labour, French volunteers and the Jewish camps. This particular day was a ‘free’ day off work, when we normally washed our clothes or maybe had some recreation. It was a beautiful sunny day when the Germans suddenly lit their smoke screens when the impending news of large bombing formations leaving Italy and heading towards Silesia, the industrial heart of Poland. The balloon was going up – this literally was a red and orange basket hoisted in stages outside the tallest chimney stack to warn as to the vicinity of the planes – if the balloon was at the chimney top the planes were overhead! This time they were American.

We had dug zig-zag trenches in the lowest part of the camp and covered them with large concrete slabs. The entrance was a concrete slope at one end. We had experienced some false alarms previously and I had noticed if one had squatted near the entrance many pools of water made it undesirable although further in the trenches it was darker, but drier. Therefore I had resolved to go deeper into the trench as the sirens were sounding. Sadly many of the lads were reluctant to go into the entrance despite the shouting of the guards – it was so fine and sunny and maybe it could be another false alarm.

I heard the ‘whoosh’ as the first stick of bombs came down and the blast blew me upside down within the shelter. When we finally emerged from the rubble we learned that there was a last minute rush to enter the opening from the ramp and an estimated 40 men including one German guard were unfortunately too late. The area around the ramp was devastated. It looked like a direct hit was made and the blast had flung the bodies far and wide. I remember one guard noisily suggesting that ‘a pity it wasn’t all of us’ as we were recovering the bodies. To this day I do not know whether the bodies have been moved to a proper grave site in Poland.”

A note from the editor: we will soon be compiling a Roll of Honour on our website at prisonerofwar.org.uk which will list the names of all prisoners of war known to have died in captivity in all wars. We will include the location and circumstances where known.

ANNUAL REUNION 2006 by Freda Moores. The 2006 reunion was once again held at Hayling Island and was attended by 101 members and their families. The Evacuee Association were also at Hayling Island at the same time and Warners put on a programme of entertainment called ‘We’ll meet again’ based on 1940’s music and everyone said how much they enjoyed it. This years event was so successful that the Evacuee Association have said they will be going the same time next year as they all had such a good time joining in with us. I would like to thank everyone who supported the raffle by donating prizes and purchasing tickets, we made a clear profit of £576. The reunion next year will again be held at Hayling Island between Friday October 5^th and Monday 8^th October 2007. Booking forms and details of costs will be available from January 2007 and if anyone requires further details please phone me on 01628-473832.

MEMORIAL APPEAL FOR FUNDS. This is a good time to remind members of our plans to erect a permanent memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire. It will be similar to the memorial recently unveiled at Fallingbostel. Fund raising has already begun and donations can be sent to me at the above address. So far about £2,000 has come in towards the estimated £20,000 that we will need. There will also be a requirement to put some money aside for future maintenance of the memorial. All donations whether large or small would be appreciated.

I visited the Arboretum together with Gary Moores our Standard Bearer and met the official in charge. We had a long discussion about what we had in mind and we were shown a spot where Mr Kennedy thought was an ideal place for our proposed memorial. The nearest memorial to the proposed site is one to the Royal Ulster Defence Regiment and a little further over is the First World War ‘Shot at Dawn’ memorial. We have provisionally decided on Wednesday 9^th May 2007 as the date for the dedication of the memorial. May was the month when most of the prisoners of war were released in Germany in 1945 and it will hopefully give us nice weather as well. We are now looking for an appropriate dignitary to perform the dedication.

MEMORIAL DONATIONS: We would like to thank the following for their kind donations to the memorial fund – Mrs D Butan £10, Mrs Diane Lidstone £5, Adam Lindsay £10, Mr E Holt £5, Paul and Duncan Woolerton £20, Mrs Jennifer Snell £20, Mr J L H Batt £25, Mrs Batt £25, Mr Alex Franks £20, Mr Ivor Gordon £20, Mr F J Gill £50, Mrs Penny Smith £40, Mrs M Hearne £5, Mr Roy Hall £10, F J Vokes £50, Tony Doyle Bridge-Vere £200. We have also received £100 in memory of William Kelly, a former resident of Stalag 8B and from Jill Hall £1,000 in memory of David Mayers (Taffy).

