Behind the Wire (PoW)

DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY 1920-46

behind the wire (prisoners of war)

During the Second World War many thousands of men were captured by both the German and Italian forces amongst their number were men of the Durham Light Infantry some captured at the very beginning of the war would spend nearly five years in captivity suffering the hardships and discomforts of life behind the wire.For some there would be the chance to escape,to come home to family and friends,others not so lucky would die trying.Some Durham Light Infantrymen never made it to a prisoner of war camp succumbing to wounds and in some cases being shot out of hand by their captors.This section is dedicated to their stories.

4435534 RSM Goddard A.:-POW No 2920 :2nd DLI

RSM Archibald George Goddard was captured whilst serving with Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry at St Venant near Merville in France, on the 27th May 1940. RSM Godards POW No. was 2920.
After their surrender the DLI prisoners were marched under escort from St Venant to Trevant, (28/5/40) Doullens (29/5/40) Fonquivillers (30/5/40) Bapaume (31/5/40) then on to Cambrai where they were held from the 1st -6th June 1940 whilst awaiting transport into Germany and a POW camp. Their journey there onwards was through Trier, Germany (8/6/40) to Schubin, in Poland 11/6/40.
This must have been the most unhappy fortnight in RSM Goddards life after the virtual collapse of the much larger French Army, the outnumbered British forces were making a stubborn retreat towards Dunkirk and evacuation. The best fighting regiments, including the Durhams had been thrown into the line to buy time for the evacuation. However, they were successively swamped by the better equipped and numerically superior German Army. Rifles versus tanks and dive bombers was a very unequal contest. From a professional viewpoint RSM Archibald George Goddard must have been terribly frustrated and angry he was now cut off from his family at home, and for how long he didn’t know. So moral in the weary British troops must have been very low at this time, although I have no doubt that in spite of the misery RSM Goddard as a Regimental Sergeant Major would have attempted to put some semblance of soldierly order and cheerfulness in the troops around him.

Their pride may have been dented but their spirit wasn’t broken. This would have been an easier task with the survivors from the Durhams who knew him well, but not quite so simple with men from other regiments. Archibald George Goddard rarely spoke of this period of his life or indeed of any of his wartime experiences but this march into captivity would have been a hard business with little food or even assistance for the wounded. Indeed there have been a number of accounts of the Germans ill treating or even shooting prisoners of war, including RSM Goddards batman, who although wounded in the legs, simply “disappeared”.The batman's name was Anthony Corkhill, Army No. 4449147 Son of Joseph and Mary Corkhill, of Scotswood, Newcastle-on-Tyne. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commision he died on 29th May which is two days after the surrender at St Venant. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. According to RSM Goddards letter to Pte Corkhills mother after the war this was the last occasion he was seen alive- "I heard your son's voice calling me from the canal bank. I immediately went over to him and found that he had a flesh wound in the neck also wounds in both legs. He was concious at the time and spoke to me quite rationally. I certainly gained the impression that his wounds were not fatal. We wanted to take him with us but as we had no means of carrying him and the ground was very rough the German guards ordered us to make him comfortable and leave him to be collected by their field ambulance which was working in the vicinity. We met some stretcher bearers shortly afterwards and informed them as to your sons whereabouts. The fighting in the area had ceased so that there was no apparent danger of him receiving further wounds."

Anthony Corkhills name on the Dunkirk Memorial

4449147 Anthony Corkhill, . Son of Joseph and Mary Corkhill, of Scotswood, Newcastle-on-Tyne.Remembered with honour commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial
The Red Cross contacted RSM Goddard in Stalag 383 about the matter as did Pte Corkhills mother at the end of the war. The camp to which RSM Goddard was initially sent was Schubin in Poland throughout the war he found himself being moved from camp to camp and spent time in the following during the course of the Second World War in Europe.

11th June 1940 Stalag XXI BH Schubin. Poland

4th November 1940 Stalag XXI BH Thure Poland

3rd April 1941 Stalag XXI BH Red Cross Parcels Depot, Schubin.

3rd October 1941 to 14th September 1942 Stalag XXI A Schilberg, Poland.

19th September 1942 Oflag III C (Stalag 383) Hohenfels, Bavaria.

2nd December 1942 Appointed Camp S M. (Sgt Major?). Oflag III C (Stalag 383)

20th April 1944 to 18th April 1945. Stalag 383.(Photographed right)

Wartime German censorship prevented any detail of his time as a POW from being revealed in his letters home to his wife but reading between the lines it is possible to pick up his growing frustration and unhappiness. Perhaps the kindest thing that could be said about the situation was that the POWs were not intentionally mistreated. Food was appalling and in short supply and the soldiers lived for their Red Cross parcels with which to eke out their meagre rations. Boredom was soul destroying and the men went to extra ordinary lengths to find things to occupy their time. RSM Goddard had several exercise books filled with copious notes on gardening, which he obviously hoped to use one day when the war ended and he could return home once more. Many books have been written about escapes from POW camps. His son can vaguely recall a soldier who has successfully escaped from RSM Goddards camp visiting them to give his Mum the latest news about his Dad.

RSM Goddard (2nd Left) with other Prisoners of War pose for the camera between their work shifts (All photographs in this section by kind permission of Mr Ian Goddard (deceased) )

During the latter days of the war RSM Goddard maintained a small pocket diary as an official record of the increasingly dangerous situation they were in as German organisation broke down. There seemed to be a real possibility that allied POWs could be moved into German strongholds and used as hostages or even executed by the Nazis. The immediate future had a question mark hanging over it with some very dangerous possibilities.

The following are excerpts from the Diary for 1945;-
Sunday 15th April. Warned by Commandant that the Stalag was being moved south of Danube. Strength 6,600.
Monday 16th. First batch 1,000 approx moved in the evening.
Tuesday 17th. Remainder ….. approx moved in the evening. Unfits …….. approx left behind.
Wednesday 18th. Wehrmacht personnel deserted during previous night. Lager left without protection. Looting of German stores, etc. by escaped POW’s, German deserters and civilians of all nationalities. Demand protection from Genl Geiger, the local commander. Necessary protection provided.
Friday 20th. CMP sent to Hohenfels to try and round up POW’s from line of march.
Sunday 22nd. Contact made with US (Rec) Cavalry by a patrol sent out by me. Genl Geiger, several officers and OR’s taken prisoner. 19th complaint received from RSM Baxter.
Tuesday 1st May. Left Hohenfels for Regensberg by truck.
Monday 7th May. War with Germany ended. Still in Regensberg awaiting transportation by air.
Tuesday 8th. Left Regensberg 10.40hrs by US Transport for Rhiems. Arrived 13.00hrs. Left Rhiems by Lancaster bomber at 16.50hrs. Arrived Aylesbury, Bucks 18.25hrs. Reception camp, High Wickham (Wycombe)

(Text and Historical Background was provided by kind permission of RSM Goddards son Mr Ian Goddard who has sadly since passed Condolences to the Goddard family he is greatly missed)

4457717 Cpl Bill Roberts and 843466 Cpl t Bainbridge
8th Durham light infantry

4457717 Cpl Bill Roberts (right) was born in Tonypandy, South Wales on 24th December 1918. A hotel porter in peace time Cpl Roberts resided at 71 Thomas Street .Tonypandy, Rhondda, Glam He served initially with the 8th Battalion DLI following his call up in September 1939. In May 1940, 8th DLI counter-attacked the German Panzers at Arras and, in the confused fighting, Private Roberts was taken prisoner on the 21st May 1940 approx 8kms South of Arras after he was cut off by advancing German Armour. He was first sent to a Prisoner of War camp at Thorn in Poland after being put on a train at Cambrai and then to a small farm camp at Konitz on the 15th July. During their time there it was reported that they received Red Cross Parcels which had been opened and the cigarettes removed they were allowed to write letters however these were subject to censorship. An English RSM by the name of Davidson was not liked at all in this camp and it was reported that if any prisoner attempted to steal supplies from the Germans this RSM would report them and they would be punished with seven days in the cells with no blankets.

On 21 September, he escaped with 843466 Corporal Tony Bainbridge, also from 8 DLI, and three Green Howard soldiers Pte Waller,Pte A Hodgson and R Hodgson along with another DLI soldier 4457220 Pte A Pawson. The group began by forcing a window and cutting through the barbed wire with an axe,being a Saturday night the elderly sentries all seemed to be drunk thus began the long, dangerous journey back home. Travelling by night, hiding by day, the six men travelled for seven days arriving at Tuchei whilst hiding in a haystack they were almost caught and following another near escape in a nearby wood the group decided to split into two groups of three with Roberts,Bainbridge and Waller forming one group and the two Hodgsons and Pawson the other this was the last either group saw of each other (Although Pte Pawson was recaptured and spent the rest of the war as PoW 6342 in Stalag 20B)
Roberts,Bainbridge and Waller eventually met with the Polish underground and were given shelter, food, clothes and money travelling on through Wahreszno onto Rypin the three crossed through Mlawa and Makow before crossing the frontier near Ostrow on the night of February 24th 1941. After they crossed the Soviet Russian frontier and were immediately surrounded by twenty Russian guards with dogs and night flares ,mistaken for Poles they were severely mistreated and imprisoned at Lomza for the first month before being moved on to Minsk and Moscow.Each soldier was in solitary confinement during their internment Only when Russia entered the war were they released on 8 July 1941 and sent home.
All three men were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their remarkable escape. Bill Roberts rejoined the DLI (Polar Bears) After the war he joined the Prison Service and worked in Durham until his retirement in 1982. Bill Roberts died on 3 October 1994 aged 75

4458632 Pte W Hodgson 6th Durham Light Infantry

The infomation contained in this report is to be treated as MOST SECRET..

The above document refers to 4458632 Pte W Hodgson of The 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who was captured at 1800hrs n the 28th June 1942.Pte Hodgson was captured following the rearguard actions of 151Brigade near Mersa Matruh.Pte Hodgson was born on the 28th April 1918 and enlisted in the Durhams on the 15th December 1939,following on from his peace time profession where he was employed as a builders labourer.Pte Hodgson originated from Sunderland and resided at No 8 Jackson Street,Sunderland.

Following his capture Hodgson found himself imprisoned in various Camps locationions and designations.At the camp in Benghazi his stay ranged from the beginning of July to the end of October 1942 moving on to Tripoli from October until the 14th November 1942.During his time at Tripoli Hodgson accompanied by two other prisoners wriggled under the wire and made a dash for freedom.The group managed to travel ten miles towards Tunis before they were recaptured at a road block.Returned to captivity he was sent to Camp 66,at Capua from the 14th to 20th November 1942 moving again to Camp 70 at Monte Urano from the 20th November 1942 until the middle of May 1943.Following another brief move to Camp 102 at Aquila from May until the end of June 1943,Pte W Hodgson was returned to Camp 70, Monte Urano: June until 10th/11th September 1943 from where he escaped.
The Escape. came as a consequence of the Italian capitulation, with the Italian guards deserting the camp men of the Coldstream Guards were put on guard duties until the arrival of the Germans.Although all of the British Prisoners had been told not to escape Pte W Hodgson and a naval rating called W. Heslop took the opportunity to slip away on one of the organised walks.He last saw Heslop on the 20th September 1943. He continued on alone and reached the British Lines near Attessa (?) on 15 November 1943, where he gave himself up to an Indian Division throughout his journey he was supplied with food by the local peasants. Pte Hodgson was recommended for a Mention in Dispatches for his fine effort.

4467081 Pte F Millward 16th Durham Light Infantry

The infomation contained in this report is to be treated as MOST SECRET..

The above document refers to the escape of 4467081 Pte Frederick Millward who enlisted into the 16th battalion THe Durham Light Infantry on the 26th July 1940.Born on the 19th July 1910 Frederick was a carpet weaver before the war and lived at 2 Forster Street, Kinver, Stourbridge, Staffordshire.4467081 Pte Frederick Millward was captured at Sedjenane in Tunisia on March 2nd 1943.At 0900hrs the order was given to retreat but unfortunately not all companies received the order in time and as a result Pte Millward found himself cut off. Pte Millward spent the first eight days of captivity in Biserta before he was sent to Camp 98 in Sicily where he arrived on 15th March 1943 the stay at this camp was very short and on the 10th April 1943 he was on the move once again this time to Camp 53 at Macerata which he reached on the 12th April 1943. Pte Millward took advantage of the Italian Capitulation/armistice to escape along with several other prisoners held at the camp at that time.Despite being told to remain in camp by a RAMC officer the group cut through the wire and escaped in small groups of two or three persons.Frederick Millward was in the company of three other men two from the Royal Artillery and one from the engineers.The Royal Engineers Cpl C Humpheries sustained a leg injury and could go no further .They last saw him on the 12th August two miles outside a village named Force(?) which is situated about 24 km from Ascoli.The escapers carried on and Pte Millward ,Gnr A Gilmore and Gnr N E T Sturgess sucessfully reached the safety of British lines.No gallantry award was recommended on this occasion.

For those in Peril on the Sea

Any soldier who found himself a prisoner of the Enemy would expect to be treated with compassion and respect in line with the terms and conditions set out in the Geneva convention, on the whole this is what most Durham men received but there were of course exceptions but who amongst those Durham men loaded aboard the Italian transport vessel The Scillin could for tell the tragic consequences which lay ahead of them at the hands of a British submarine?
The Italian cargo/passenger ship Scillin was en route from Tripoli to Sicily with about 815 Commonwealth prisoners-of-war on board including men from several Durham Light Infantry battalions, when she was sunk on November 14th 1942 18 Km north of Milazzo by the British submarine Sahib
The Captain Lt. John Bromage later told a court of enquiry that he believed he was attacking a troop transport carrying Italian soldiers. The Ministry of Defence kept this incident a closely guarded secret for fifty-four years, telling relatives a packs of lies, maintaining that they had died while prisoners-of-war in Italian camps or were simply 'lost at sea'. It was not until 1996, after repeated requests for information from the families and some excellent work by Mr Brian Sim that the truth finally came out.The British submarine Captain had been notified of exactly what cargo the Scillin was carrying when she sighted the vessel at 19.29hrs on The 14th November 1942. The conditions in the hold of the Scillin were terrible. It was so crowded none of the Prisoners could lie down and half the men had dysentery a great many more were seasick. The only air and light came in through a small hatch. which was kept open during the day and battened down at night
The Submarine Sahib moved up Moon and brought the Scillin to with 12 rounds from the Deck Gun. She was in a sinking state when the Sahib fired the Torpedo into her Engine room. She sank in less than 2 minutes breaking her back as she took on more water. There were 27 Allied survivors;1 Officer and 26 O.Rs. 36 Italians were also picked up.787 Allied P.O.W. died on the ship, which was the highest number of P.O.W. Casualties from the six Italian ships sunk in the Mediterranean during the period Dec 1941 - Nov 1942 .Durham Light Infantrymen lost on the Scillin at this time were;-

4462357 Pte George Adams Son of Frederick and Jane Adams, of Gateshead, Co. Durham 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 29 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial,originally notified as a Prisoner of War 28th June 1942.In 1944 the War Office announced Pte Adams had died in Italian hands between 26th October-14th November 1942 the reason was never stated.

4538224 Pte Joseph Appleyard Son of Joseph and Alice Appleyard, of Middleton, Leeds, Yorkshire; husband of Harriet Appleyard, of Middleton. 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 27 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial. originally notified as a Prisoner of War 28th June 1942. In 1944 the War Office announced Pte Adams had died in Italian hands between 31st October-14th November 1942 the reason was never stated. Joseph originally enlisted into The West Yorkshire Regiment.

4464425 L/Cpl Frank Brook 1st battalion The Durham Light Infantry Att HQ 10th Corps Age 30 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial originally notified as a Prisoner of War 29th June 1942. In 1944 the War Office announced L/Cpl Brook had died in Italian hands between 26th October-14th November 1942 the reason was never stated. Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 record both birthplace and pre service residence as Bradford.

4459083 Pte Edward Burton 1st battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 23 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial. Originally notified as missing/ Prisoner of War 21st June 1942. In 1944 the War Office announced Pte Burton had died in Italian hands between 31st October-14th November 1942 the reason was never stated. Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 record both birthplace and pre service residence as Warrington.

4468137 Pte Alfred Barnfield Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Barnfield, of Hartlepool, Co. Durham. 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 35 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial. Originally notified as missing/ Prisoner of War 28th June 1942. In 1944 the War Office announced Pte Barnfield had died in Italian hands between 31st October-14th November 1942 the reason was never stated. (Lived 8 Back Frederick St Throston Hartlepool 1911)

4465789 Pte William Buckle 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 31 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial. Originally notified as missing/ Prisoner of War 28th June 1942. In 1944 the War Office announced Pte Buckle had died in Italian hands between 31st October-14th November 1942 the reason was never stated.Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 record birthplace Co Durham (Stockton 1911) and pre service residence as Yorkshire.

7889745 Pte Andrew Carrol Son of Mrs. E. Carroll, of New Washington, Co. Durham 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 25 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial. Originally enlisted into the Royal Tank Regiment .Originally notified as missing/ Prisoner of War 28th June 1942. In 1944 the War Office announced Pte Carol had died in Italian hands between 31st October-14th November 1942 the reason was never stated

4462616 Pte William Colwell Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Colwell, of Leadgate, Co. Durham; husband of Eva Colwell, of Consett, Co. Durham. 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 28 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial. Originally notified as missing/ Prisoner of War 28th June 1942. In 1944 the War Office announced Pte Colwell had been Killed in Action whilst a PoW in Italian hands on the 14th November 1942 the circumstances were never stated

4462409 Pte Josiah Dawson Son of Mary A. Dawson, of South Shields, Co. Durham. 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 29 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial

4460598 Cpl Alfred Hewson Son of William and Florence Hewson; husband of Margaret Hewson, of Gateshead, Co. Durham 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 26
Pnl 67 Alamein Memorial

4464320 Pte James Higgins Son of Mortimer and Elizabeth Higgins, of Gateshead, Co. Durham 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 22 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4453565 Pte Thomas William Jackson Son of Fredrick and Emily Jackson, of Hull. 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 22 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4454663 Sgt Norman Kay Son of Thomas and Sarah Kay; husband of Doris Kay, of Etherley, Co. Durham 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 25 Pnl 67 Alamein Memorial

4462478 Pte Robert Leng Husband of Jane Hannah Leng, of Roker, Sunderland, Co. Durham 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 28 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4458208 Pte Thomas Henry Longstaff 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 23 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial.