WELFARE FUND DONATIONS: We would like to thank the following for their kind donations to the association welfare fund – D E Boden £10, J F Crouch £15, F French £15, E Marshall £25, Elizabeth Raworth £15, F Walker £5, B Warne £10.

ITEM COST ITEM COST

Wall Plaque £27 Tie tack with chain £4.95

NEXPOWA Tie £10 Full member lapel badge £4

NEXPOWA blazer badge £10 Car Sticker £5

Cap Badges £3.50 Souvenir Spoons £6.95

Cuff Links £9.95 Christmas cards (5 pack) £1

Tie Clip £6.95 Ladies scarf with logo £10

To purchase items contact Freda Moores at 17 Wallace Close, Marlow, Bucks SL7 1TY. Tel 01628-473832.

OBITUARIES. George Herschel wrote in to say “Many thanks for all your help, pleased to see my fathers obituary in the news letter. More sad news, my mother Betty Herschel and myself returned from Belgium and France on Monday 2^nd October to find out that our chairman had passed away on Thursday 28th September, so could you please place his obituary in the next newsletter: Mr Alan Aiston, Black Watch/Tyneside Scottish, POW from 1940-45 in Poland, Chairman of the North East Branch, Newcastle on Tyne. Alans funeral took place on Monday 2^nd October and had a good turn out with Dunkirk Veterans and Black Watch/Tyneside Scottish. Alan will be missed by all ex POWs in the North East area. Our thoughts are with Alans family. Please remember Alan in your prayers.” We will remember him.

It does not seem a year has passed since we last visited Belgium, the time has gone so quickly and Sue and I find ourselves being whisked away to Belgium again. The trip, once again well organized by Gary Moores our National Standard Bearer and of course Freda the National Treasurer, began as it always does with an early start at 0500hrs. The happy band of travellers

The President and his wife, Mr. Les Allan and Mrs. Doris Allan; The Vice Chairman/ Parade Marshall and his wife, Mr. Eric Reeves and Mrs. May Reeves; Mr. and Mrs. Noel Matthews; Mr. Donald Matheson; The National Treasurer, Mrs. Freda Moores; The National Standard Bearer, Mr. Gary Moores; The Deputy National Standard Bearer and his wife, Mr.

Hugh Ashton-Moore and Mrs. Sue Ashton-Moore. Gary was once again the driver for the trip and had hired the mini bus. Once all of the party had been picked up, we headed for the Channel Tunnel and boarded the train to cross to France. After an uneventful crossing, which only took 33 minutes, we headed for our hotel in Oostduinkerke, Belgium, with a stop off for coffee and some shopping in Aidenkerke.

On arrival at our Hotel, we were once again made very welcome, given our room keys, unpacked and relaxed for while. We then all went on a short bus trip to Koksijde the main town of the area, returning to the Hotel to freshen up and get ready for our evening meal, which we had in the Hotel. After some refreshments at one of the local bars, we retired to bed.

Day Two Friday 8th Sept. After breakfast we all boarded the bus for a day trip to the Ypres Salient. Our first visit of the day was to Tyne Cot cemetery, the largest Commonwealth Battlefield Cemetery in the world; there are 11,976 graves, of these, 8,366 or 70% are "Known unto God". The Memorial wall holds the names of 34,887 men from all of the divisions that are missing and have no known grave. (GB 33,707, NZ 1,179 & Newfoundland 1.)

We stopped in the village of Passendale for lunch. After lunch we visited the Canadian Memorial in Passendale Village, before leaving that area to visit the New Polygon Cemetery, The Buttes New British Cemetery and the 5th Australian Division Memorial, 1916, 1917 & 1918. Once again the weather had been kind to us with warm sunshine and clear skies. We then returned to our hotel for the evening meal.