4460428 Pte Andrew Lowe Son of Thomas and Sarah Jane Lowe, of Ancoats, Manchester 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 25 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4462502 Pte Wilfred McDonald 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 27 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4449656 Sgt Thomas Edward Morris 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 28 Pnl 67 Alamein Memorial

4464345 Pte Thomas Wilkinson Morris 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 29
Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4615463 Pte George Palfreyman Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Palfreyman, of Pontefract, Yorkshire 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 22 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

4455750 Pte Norman Pedelty Son of Edmund Willan Pedelty, and of Mary Jane Pedelty, of Roddymoore, Co. Durham 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 22 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

2987710 Pte Edward Reilly Son of Hugh and Bridget Reilly, of Glasgow 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 27 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

4460690 Pte Charles William Selley 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 22
Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

2987722 Pte Peter Soutar Son of Walter and Isabella Hamilton Soutar, of Glasgow 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 27 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

4462608 L/Cpl Thomas Allsopp Waller Son of William Henry and Sarah Waller, of Sunderland, Co. Durham; husband of Winifred Mary Waller, of Sunderland 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 26 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial.

4457384 Pte Norman Burn Son of Robert and Elizabeth Burn, of Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, Co. Durham 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 24 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial

4455679 Pte William Cavanagh Son of William and Elizabeth Cavanagh, of Birtley, Co. Durham8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 22 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial

4457402 Pte William Henry Downey Son of William H. and Catherine Downey, of Sunderland, Co. Durham 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 23 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial

4458863 Pte Joseph Edwards 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 25 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial

4468062 Pte James Everson 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Att North Reg Age 33 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial

4457412 Pte John Frost Son of Thomas and Mary Frost, of Sunderland, Co. Durham 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 24 Pnl 68 Alamein Memorial

4455659 Cpl John Norfolk Hall Son of John Herbert and Audrey Elizabeth Hall, of Darlington, Co. Durham 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 21 Pnl 67 Alamein Memorial

3191189 Pte Thomas McAdam 2nd Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 24
Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4464806 L.Cpl Eric Stanley Miller Son of Edward and Emily S. Miller, of Yeadon, Yorkshire.8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 29 Pnl 67 Alamein Memorial

4461393 Pte Robert N Punchion Son of Ralph and Margaret Punchion, of South Shields, Co. Durham; husband of Henrietta Punchion, of South Shields. 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 26 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

2987711 Pte Joseph Richmond Son of James and Janet Richmond, of Glasgow 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 27 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

2987614 Pte Robert Riddall Husband of Jessie Riddall, of New Cumnock, Ayrshire 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 28 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

4461420 Pte Mathew Stephenson Son of Jemima Stephenson, and stepson of Herbert Clark, of New Hartley, Northumberland 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 27 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

4461456 Pte Ralph Younger Son of Ralph and Frances Younger, of Gateshead, Co. Durham 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 27 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

748809 Cpl James Flamson 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 40
Pnl 67 Alamein Memorial

4462170 Pte Fred W Jones Son of Frederick Duncan Jones, and of Annie Jones, of Wallasey, Cheshire 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 29 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4468417 Pte William A Morgan Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Morgan, of Ushaw Moor, Co. Durham 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 21 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4452981 Pte William Nicholson Son of Joseph and Margaret Nicholson, of Gateshead, Co. Durham9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 21 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial

4458329 Pte Robert Rice Husband of Annie Rice, of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 33 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

4457473 Pte Evan Thomas Rourke 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 23 Pnl 70 Alamein Memorial

NINO BIXIO (August 17, 1942)

Italian troop transport (7,137 tons) was sunk in the Mediterranean between Libya and Sicily, by the British submarine HMS Turbulent. She was carrying predominantly New Zealand prisoners of war and around 400 French P.O.W.s captured in North Africa. The Nino Bixio was hit by two torpedoes, one exploding in the prisoners hold and killing many. The injured were brought up on deck and attended to by medical officers. The badly damaged Nino Bixio was taken in tow by one of its escorting destroyers and towed to Navarino in southern Greece. There the dead prisoners were buried, the survivours being shipped, via Corinth, to a prisoner of war camp near Bari in Italy. A total of six Durham Light Infantrymen lost their lives;-

4457355 Sgt Clifford Landreth Turner The 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 24 Pnl 67 Alamein Memorial.

4919612 Pte James Meakins Son of Wilfred and Phoebe Meakins, of Chadderton, Lancashire; husband of Gwendoline Mary Meakins, of Chadderton The 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 25 Pnl 69 Alamein Memorial.

4463757 Pte James William Price Son of Thomas Henry and Alice Price, of Pallion, Sunderland. Co. Durham The 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 30 Pnl 70 Alamein War Memorial

4466532 Pte Patrick Morgan Son of Michael Morgan, and of Mary Morgan, of High Clarence, Co. Durham The 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 32 Phaleron War Cemetery Special Memorial 9 Row B Grave No 17

4461386 Pte Roger Walter Peel Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Peel, of Bedlington Station, Northumberland; husband of Edna Peel, of Bedlington Age 25 The 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Age 32 Phaleron War Cemetery Special Memorial 9 Row B Grave No 16

4458150 Pte W Moodie Son of Mrs. E. Moody, of Ryhope, Co. Durham The 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Aged 23 Pnl 69 The Alamein Memorial

Alamein Memorial images by kind permission of Mick and his team at Britishwargraves.

Military Medal award 5951812 Sgt James Hood 16th Durham Light Infantry

5951812 Sgt James Hood The 16th Durham Light Infantry
After his capture at Sedjanane on 17th February 1943 Hood was sent via CAPUA to LATERINA (Camp82) Entrained for Germany on 17th September 1943 HOOD and two others jumped from the train north of FLORENCE after another Prisoner of War had managed to unfasten one of the doors. Reaching PISTOIA they stayed with two New Zealand officers until November 1st and then moved to FIRENZOULA. Following two unsuccessful attempts to reach Allied lines.HOOD returned to Balsorano but at the end of March he made another effort this time reaching TORRICE.On 31 May 1944 he met advancing British Forces in this area.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 14.SEPTEMBER, 1944

C/Sgt. 877462 Daniel James Feasey 16 Durham Light Infantry was the other recaptured PoW.

3244382 L/Cpl.J.H.Hunter 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry.

3244382 L/Cpl Hunter of the 1st DLI was captured during actions at Fort Capuzzo on the 15th May 1941.Following his capture L/Cpl Hunter was sent via Benghazi,Brindisi and Servigliano to CAMPO 53 Whilst L/Cpl Hunter was at Servigliano he was part of a group of prisoners who constructed a tunnel and made good their escape after putting on Civilian clothes they had obtained during their time at Benghazi.L/Cpl Hunter remained at large for no longer than 24 hours before he was recaptured some 50kms away from the Camp.
CAMPO 53 at Sforza costa which was on the railway line 12 miles south of Macerata close to the east coast of Italy in the Marche region. The camp itself was about one mile from the town railway station. After the Italian capitulation Campo 53 was not liberated and there was considerable confusion within the Camp as to what should be done.L/Cpl Hunter took advantage of the confusion and together with five other Prisoners of War broke down a door and escaped from the camp. L/Cpl Hunter and one other prisoner decided to head South and after walking for over three weeks rejoined British forces at Casacalenda.Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 15th June 1944.

4343244 Sgt Jack Horsman MM `A Thousand Miles from Freedom`

Below Jack receives his MM on the rleft his wife,to the right his proud parents. Jacks Mother examines the medal.

Jack Horsman joined the British Army in 1935 at the age of 15 having lied about his age he joined The East Yorks Regiment in a bid to escape the poverty and high unemployment of his native North East.Living in Howden-le-Wear with his family at 20 Bridge Street Jack,Son of John Robert Horsman, and of Martha Horsman (nee Kelly), was glad of the life the Army offered him and he soon excelled at sport and Boxing in particular however after his father made representations to his local MP regarding his underage enlistment, Jack was discharged from the Army in 1936.
Still without a permanent job he got by doing odd jobs and eventually became a handyman.In 1939 joined his local Territorial Army Unit The 6th Durham Light Infantry promoted Corporal on the outbreak of war he was sent to France as part of the BEF his exploits were recorded in a 1942 publication `A Thousand Miles to Freedom` a shorter version recording the events is reproduced above from records held at the National Archives(WO 373/60).
Cpl Jack Horsman returned to England following his escape travelling from Gibralter in November 1940 and was promoted Serjeant following his award of the Military Medal .Owing to the after effects of his experiences in Captivity and his torture at the hands of Francos pro-Nazi guards he became unfit for active service and was discharged from the army on August 28th 1942 at this time he was serving with the 16th DLI.
Jack Horsmans brother George Horsman also served with The Durham Light Infantry .As part of `B` Company 1st Durham Light Infantry 4452933 George Horsman lost his life on the SS Shuntien which was torpedoed by a German U-Boat he was 24 and died on the 23rd December 1941.Jack Horsman for a time became an actor featuring in at least one war time production Nine Men (1943)The Nine men of the title are a British WWII Army patrol stuck in a desert fort during the African campaign. The Men must defend the fort against the Italian and German troops until they cam be relieved which in some ways mirrored the experiences of his brother George who fought at Capuzzo.

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Massacre at Château D’Audrieu , Normandy ,France..8th June 1944

When you are captured by an enemy in war you should be well treated. Even In war there are "rules". On 8 June, Evan Hayton (20) and William Barlow (21), both Privates in 6 DLI, were captured during the preliminary attacks following D-Day. They should hove been taken prisoner and sent to a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp ad specified in the Geneva convention. Instead they were shot by soldiers of the German SS, along with more than twenty Canadians.
On June 8, in the surrounding clearings, forests and orchards of the Château, 24 members of the 3rd Canadian Division were executed: 22 from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and two from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Two British soldiers from The Durham Light Infantry were shot along with them. One group of the POWs (consisting of 7 platoon of the Royal Winnipeg Rifle's A Company plus the two DLI soldiers) had been captured near Brouay; most of the remaining men fell into SS hands near Putot.
They were searched then taken to the rear of the Château beginning at 2:15 p.m. It was later determined that some were killed in groups of three: they were interrogated, taken down a path in the woods to one clearing or another, turned so their backs would face their small firing squad or forced to lay on their stomachs and rest on their elbows then shot from behind. In the late afternoon, 13 men from 9 platoon of the Winnipeg's A Company were led en masse to an orchard, lined up and shot.Although some of the Canadians bodies were discovered late on the 8th June by elements of the Dorset regiment the two Durhams were found two weeks after the event when the Chateau and its grounds were finally cleared.
4987501 Pte William Henry Barlow The 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Murdered by SS Troops 8th June 1944 The son of Herbert and Phoebe Barlow, of Worksop, Nottinghamshire.Aged 21 He rests in good company at Hottot -les -Bagues War Cemetery Section II Row F Grave 4

14617934 Pte Evan Hayton (Right)The 6th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry Murdered by SS Troops 8th June 1944 The son of James and Marjorie Hayton, of Bescar, Lancashire, England.Aged 20 He rests in good company at Beny-sur-Mere Canadian War Cemetery Section 4 Row G Grave 9
The families of those two soldiers were told that they had been "killed in Action" by the Army .They did not tell the families that the men had been murdered in cold blood. The families did not learn the truth about the executions until 1994 - 50 years later, when the relevant war files were opened. Post-mortems revealed that the bodies had sustained small-calibre bullet wounds to the head, face, and chest at close range

Hände hoch Tommy!

For many Durham Light Infantrymen there was no chance of an escape but instead they faced up to the reality of spending their war behind the wire,together with their comrades who did manage to flee captivity many filled in questionaires after the war detailing their capture and subsequent moves and work assignments up until their liberation.Below are details from some of their accounts.
The late Mr Brian Sim ,I am deeply indebted to him for his help in all things PoW related

George Adamson was born on the 28th September 1920 Son of Richard Robert Adamson, and of Elizabeth Adamson, of Redcar,his home address prior to enlistment was 1 Railway Terrace,Redcar,Yorks,England.George enlisted pre-war into the Durham Light Infantry his enlistment date was recorded as 3rd May 1938.Pte Adamson fought in France with the 2nd Durham Light Infantry in 1940 as part of the illfated British Expeditionary Force.George was wounded in the fierce battle of St Venant and was captured by German forces on May 27th 1940.For George the War was over.The Germans took George to a Hospital at St Pol where his wounds were treated George recorded he arrived at the hospital on the same day as his capture (27th May 1940) he remained in hospital until June 24th 1940 when he was moved to Stalag VIA at Hemer in Germany arriving on the 29th June 1940.
Pte George Adamson left Hemer for his new camp Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf on the 3rd November 1940 arriving at Lamsdorf on the 5th November.After a brief 10 day stay Adamson found himself at the Work camp at Greislau employed in road making from Greislau George found himself at Oehringen and employed in coal mining,George suffered a hand injury which was treated by camp medical personnel (Lamsdorf 2 May 42-28 May 1942),George ended his time in coalmining on May 10th 1942 but his time back at Lamsdorf was short on the 29th May George Adamson was moved to Sternberg where he was working in a Timber factory there is no end date listed so we can assume this was Pte Adamsons `Lot`for the rest of the War,he records he did not complete any successful escape attempts but does state he was interrogated shortly after his capture with regard to his unit and division he was not aware of any acts of collaboration nor did he witness any acts of sabotage.The years in captivity finally ended for Pte George Adamson in 1945 when he and other prisoners were liberated from Stalag XIIIC (Widen 9th April 1945-6th May 1945) on May 6th 1945.Pte Adamson was on his way home at last sadly there would be no happy ending to this story as Pte George Adamson died on the 4th December 1945 aged just 25 years he rests today Plot E. Row 7. Grave 9 Redcar Cemetery.

Some British prisoners took their chance to escape following the Italian surrender in 1943 despite being advised to stay in their camps. Captured on the 28th June 1942 4460646 Cpl James A. McEwan ( born 15th July 1916 ) (left in photograph standing ) of 207 King George Road, Cleadon Estate, South Shields, Co. Durham of the 9th Durham Light Infantry. Cpl. E.M. Riches (centre) of High Street, Shipelham, Thetford, Norfolk of the 2/5 Essex Regiment was captured in 1942. 4037418 Pte. E. Ward (right) of 101 St.Annes Road, Ford Houses, Wolverhampton, Staffs also of the 9th Durham Light Infantry was also captured in 1942 a day before Cpl McEwan on June 27th . The three men made their way towards the allied lines and are photographed with a South African Division Intelligence Officer.

Hände hoch Tommy!

4443022 CSM Herbert Arthur Neeve The 11th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry

Herbert Arthur Neeve was born on the 25th April 1903 he resided at 145 Queen Street,South Bank,Middlesborough,Yorks.At the age of 20 Arthur enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry issued with the Regimental number of 4443022 on the 17th October 1923 he continued to serve until November 1930 when he was transferred to the Army reserve.During his time in Civvie Street he was employed as a locomotive driver and at times acted as fireman.
When war came Herbert Arthur Neeve was recalled to the Colours on September 3rd 1939 rejoining The Durham Light Infantry .As part of the ill equipped 11th Durham Light Infantry (23rd Division) he was posted to France as part of the BEF.
During the battles around Ficheux on the 20th May 1940 CSM Neeve was captured and was to spend the rest of his war `Behind the Wire`. On his PoW questionaire Herbert Arthur Neeve recorded that during his time at Stalag XXB at Marienburg (July 1940-September 1940) there was a plague of fleas around the camp which made life even more uncomfortable during this time Herbert Arthur Neeve joined a Non-Working protest following his time working at Dirschau and Simonsdorf (July 1940) working camps where he had been put to work marking roads,this resulted in his Red Cross parcels being witheld for three weeks.CSM Neeve`s next move was into Stalag XXa at Thorn where he spent the next three long years (September 1940-September 1943)
In September 1943 Neeve was moved into Bavaria where he was placed at Stalag 383 at Hohenfels here he remained until April 1945 .On the 17th April 1945 Herbert was herded along with his fellow PoW`s on what was termed `The Line of March` being eventually freed by the advancing American Forces on the 3rd May 1945.After almost five years 4443022 CSM Herbert Albert Neeve returned home to his home in the North East of England.Herbert Alfed Neeve died in 1968 aged 65 years

4447867 Pte Burton Fortune Sunderland man captured at arras with 6th D.L.I

4447867 Pte Burton Fortune was born in Sunderland on the 20th February 1913 the son of Henry Fortune, Florence May (Meldrum) Fortune. Burton Fortune`s parents Henry and Florence May Fortune nee Meldrum were married at St Ignatius Church in Hendon ,Sunderland on the 22nd September 1900. Florence was 20-21 years of age. In 1901 their first child was born and christened Henry Fortune (jnr) also at St Ignatius Church. Then followed Florence Fortune (Jnr) 1902, John Thomas Fortune 1905, Ellen Fortune 1907, Hanna Isabella Fortune 1909, George Fortune 1911, and of course Burton Fortune 1913. On the 9th August 1914 their mother Florence May Fortune (Meldrum) died in Sunderland still aged only 34 years.
Burton Fortune enlisted into the regular army between 21st June 1928 and 19th February 1930 and saw service as a regular soldier with The Durham Light Infantry in India . Recalled from the reserve on the outbreak of war Burton joined the 6th battalion The Durham Light Infantry
4447867 Pte Burton Fortune was listed as missing on the 21st May 1940 and was later confirmed as captured at Arras on 24th May 1940 (aged 26) and was held by the Germans at Stalag 20A Thorn Podgorz and at Stalag XXIB Schubin with the prisoner of war number 3494 . The announcements regarding his capture were made in both the Sunderland Echo and Evening Chronicle . The Germans issued him with the prisoner of war number 3494. Shortly before his capture his wife gave birth to a baby boy,sadly he was stillborn.(10 May 1940)
He remained in captivity until he was freed in 1945 . Burton Fortune had married Rose Compardo in Sunderland 1938 they lived at 28 South Street Sunderland with Rose`s parents Rocco and Ann Compardo.
On his release in 1945 Burton Fortune spent time at a newly constructed Civil Resettlement Camp in Washington near Sunderland where he completed a course aimed at easing captured servicemen back into their peacetime occupations. The family address in 1945 was now given as 11 The Grove,Ashbrooke Road,Sunderland. Burton Fortune and his wife Rose Fortune (Compardo) had twins in Sunderland in early 1947 Geoffrey B Fortune and Geraldine R Fortune Sadly both children are known to have died that same year
An official German Capture record for Burton Fortune is held at the British National Archives under the official designation WO 416/125/350 in this record he has given his date of birth as 20th February 1908.