Day Three Saturday 9th Sept. The day was split into two parts. In the morning we all paraded at the Koksijde Commonwealth War Cemetery to lay a wreath from the Association. This cemetery holds the graves of both First and Second World War service personnel from the Army and The RAF. Once this parade was over we boarded the bus and travelled to Ypres. We had lunch and then had the afternoon and early evening in Ypres. We attended the Last Post Ceremony under the Menin Gate Memorial at 8.00pm. On The Menin Gate Memorial, there are the names of 54,896 Servicemen from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many other Commonwealth lands who have no known graves. We returned to our hotel.

Day Four Sunday 10th Sept. We had an early start at 0800hrs for breakfast and onto the bus for 0845hrs to go to the Oostduinkerke Communal Cemetery for the laying of wreaths on the graves of the Nine members of the Belgium Secret Army that were executed by the Gestapo just before the liberation of Belgium on the 9th Sept 1944. Wreaths were also laid on the memorial in the small Commonwealth Cemetery, adjacent to the main cemetery. (Picture overleaf; The Parade Marshall, The Nation Standard Bearer and The Deputy National Standard Bearer). Once this ceremony was over we then moved to the Parish Church for a service of thanksgiving.

After the service has finished all of the standards leave the church for the main parade around the town and wreaths are laid at the two sites in the town where the members of the Secret Army were executed. After the wreaths were laid at both sites, the parade was formed up and waited for the signal to march past. The salute was taken by the Mayor of the local town and a large number of local dignitaries that had attended, also representatives from the Services of Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. The parade was followed by a reception hosted by the Mayor of Koksijde; the dinner was prepared by members of the local community.

Day Five Monday 11th Sept. Our final day in Belgium was spent quietly. We had a trip around the local area, did some shopping, had coffee and generally relaxed. As this was our last night in the Hotel, we decided to eat in and had a lovely dinner and a few drinks before retiring to bed.

Day Six Tuesday 12th Sept. We had an early breakfast, loaded the bus with our luggage, paid our hotel bills and left the hotel for Aidenkerke for some last minute shopping. Once this was done, we boarded the bus and headed for the Channel Tunnel. The crossing took 31 minutes then, after all of the party were dropped off at their various locations, Gary, Freda, Sue and I returned home. In summary a very successful six day trip, with weather behaving itself for all of the time we were in Belgium. I am sure that I speak for everyone and once again thank Gary and Freda Moores for the entire organisation before, during and after the trip. I look forward to next year. Hugh Ashton-Moore, Deputy National Standard Bearer.

BOOK REVIEW. ‘Lie in the dark and listen’ by Wing Commander Ken Rees, with Karen Arrandale. Subtitled ‘The remarkable exploits of a WWII bomber pilot and great escaper.’ Often quoted as the model for the Steve McQueen character in the film The Great Escape, by age 21 Ken had already trained to be a pilot officer; flown 56 hair-raising bomber missions by night over Germany; taken part in the siege of Malta; got married; been shot down into a remote Norwegian lake; and been captured, interrogated and sent to Stalag Luft 3. He took part in and survived the Great Escape and then the forced march to Bremen. Truly a real life adventure story, written with accuracy, pace and drama. Published in softcover at £9.99, 224 pages plus 16 pages of photographs. ISBN No 1-904943-411. Published by Grub Street, 4 Rainham Close, London SW11 6SS.

BOOK REVIEW. ‘In the shadow of death’ by Idris James Barwick. Subtitled ‘The story of a medic on the Burma Railway 1942-45’. When he was taken prisoner by the Japanese in early 1942 the author was a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps in Malaya. So began 1,000 days of unimaginable privation and inhumane treatment at the hands of captors who placed no value on the lives of their POWs. Despite having only the basic medical training ‘Taff’ Barwick was appointed to be a medical orderly by his company commander who must have been a shrewd judge of character. He fulfilled this role throughout his captivity hindered by an almost total lack of supplies and facilities and at great personal risk, kept an account of his and his colleagues ordeal. As a result of Taffs initiative, the reader is able to share his experiences in Singapore, on the terrible jungle march through Thailand and during the building of the notorious Burma Railway. The author suffered from dysentery, malaria, beri beri and cholera but, unlike so many others, he survived. His descriptions of the courage and suffering of his fellow POWs, the cruelty of the Japanese, and regrettably, the failings of some in authority make for compelling reading. In the Shadow of Death is a brilliant, shocking but deeply inspiring record of one of the darkest periods in the history of British military history. Sadly the author died in 1975 at the age of 68 from heart disease, a direct result of the beri beri and other ailments he contracted while a prisoner of the Japanese. The review copy was sent in by Elizabeth Garland, the authors daughter, who lives in Virginia, USA. Published by Pen and Sword, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS. Tel 01226-734555. Hard cover, price £19.99. ISBN No 1-84415-246-4. 280 pages with 16 pages of photographs.