Military Medal 4451272 Bandsman Robert Pratt
The 1st Durham Light Infantry

4451272 Bandsman Robert Pratt
The 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry

Following his capture at Fort Capuzzo on the 15th May 1941 Robert Pratt was imprisoned at BENGHAZI,BRINDISI,SERVIGLIANO and MACERATA (Camp 53 Italy).On the 15th September 1943 when the sentries had deserted he made his way to POLOMBARO.Although he was recaptured on the 26th October 1943 and sent to CHIETI(Camp 21),he escaped the following night by climbing over the wall.Whilst making a second attempt to reach Allied lines he was again caught on the 24th December 1943.Breaking open the door of a truck,Robert Pratt and seven other prisoners regained their freedom.Bandsman Pratt was returning to the PENNA area to warn his companions that the Germans knew of their presence when he was arrested at BRITOLI on the 6th January 1944 and sent to AQUILA.Two months later after being transferred to LATERINA,Pratt (by posing as a workman) walked out of the camp unchallenged

When during the next four months he was seriously ill,Robert Pratt was nursed by a friendly Italian and on the 10th July 1944 he was able to report to Allied forces near BUCINE.

We regret to inform you........Missing? Prisoner?.....Dead ?

The War Office issued regular casualty lists throughout the War .These lists were based on what little information was available at the time . The dreaded visit by the telegram boy was every families nightmare. Local press often published small snapshots of soldiers in the hope that families could gain more information from those returning from the battlefield on the ultimate fate which had befell their relative.. Soldiers below featured in the Sunderland Shipping Gazette and Echo during 1940 and it is perhaps a sombre thought that the images below,poor quality as they are.may possibly be the only surviving photographs of these brave Durham Light Infantrymen...

(Left to Right )
4454636 Pte Michael Dakers Harrison was born 13 February 1919 at Houghton Le Spring he was captured on 20 May 1940 at Arras Served with 11th DLI lived at Duray Street, Houghton le Spring . He was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW 15261 at Stalag 344 in 1945.
4459495 Pte Arthur Hearing Holt. was born 2 June 1917at Sunderland . Arthur served with 10th DLI and was captured 21 May 1940 . Arthur of Markham Street, Sunderland was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW 4716 at Stalag XX-B in 1945

4457978 Pte Stanley Colman 4457978 Pte Stanley Colman (21) his mother who lived on Wells Road, Boldon Colliery near Sunderland received official notification that her son was missing. Stanley Colman was serving in France with 11th Durham Light Infantry it was later confirmed he had been captured between 10th May and 16th June 1940. Given the German PoW number 14621 he was held at Stalag 344 .Released in 1945 Stanley was discharged from the army under Kings Regulations 1940 Para 390 XVI on the 11th November 1945.

4453485 Pte A Jewkes (20) 2 DLI of Frank Avenue Deneside Estate was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW 4436 at Stalag 344 in 1945.

(Left to Right) 4452021 L/Cpl William Roberts 8th DLI of Hopper Street,Houghton le Spring safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag XX-A in 1945. Captured 21st May 1940 His PoW was listed as 6353
4443697 Sergeant Major Matthew B Hutchinson 11th DLI, of The Drill Hall Houghton le Spring,safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag 344 in 1945 His PoW number was listed as 10140 a former regular soldier he enlisted 14th July 1924, for seven and a half years , then aged 20
4454489 Pte Sydney Telford (31) 11th DLI of Tyne Street,Easington Lane safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag IV-C in 1945. Captured between 10th May -16th June 1940.His PoW was listed as 3715
4453287 Pte Ernest Dolan (21) 11th DLI, of Victoria Terrace.Old Penshaw, safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag IX-C in 1945.His PoW was listed as 6900.

(Left to Right) 4445721 Pte James McBeth (33) 10th DLI, of Dame Dorothy Street,Sunderland was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag 344 in 1945. His PoW number was 12527 .Enlisted into the regular army at the age of 18 enlistment book shows actual date as 30th September 1926 signed for seven and a half years.
4446227 Pte Henry Boyers 8th DLI, of St Lukes Terrace,Sunderland was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag 344 in 1945. Captured between 10th May-16th June 1940. His PoW number was 15144
4459305 Pte Thomas J C Feeney (22) 11th DLI, of Tudor Grove,Humbledon, was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag 344 in 1945. His PoW number was 15233.
4457097 Pte William Thomson (mis printed as Thompson) 11th DLI (22/24) of 8 Deptford Terrace,Sunderland (Missing) died of wounds 21st May 1940 Son of William and Margaret J Thomson, Deptford, (Married 1917) Sunderland born 09th September 1918. Buried Fosseux Communal Cemetery. Allegedly `died of Wounds sustained by Machine gun fire (although official records record him as killed in action)

(Left to Right) 4452624 Pte George Meek (27) 8th DLI ,of Brickgarth,Easington Lane ,was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag 344 in 1945. Captured 29th May 1945 His PoW number was 15957.
4453349 L/Cpl J T Wilkinson 2nd DLI, late of High Hillside,Houghton le Spring was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag VIIIB in 1945. Captured 15th May 1940. His PoW number was 446.
4443317 Sjt Robert Henderson,(38) 11th DLI, of Hopper Street,Houghton le Spring was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag 383 in 1945. His PoW number was 5663.
4454727 Pte Bewley Marlow (21) 11th DLI of The Lamb Inn,Houghton le Spring was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag XXB in 1945. His PoW number was 9969.

,(Left to Right)
4459315 Pte William Langton (22) 11th DLI of 13 Roper Street, Pallion, Sunderland,was at that time safe but a Prisoner of War. Later in the war 30 British prisoners of war were killed at Stalag VIIIB/344 during an American air attack on Saturday 2nd December, 1944 William Langton was one of those men he was sheltering at the time when that shelter received a direct hit.His burial was carried out on Wednesday, 6th December, 1944, at Ehrenforst, and was accorded such military honours as the prisoners of war themselves could provide. The burial service was conducted jointly by Captain J. McManus, U.D.F. Chaplain's Department, Captain R.G. Griffiths, N.Z. Chaplain's Department and Captain G.T. Tudor, U.D.F. Chaplain's Department.Comrades of the deceased prisoners of war were also present. Son of Frank and Isabella Moffatt Langton, Pallion, Sunderland. Re-buried Grave 5. C. 10. Krakow Radowicki Cemetery.
4459296 Pte Henry Gerard Bruce (Aged 23 born 4 Sep 1917 ) 11th DLI, of Sunderland was safe but a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW at Stalag XXB in 1945. His PoW number was 4078 Died 2004.
4447463 Pte James H Friberg (30) 2nd DLI of Granville Street,Millfield, Sunderland was reported as missing but later confirmed as a Prisoner of War he was listed as PoW 11367 at Stalag 344 in 1945.
4447967 Pte Thomas Stuart 2nd DLI of Fowler Terrace,Hendon,Sunderland,was reported as missing Thomas was the son of Mr and Mrs J Stuart he had enlisted as a regular soldier and was a reservist on the outbreak of war. He was later confirmed as a Prisoner of War with the PoW number 8738 and in 1945 was liberated from Stalag XXB in 1945

(Left to Right)
4453158 L/Cpl E J Watson (20) 2nd DLI, of Bethune Avenue,Seaham,Co Durham originally posted as missing between 10th May -16th June 1940 confirmed as a Prisoner of War however official casualty lists from 1944 reported that L/Cpl Watson was again `missing` possibly escaped? The War office (now MoD ) hold records which show he was captured at St Venant (France) on the 27th May 1940. He attempted to escape Mar 1941, but was unsuccessful; and quickly recaptured his second attempted escape in Aug 1944 was also unsuccessful Finally his third attempted escape in January 1945 was more successful he escaped whilst on a march and joined Russian Forces at Heydrebreck.

4447844 Pte George Arthur Larter (28),2nd DLI, of Charles Street,Boldon Colliery initially posted as missing confirmed as a Prisoner of War . PoW number 1708 held at Schubin in Stalag Stalag XXIB George was born in Hendon,Sunderland 15th September 1911.

4457146 Pte Frederick William Stratton (21) 11th DLI, of Norman Street,Hendon,Sunderland was originally posted as missing between 10th May -16th June 1940. It was later confirmed Frederick had been wounded and taken prisoner. Pte Stratton`s PoW number was and he was held at Stalag in 1945. Discharged under King's Regulations 1940 Paragraph 390 (xvi) 10/3/1946.

4457315 Pte Thomas Pallas.(22) 9th DLI, of Mainsforth Terrace,Hendon,Sunderland was posted as wounded and missing on the 26th May 1940 it was later confirmed he had been captured. PoW number and held at Stalag in 1945.

(Left to Right)
4457208 Pte A E Lawson (21) 10th DLI, of Skelton Avenue, Leeds was posted missing in July 1940. The son of Mr and Mrs Ernest Lawson Pte Lawson had been in the army for 10 months prior to his capture and previously worked at Montague Burtons Factory in Leeds. He was later confirmed to be a prisoner of war with the PoW number of in 1945 he was listed at Stalag

4457213 Pte Jack MacDonald (21) 10th DLI of East Park Road,Leeds was posted as missing 12/7/1940, Jack was repatriated 19/9/1944, Discharged under King's Regulations 1940 Para 390 (xvi) 09/01/1945. Jack MacDonald the son of John and Lily Macdonald, of Leeds. died at home on May 9th 1945 he rests today Leeds Harehills Cemetery Screen Wall. Sec. X.1 Grave 228. Prior to enlistment Jack also worked at Montague Burtons in Leeds he joined 6th DLI but
transferred to 10th DLI prior to embarkation.Last PoW Camp Stalag XX-A PoW number 12846 .

4457228 Pte G K Brookland (21) 10th DLI of 44 Broad Lane, Bramley prior to the war he was a tailors cutter . He was captured in 1940 and remained a PoW until 1945 where he was listed at Stalag XX-A with a PoW number of 6343

4448341 Pte T Hamilton (30) 2nd DLI. of Queens Place,Leeds 2 was posted as missing but later confirmed as a Prisoner of War he was a reservist on the outbreak of war having served as a regular soldier for seven years . Prior to the war he worked at Hawthorn Davey and Co,Leeds. In 1945 he was listed as a PoW at Stalag XX-A with a PoW number of 20249.

(Left to Right)
104114 2nd Lieutenant Alexander James Smith 10th DLI of 6 Urie Crescent, Stonehaven a graduate in the arts at Edinburgh University and only son of Mr and Mrs Alexander Smith was born at Newmill, Kincardine. Granted an Emergency Commission posted/joined 10th Bn Durham Light Infantry on the 27th November 1939. Captured near Arras in 1940 .Held at Oflag VII-B Eichstätt, Bavaria given a PoW number of 366 he was released in 1945 and released from the army in 1946.

4450129 Pte J Sturdy (26) 2nd DLI, of no 1 Princess May Avenue Cleveland Street Hull was declared missing on June 17th 1940 it was later announced that he had been wounded in both legs and taken prisoner. Initially in hospital in France before transferring to a Stalag in 1945 he was in Stalag 344 with a PoW number of 184

4453563 Pte George Freeman 10th DLI, of Nornabell Street and a former pupil of St Mary`s,Wilton St School he enlisted in 1939 initially joining 6th DLI but later joining 10th DLI he was posted missing on the 20th May 1940 later recorded as captured on the 12 th September 1940.Prior to enlistment he was employed at The General Timber Supply Company ,Hull. Held in Stalags 8B and 344 .In 1945 he was given the PoW number of 12478. Released in 1945 and discharged Class Z Army Reserve on the 3rd September 1946

4439607 Sergeant John Coxon.8th DLI of 11 Market Place, Houghton le Spring was reported missing on the 21st May 1940. Mrs Coxon of the same address was notified that her husband was missing and it was not until 1941 that it was established that Sgt Coxon,who had over 21 years total service with the Durhams had been captured and was now a PoW. Sgt Coxon had formerly been employed at Houghton Colliery. In 1945 he was listed at Stalag 383 (Hohenfels, Rhineland-Palatinate) PoW number 7508.

(Left to right)
4459478 Pte Alfred Brown (21) of Well Street Millfield,Sunderland, reported missing serving with The Durham Light Infantry his brother 4459531 Ernest Brown (23) was also reported missing at the time. Both brothers who were serving with the 10th and 11th DLI respectively ,were later confirmed as prisoners of war. Alfred and Ernest were listed at Stalag VIIIB / 344 Alfred Brown had a PoW number of 15316 whilst Ernest Brown 15315.

4452999 Pte Maurice Henry Percy (20) of Brougham Street,Sunderland reported missing serving as a signaller with The 2nd Durham Light Infantry . Later confirmed as a PoW camp XXB PoW number 8736 liberated in 1945.

4443520 Cpl Patrick George Ridley (34) of Bowlby Street,Houghton le Spring reported missing serving with The 11th Durham Light Infantry . It was later established in 1943 that Patrick had been killed in action on May 23rd 1940 .He has no known grave and is commemorated on The Dunkirk Memorial.

4459316 Pte Joseph Lindsay (20) of Trinity Place,Sunderland reported missing serving with The 11th Durham Light Infantry. Later confirmed as a PoW camp listed as Detachment E793 Stalag 344 (formerly Bau und Arbeits Battalion 21) PoW number 3478.

(Left to Right )
4459326 Pte Norman Roney (20) Born 22nd October 1919 son of John G Roney and Edith Roney They lived at 7 Newhaven Avn off Newcastle Road,Sunderland before the war he was an apprentice house painter . He was posted as `missing` in 1940 whilst serving with the 11th Durham Light Infantry . Later confirmed as a Prisoner of War . Held at Stalags 21D and 344 his PoW number was 4088. He was held until 1945 . Discharged King's Regulations 1940 Para 390 (xvi) 13th April 1946.

4456523 Pte George William Ramshaw (27) lived at 9 Elgin Street Sunderland with his wife Alice. He was listed as missing on the 26th May 1940. George served with the 8th Durham Light Infantry . Confirmed as a PoW with the number 14155 at Stalag 344 Remained a Prisoner until 1945.

4457339 Cpl Stanley Smith (22) lived at Nobles Bank Road,Sunderland listed as wounded and missing in 1940 serving with the 9th Durham Light Infantry . It was later discovered that Stanley had died from his wounds . He was buried at Lille Southern Cemetery Plot 7. Row A. Grave 4.

4445721 Pte James McBeth (33) Dame Dorothy Street,Monkwearmouth,Sunderland served with the 10th Durham Light Infantry in 1940. A former regular soldier who enlisted at the age of 18 on 30th August 1926. He had been working as a labourer in Sunderland when recalled from the reserve in 1939. Later confirmed as a Prisoner of War at Stalag VIIIB his German PoW number was 12527. Freed in 1945 discharged Class Z Army Reserve 31st October 1945.

Left to Right
4455300 L/Cpl Frederick J Simpson (29) of 44 Fulwell Road (late of 34 Gladstone Street) Sunderland born 01 Nov 1913 son of Christopher Robert and Sarah Simpson.husband of Rebecca Simpson (27 May 1914) Frederick was posted as `Missing` in the Middle East serving with the 8th Durham Light Infantry on the 2 November 1942 it was later established that Frederick had died of wounds received on that day. At rest El Alamein War Cemetery XXIII. B. 8..

4457384 Pte N Burn (24) son of Robert and Elizabeth Burn of 6 Liddle Terrace ,Sunderland was posted as `Wounded and Missing` in the Middle East serving with the 8th Durham Light Infantry on the 29th June 1942. Later it was confirmed he had been captured and died whilst in Italian captivity. Pte Norman Burns body was never found and he is now commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 68 with the date of death recorded by the CWGC as 14 Nov 1942. Norman Burn was one of the ill fated PoWs aboard the `Scillin` which was sunk by the British submarine `Sahib` .
The Ministry of Defence kept this incident a closely guarded secret for fifty-four years, telling relatives that the victims had died while prisoner-of-war in Italian camps or lost at sea. It was not until 1996, after repeated requests for information from the families of the drowned men that the truth came out.

4461451 Pte Henry Wynn born 27th November 1914 (26) of 52 Devonshire Street (Husband of Doris Wynn ) was posted as `Missing` in the Middle East serving with the 8th Durham Light Infantry on the 29th June 1942 . Later confirmed as a Prisoner of War held by the Italians at Campo 70, Then after the Italian surrender by the Germans at Wistritz bei Teplitz at Stalag IVc and IVD with the PoW number 253360. Released 1945.

4450111 Cpl George W Anderson (30) of 63 Northumberland Street was posted missing serving with the 1st Durham Light Infantry on the 15th May 1941 in the Western Desert but later confirmed as a Prisoner of war in Italian hands.Following the Italian surrender he was held in a German camp Stalag IVB PoW number 225420. Released 1945.