BOOK REVIEW. ‘Survival at Stalag IVB’ by Tony Vercoe. Subtitled ‘Soldiers and airmen remember Germanys largest POW camp of World War II’. In addition to concentration camps, World War II Germany was home to 4 prisoner of war camps, the largest of which was Stalag 4B. Here and in numerous satellite camps, Poles, French, Belgians, British, Americans, Dutch and Russian fought to survive. Interned in the camp for several months from late 1943, Tony Vercoe engaged in a struggle for life, sanity and escape. This chronicle evokes the reality of life in Stalag 4B. The author and other veterans of the camp provide particulars regarding rations, prisoner of war registration, hygiene, inmate activities and prisoner morale. Possibilities of flight and the events that motivated escape attempts are discussed, along with the consequences of the frequent failures. Closing chapters detail the camps final months and the prisoners deliverance. Published in soft cover by McFarland and Company Inc, Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640, USA. ISBN No 0-7864-2404-4. 202 pages with illustrations. www.mcfarlandpub.com

BOOK REVIEW. ‘Only one way out’ by Temple Parry. This is a moving, sometimes horrific and in parts humorous account of the capture and attempted escape of a British prisoner of war and his comrades. From capture, through a long tortuous rail journey in cattle wagons to Poland for slave labour in a sugar factory, and the subsequent death march retreat from Poland to the Western front, forced back by the advancing Russian army. This story is based upon a person who experienced at first hand the atrocity and fruitlessness of war. These innermost feelings and descriptive detail have been put to paper into an entertaining story to make an enjoyable read. Quote “I stared silently back at my gaping audience, I was ragged, unkempt, unshaven and full of lice with the eating habit of a wolf, I must have presented an inhuman vision. To have recounted one quarter of the reason for my sorry looking, solitary state, to these clean well ordered men, (he refers to soldiers of the liberating American army) would have invited the men in white coats and a trip to the padded cells. It was then, that subconsciously, the fetters were fixed to my tongue that were to effectively mute my story for the next forty years” Unquote. Softcover, 347 pages. ISBN No 1-4259-0863-2. Published by Authorhouse, 500 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK9 2BE. Price £9.30.

Mr L Robinson, 15 Stoke Abbott Close, Robins Lane, Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire SK7 2QD is looking for Charles Raymond Fraser, a fighter pilot who was shot down over France in 1942/3. After the war he married and immigrated to Australia and contact was lost in the late 1950’s.

Is it possible to include the following advertisement in the next Newsletter in the column: ‘Where are they now?’ My name is Ben van Drogenbroek from Holland. Since many years I am very interested in the POW camp Stalag Luft 3. By chance I came in the possession of many letters written to F/Lt. Reginald G. Houston when he was a POW at the East Compound of Stalag Luft 3. He was transferred to Marlag/Milag in Bremen when Stalag Luft 3 was evacuated in January 1945. Most of these letters were written by his parents Mr. And Mrs. Houston who lived at 106 Northwick Ave, Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex. I would love to hear from anyone who knew F/Lt. Reginald G. Houston or who can provide me with any kind of information. If you can help please write to Ben van Drogenbroek, Stadhouderslaan 32, 3417 TW Montfoort, The Netherlands.

Jane Amery-Scott, 2413 Butternut Crescent, Burlington, Ontario L7M 3J7, Canada would like to hear from anyone who may have known her late father 2042281 Lionel Fred Amery and his brother 2048001 Geoffrey Richard Amery, both were Riflemen in the 1^st Bn Rifle Brigade and were taken prisoner on 26^th May 1940 during the defence of Calais. They were sent to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf and worked in mines, ammo warehouses and forests.

Mary Teale wrote in; My father was captured in 1940 in France, and ended up in Poland. I have some pictures of POWs in Petershofen and Jaworzno (SS LagerNeuDachs/Dachs Gruber). When we visited Jaworzno this April, we found a memorial room in a school devoted to Dachs Gruber. If you have any information for Camp E596 which was this camp, we would be very interested. We shall return to Jaworzno this October, and have been informed by the archive at Auschwitz that they have the documents which were buried in the mines at Jaworzno, (we found out about the existence of these documents in The Auschwitz Chronicle, by Danuta Czech). We shall be able to view these documents when we re-visit Auschwitz 1.

Petershoften E21 Christmas 1941. Standing L to R; Geordie, Fretwell, Mac, Bill Milne, Unknown, Frank, Joe Laws, Bill. Sitting L to R; Bill Copeland, Johnathan, Rex, Kiwi, Unknown.

STALAG 8B RED CROSS REPORTS. I have a copy of an 8-page Red Cross report on their visit to 8B on 5^th March 1943, plus a 17-page 8^th March 1943 report on the work detachments at E62 Gleiwitz Steigern, E72 Hohenzollerngrube Beuthen coal mine, (man of confidence PSM MacRobb), E114 Gross Kunzendorf stone quarry, E209 Bobrek coal mine, E256 Zuckmantel, E411 Hohenzollerngrube Beuthen coal mine (man of confidence TSM Hanes), E446 Zuckmantel, E456 Kalkau (Jewish/Palestinian POW), E484 and E486 Neisse (labouring), E490 Beuthen (railway building). Also an 8-page copy of the Red Cross report on their 12^th February 1943 visit to Camp 319 Cholm, which was dependent on Stalag 8B and was later closed. This camp was established in August 1942 as a reprisal camp, after the German authorities learnt of the camp at Latrun in Palestine where members of the National Socialist Party were guarded by Jewish sentries. If anyone would like a copy of any of the reports, please drop me a line.

Member Don Freeman wrote in to tell me ‘I saw the photo in the Autumn Newsletter sent in by Henry Owen of the Stalag 20A Arbeits Kommando 52. I was one of those on this working party although I am not in this photograph. However I have found my copy of my photograph taken with six others. These photos were taken in March 1942 and it was a German propaganda exercise, new uniforms were sent from Stalag HQ in Thorn and we were photographed in groups. Afterwards we had to hand back the new uniforms. Working Party 52 went on from 1^st August 1940 to 13^th May 1942 and we were all taken back to Fort 13 at Thorn and in due course we were all sent out to various working parties. In my case I formed part of a new working party based in Obkas (Oberwalden) which in fact was only a short distance from Gosdorf. Please let Henry know that I was with him at Ak52 and this is the first time I have heard of anyone from this camp in the years since the war ended. I look forward to the newsletters as they bring back many memories and I appreciate the work you put in producing them.’ Editors note; we have now put Don and Henry in touch with each other again.

Fred Kennington of Stockport wrote in to say; “On the centre spread of the Autumn Newsletter there is a big map of the route westwards from Poland to Mecklenburg, etc. taken by an unnamed POW in January 1945, together with a request for information from anyone else who took that route. Can I refer you back to my book, 'No Cheese after Dinner' that you reviewed in Spring 2004 issue. Some of those recorded in that book, and particularly Willie Stoddart, took an almost identical route, even to the day, finishing north of Magdeburg. The details are in the book. I was at Berwick very recently and showed Willie the article. Willie, who is 87 and not in good health, was very interested, remembering many of the places. He still has his note book recording his 'Death March' and the stopping places. One thing with regard to the map is that some of the place names are not quite correct. An example is Gross Tychow which appears as Gross Tychburn. I can correct most of them if that is considered necessary but that point is not something I would want to see in anything you publish. That would only undermine the sender of the map and that is not something I wish to do. Hope this is useful - come back to me if you want to clarify anything.