Left to Right
4458585 Pte J L Walker . James Lockhead Walker was born on 3rd July 1919 the son of James and Isabella Walker . In civilian life he was a lorry drivers mate .James enlisted into the Durham Light infantry and was posted to the Regiments 10th battalion serving in HQ Company . At the time the family were living at 51 Cardigan Terrace ,Heaton. Barely two weeks after his arrival in France notification was received that he was missing presumed Killed in Action. Eight months passed without any further information . The family now residing at Warwick Street in Heaton then received a letter from a nurse working in a hospital in Belgium telling the Walker family their son was alive although badly wounded . Pte James L Walker the local press reported had `been brought back to life` . Pte J L Walker was repatriated back to England in 1943. James Lockhead Walker died in 1972 .

4448862 Pte John Cole was born in Sunderland Street (No 20 ) Gateshead.Co Durham on 20th November 1909. Educated at Prior Street School John served with the Durham Light Infantry enlisting between January 1930 - 7 May 1931. Although first reported killed in action during the retreat to Dunkirk the local press then reported that he was now wounded but safe as a prisoner of war by 17 October 1940 .
The actual date of John Coles capture from German sources was the 26th May 1940 at Carvin before his repatriation he was held at Stalag IX B , Wegscheide. The Germans gave him the P.o.W number 3669 . Mystery surrounds his pre war service as the press reports state he had 9 years regular service ? Yet his medals sold in 2020 contain a Territorial Efficiency Medal ? The group also contained a Defence Medal and France and Germany Star which John would not have been awarded due to his service being curtailed by his wounds and time spent in captivity ? More research needed. John died in 1967 aged just 57.

4446477 Pte A Harrison , Abraham Harrison was born 21 August 1901 . He served with the 9th battalion Durham Light Infantry and was a member of `C` Company . Abraham was captured in 1940 but at the age of 43 was repatriated back to the UK . During his imprisonment he was held in Stalag VIII B Lamsdorf given the P.o.W number 13476 . On his arrival home at 3 Parkin Gardens,Felling he remarked to waiting reporters that he was hoping to take things easy for a few days ,adding that the hedge could do with a trim ! At 43 he added if it was possible he would like to soldier on and see the thing {war} through !

4459304 Pte Arthur Eade. Arthur was born in Sunderland on 7 October 1919 and resided at 63 Northumberland Street,Sunderland and was employed pre-war as a heavy lorry drivers mate. At the age of 20 whilst serving with the 11th Durham Light Infantry he was posted as `missing` . It was later established he had been captured on 20th May 1940 in the Cambrai area . Arthur was held at Stalag s XXA Thorn and 344 given the P.o.W number 10211 . He remained in captivity until 1945 he married Gladys Richardson in 1945 and was eventually discharged on 31st August 1946 . Arthur Eade sadly died aged 47 in his home town of Sunderland in 1966.

Left to Right
4451641 L/Cpl Stephen Manning (20) was serving in France with the 9th Durham Light Infantry and was posted missing . Stephen`s family then received an official War Office communication stating he had been wounded in the right arm by shrapnel ? The communication added he was `safe` in an English Hospital. Stephen lived when at home at 83 Hendon Road, Gateshead .Welcome news for his mother Jane and the Manning family whose other son was still `officially` missing. Stephen returned to England he married Margaret Stanton in 1944. Stephen died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 2 April 1966 aged 46 years . At the time of his death Stephen was living at 67 Longrigg,Leam Lane Estate,Gateshead.

4448938 Pte George Charlton Burrell , was the son of George and Mary Ann Burrell. of Winlaton he was born 14 October 1906 . George served in France with the 9th Durham Light Infantry . Wounded and captured by the Germans at Vimy Ridge on 24 May 1940 he was given the PoW number 6510 and held at Stalag XXA Thorn Podgoz until he was repatriated back to England in 1943. George`s address at the time was given as Springwell Road,Winlaton .
George sadly died shortly after the end of the war on 03 Oct 1945 he was 38 years old. He was buried in Winlaton (St. Paul) Churchyard Extension Sec. C. South. Grave 11.

4263180 Pte Chas W McIntosh, was a veteran member of the British Army having served a total of 16 years including 4 years as a boy soldier. Chas originally enlisted into the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers . Recalled to the colours and now aged 30, Chas was serving with the 9th Durham Light Infantry in France. Posted missing during the attack at Arras hopes that Chas had been taken prisoner were dashed when reports were received that Charles William McIntosh had been killed in action on 26 May 1940 . Unfortunately his body was lost on the battlefiled and today he is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial ,Column 122. Son of Duncan Alexander McIntosh and Mary Elizabeth McIntosh; husband of Angela May McIntosh, of 131 Ayton Street Byker, Northumberland.

4447967 Pte Thomas Stuart served with the 2nd Durham Light Infantry in france and Belgium during 1940. The son of Mr and Mrs J Stuart of Fowler Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland had served for 10 years pre-war with The Durham Light Infantry and was an Army reservist when recalled to the colours in 1939. Reported missing he was eventually named as a P.o.W . Given the P.o.W number 8738 held at Stalag XXB at Marienburg he remainded in captivity until liberated in 1945.

Left to Right
4456252 Pte Thomas Snowball,(19) was the son of Mr Thomas Snowball and Mrs Annie Snowball of 2 Edward Street,Springwell, Washington . He was reported missing during the fall back to Dunkirk hopes that Thomas may have been taken prisoner of war were ended two years later when in 1942 official confirmation was received that Thomas Snowball had died on 21 May 1940 a member of 8th Durham Light Infantry thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on The Dunkirk Memorial Column 123 he was just 19 years old.

4458379 Pte Philip Thomas Coventry . Born 24 Sep 1919 The son of Mr Arthur & Mrs Elizabeth Coventry of 417 Walton Breck Road , Liverpool (formerly 16 Cathedral Road )was posted missing on the 29th June 1942 whilst serving with the 8th Durham Light Infantry . Philip was later found to be a Prisoner of War . Held initially by the Italians at Campo PG 70 Monteurano, Near Fermo Ascoli Piceno following the Italian capitulation he was moved to a German camp . Held at Stalag IVD Torgau (Elbe) PoW number 251637 Liberated in 1945.

4459531 Pte Ernest Brown (23) and his brother 4459478 Pte Alfred Brown,(21)
Ernest Brown who lived at Well Street was serving with the 11th DLI whilst younger brother Alfred was with the 10th DLI both members of 70 Brigade. Their parents Mr & Mrs A Brown of Washington Street Sunderland were notified that both brothers were listed as `missing`. After a worrying time they received official intimation that both brothers were safe but Prisoners of War . Alfred (born 6 June 1919) had been wounded and Ernest ( born 20 December 1916) stayed with his brother both being captured on 20 May 1940. Ernest was given the PoW number of 15315 whilst Alfred received 15316 both were held at the same camps Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf and Stalag 344. Liberated in 1945 after four years in captivity.

Left to Right
4456150 Pte Ernest Benfold was a well known pre war sportsman from East Stanley, Co Durham .The son of Mr William Benfold and Mrs Lizzie Benfold of 2 West Street, Consett, Stanley Ernest was a pre war member of the East Stanley Methodist Church `Boys Brigade` and held the rank of a Lieutenant in that organisation . He played football (Goalkeeper) for West Stanley Albion and South Moor Colliery teams. Aged 22 he was employed as a `Pony putter` at Beamish `Mary` Pit pre war.
A member of the 11th Durham Light Infantry who fought in France in 1940 he was initially posted as missing in action. Following an anxious wait it was officially confirmed that Ernest had been captured and was safe but a Prisoner of War . Listed at Stalag XXID Poznań (Posnan), Poland and given the German P.o.W number of 1657 Ernest remained a captive until 1945 when his camp was liberated.

4456090 Pte Wilfred .T. Roxby was another native of East Stanley , the adopted son of Mr William and Mrs Jane Taylor of 9 Middle Street, Consett, Stanley . Prior to enlistment Wilfred was also associated with the local Boys Brigade at Stanley Methodist Church and like Ernest Benfold was employed pre war at Beamish Mary Pit he too was a `Pony Putter` ( The driver of a pony that draws a mine wagon) Wilfred also served with the 11th Durham Light Infantry and after he too was posted as `missing` in May 1940 it was later established he too had been captured by the Germans. Held at Stalag IVB Muhlberg he was given the PoW number 5947 . He remained in captivity until liberated by Soviet troops in April 1945.

126040 Lieutenant C E Robson , Christopher Elk Robson 6 Logan Terrace, South Hetton formerly of St Columbus Cottage, Southwick in Sunderland was reported `Missing in the Western Desert ` in July 1942 .The som of Mr William Robson and Mrs Elsie Robson born 8 June 1918. It was later confirmed that he was a Prisoner of War .Intially held by the Italians under a pre arranged Axis agreement he cas for a time held at PG Campo 75 at Bari. Following the Italian capitulation he was moved by the Germans and held at Oflag 5A Weinsberg: Germany as PoW 3053 He remained a Prisoner until the end of the war and was liberated in 1945. Commisioned into The DLI and announced in The London Gazette 12 April 1940 Christopher continued to serve post war on 28th January 1949 it was announced that Lt. C. E. Robson (126040) would relinquish his commission on 29th January 1949, and was granted the hon. rank of Captain.