Debbie Burton, nee Reeves wrote in to say: “Dear Sir, as promised I now have some information for you. I have attached the notes I failed to attach before. Since the other day I have had some stomach churning information from the National Archives. My family were always lead to believe that my Grandad was shot whilst trying to escape from Camp 66 Capua Italy, in August 1942, he was wounded and was transferred to Caserta Hospital where he died 3 days later. All this is true, however, the information I now have reads that there is quite a different slant to the story.

I have in my possession authentic United Nations War Crimes Commission Sheets, with signed affidavits by officers, legal documents headed "The murder of Lt J Reeves”. Apparently, yes he did attempt to escape with Captain Spragg-Mitchell at 2.45am 19/8/42. The belief is that the Italians were forewarned of the escape, and they lay in wait for them. One volley of shooting began, Spragg-Mitchell was killed, my grandfather was wounded, in the legs and could not move so he surrendered. Whilst still on the ground surrendering the Italian patrol surrounded him and at close range began shooting at him, the medical officer believes that grape shot was used along with other ammo. He was then kicked in the chest.

Still alive he was taken into the camp and put into the infirmary, where the top British Officers and British Medical Officers were not allowed to see him or the body of Spragg-Mitchell for 3 hours, and to the best of anybodies knowledge my grandfather also received NO medical help. (He must have been in agony). When they could see them both him and Spragg-Mitchell had been stripped. Eventually he was taken to Caserta Hospital where Col. Sinclair operated on him, at one count there was 38 wounds from shot and 16 individual bullet holes. He sustained injuries to legs, thighs, buttocks, stomach and chest.

Grandad being grandad fought on for a few days, (again he must have been in agony). Col. Sinclair states that a blood transfusion could possibly have saved his life, but the Italian Medical Officer refused. Col. Sinclair does state that he would be noting down this refusal and his disgust with the medical officer. I list below all names mentioned in the affidavits, in the hope some of these gentlemen may still be alive or known to somebody in the regiment.

Lt.Col.M.R.Sinclair. Major J.L.Martin. Capt.R.C.Glover. Driver Harold James House. Capt. J.L.Alexander. Capt. George Burnaby Drayson. Capt. H.J.H.Gatford. Reg Sgt Charles Henry Burgess. Lt John Burman (Friend of Grandads and last one to speak to him in Caserta Hosp). Capt. Anthony Dunlop Steven.

My father and I are genuinely hoping that my grandfathers name or the above ring any bells, we would love dearly to hear from them. As my dad was only 3 the last time he saw his father. My grandmother was so distraught over the loss of her husband that she never spoke to anybody, even my dad, about my grandfather. So we know very little, only that he was a wonderful man. I am taking my dad to Caserta this Remembrance Day to my grandads grave, it will be the first time anybody has ever visited. With now knowing what I do, I am adamant that this Remembrance Day will be cherished forever. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time to read this, and hope to hear something soon.” Should anybody wish to contact me please do so at my e-mail address, telephone 01227 283596 or in writing to Debbie Burton, 83 Poplar Drive Herne Bay, Kent CT6 7PZ.

Note from Phil Chinnery. Copies of war crimes investigations and trials can be found in the National Archives in Kew. File series WO310 includes over 200 files on war crimes in Italy and Austria. We hold extensive notes on war crimes files from the European and Far East theatres, so if you are looking for something in particular contact me and I will see if I can help.

PHOTO ABOVE. Shows the Stalag 8B School Tutors in 1943. Can anyone put a name to any of the faces?

The boot is on the other foot - North Africa 1942. Italian prisoners of war on the way to a British POW camp. Can any of our members identify the type of British tank in the foreground?

Copyright 2006. National Ex-Prisoner of War Association. Finally Merry Christmas and Thanks to Richard and his staff at Vario Press of Marish Wharf, Slough, Berkshire for producing the newsletters for us over the past year.

Winter 2006 Newsletter