4461270. Pte W Cooper, Wilfred Cooper was born 19 November 1915 in Sunderland. He resided at 36 Addison Street,Sunderland . Serving with 8th Durham Light Infantry he was reported `Missing in the Western desert` Later established that he had been captured 12 June 1942 in Libya . Initially held by the Italians at PG Campo 82 near Laterina in Italy before the Germans moved him to Stalag VIIIA Gorlitz following the Italian capitulation , Spent time at Stalag 344 Lamsdorf .. The Germans gave Wilfred Cooper the PoW number of 81319. Remained a captive until liberation in 1945.

Left to Right
4457647 Pte James Leonard Fahy (21) lived at Polemarch Street,Seaham with his parents Mr&Mrs James Fahy Born 13 December 1918 . James was serving with the 8 Durham Light Infantry when he was reported as `missing` on the 29 May 1940 . Confirmed as a prisoner of war . Given the PoW number of 13739 and listed at Stalag 344 Lamsdorf he remained in captivity until 1945 when he was released. James Leonard Fahy died in 1988 address at this time was 53 watling Avenue,Westlea,Seaham.

4435666 Lance Corporal Thomas Temple was a DLI bugler who had served in WW1. In France with 9th DLI this veteran soldier was initially posted as missing. Mrs Emily Temple of 195 Norfolk Road,Byker Newcastle received the news that Thomas had been wounded in the left arm but was safe in an English Hospital having been evacuated from France. During WW1 Thomas had served in India with 1st DLI where he had earned his India General Service Medal . Thomas was the son of John and Isabella Temple born 1898 he married Emily Cooke in 1923 the couple had two children Constance and Ronald . Thomas Temple a DLI veteran of both World Wars died in 1960.

4455336 Pte Robert Baptist had joined the Durham Light Infantry at the age of 17 now aged 19 and serving with the 9th Durham Light Infantry he was wounded in action and evacuated back to England. When he had recovered he served in the western desert with 8th DLI and was captured on the 14th June 1942 . Held by the Italians at Campo PG 63 Marinaro Aversa near Casserta he escaped in 1943 via Switzerland he arrived back in England in 1944 . Roberts father also served as a Sergeant and had won a Military Medal during WW1.

4454458 Pte Robert Redshaw of 4 Ellingham Street, Team colliery,Low Fell Gateshead was missing but found to have been seriously wounded whilst serving with 8th Durham light infantry . Robert lived with his mother and had enlisted in 1939. sadly his wounds were so severe that he died in hospital shortly after being evacuated from France on 28 May 1940 Robert was buried at Lamesley (St Andrews) Churchyard North east of the church.

Left to Right
4459288 Pte Robert Edward Atchison (20) born 24 November 1919 was employed pre war as a hotel barman he resided at no 10 Harrogate Street ,Hendon, Sunderland . Initially posted as `missing` it was later established that he had been captured near Lille on 31 May 1940 serving with the 11th Durham Light Infantry . Issued the German PoW number of 13837 he was recorded to have been held at Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf /Stalag 344 . Remained in captivity until released at the end of the war in 1945. Discharged Class Z to the Army Reserve on 26 August 1946 (Div 3/A 36.) The German PoW card survives at the National Archives Reference WO 416/12/418.

4457380 Pte Wilson Broomfield (21) Son of Matthew and Lydia Broomfield, Henry Street,Sunderland was posted as missing whilst serving with 10th DLI in France. Wilson had enlisted in 1939 and was initially posted to 6th DLI before joining the 10th battalion. He is presumed to have been killed in action on or around 25th May 1940 his body was never recovered/identified and he is commemorated on Column 122 of The Dunkirk Memorial .

4457370 Pte Thomas Young of Bedale Street, Hetton was posted as `Missing in Action` serving with the 9th Durham Light Infantry . The Sunderland Echo July 11 1940 reported he was still unaccounted for sadly Thomas Young had been Killed ,the casualty list does not mention Killed in Action simply `Killed`? . Thomas rests today at Lille Southern Cemetery Plot 6 Row A Grave No 9.

4457414 Pte Frederick Farrow born 18 October 1918 and residing at Sea View, Ryhope was posted as `Missing` The Sunderland Echo of 11 July 1940 confirming this . Frederick Farrow was captured on 27 May 1940 near Arras . Frederick was serving with 10th DLI at this time A German PoW card survives at the National Archives Reference WO 416/117/289 which lists his German PoW number as 943 and his camp as Oflag VIIC Laufen. Oflag VIIC was for officers, and was in Laufen castle in SE Bavaria. The majority of prisoners were British officers captured in the Battle for France 1940 ? Later lists show the Camps listed as Stalag VIIIC Kunau Kz Sprottau/Sagan and Stalag L3 (Luft 3 was a luftwaffe camp ?) Released in 1945 Frederick was discharged under King's Regulations 1940 Para 390 (xvi) on 27 September 1945.

Left to Right
4459210 Pte John George Earles (20)was born in Hebburn on 06 October 1918 the son of Charles William Earles and Sarah A Earles . The family in 1939 resided at 12 Baden Terrace ,Ryhope, Sunderland. John was reported `missing` in France serving with 10 DLI . It was later established he had been captured on 21 May 1940 near Loos in France. Held at Stalag XXA Thorn his German PoW record card survives at The National Archives in London Reference WO 416/107/185 which records 13116 as his PoW number. Remained in captivity until 1945. John was discharged Class Z Army Reserve 8 September 1946.

4457128 Pte George Henry Holmes (21) lived at 34 Well Street, Millfield, Sunderland. Son of Fred and Jane Holmes 17 Croft Avenue, Sunderland and husband of Elsie Campbell Holmes, Sunderland was posted as `Missing` whilst serving with the 11th Durham Light Infantry despite his families hopes that he had at least been taken prisoner extensive enquiries established George had been killed in action on 20 May 1940. No body was ever found/identified and subsequently his name was added to The Dunkirk Memorial Column 122. George had originally joined 8 DLI before being posted to the 11 DLI.

4457101 Pte Charles Crampin (21) was born 5 October 1918 and resided at 8 Granville Street,Millfield, Sunderland with his father Charles and mother Isabella Crampin . The local newspaper The Sunderland Echo carried the news that Charles Crampin ,who prewar had been a motor fitter, was missing in France serving with 11 DLI . It was established later that he had been captured on 20 May 1940 at Bapaume . He was held at Stalag XXIB/H Schubin and Stalag VIIIB with the PoW number 4118, Charles Crampin`s German PoW card survives at The National Archives Reference WO 416/81/253. Released in 1945 he was discharged from the army Class Z Army Reserve on 17 May 1946.

4453506 Pte Thomas Sinclair (18) of Liddell Terrace, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland served with the 9th Durham Light Infantry. Posted as `missing` it was later established that Thomas Sinclair was a prisoner of war held at Stalag IXC Muhlhausen. The Germans issued Thomas with the PoW number 5962 . No other information available .

Left to right
4454489 Pte Sydney Telford (31) of Tyne Street, Easington was serving with the 11th DLI in France when he was posted `missing` . Confirmed as a prisoner of war and held at Stalag IVC and Stalag IVD during his captivity which ended in 1945. Discharged from the army Class Z Army Reserve on 27 March 1946 .

4458155 Pte Thomas William Geddes (21) was born at Houghton le Spring on 15 February 1919. He resided at Hutton Street, Hetton Downs .Thomas was serving with the 8th Durham Light Infantry in 1940 when he was originally posted as `missing` . A German record of his capture survives at The National Archives in London (Reference WO 416/135/339) it lists his camp as Stalag VIIIB Teschen and his German PoW number as 15790. Thomas William Geddes was captured on 28 May 1940 and remained in captivity until liberated in 1945.

4459482 Pte Thomas Henry Dodds Whitfield (20) of Brickgarth, Easington Lane was a member of 10 Durham Light Infantry posted as `missing` during the BEF campaign in France in 1940. Thomas had originally enlisted into the 6 DLI before being posted out to 10 DLI. It wasnt until July 1940 that it was established that he had fallen into German hands. Listed at Stalag XXIA with the PoW number of 2774 he remained in captivity until 1945. On his return to England Thomas decided to remain in the Army but transferred to the Royal Artillery on the 7th June 1945. T H D Whitfield died in 1997.

4457105 Pte Stephen Brignall, was born in South Moor,Durham on 7 March 1919 and lived at 27 Nelson Street, Seaham Co Durham with his parents Stephen and Margaret and brother William . It was established that Stephen ,who was serving with the 11 Durham Light infantry had been captured by the Germans during the BEF campaign of 1940. He was held by the Germans at Stalag IXC at Bad-Sulza. The German PoW record card survives in the National Archives in London ( Reference WO 416/42/207) The card lists Stephens PoW number as 31084. Freed in 1945 Stephen Brignall left The Durham Light Infantry and joined The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) on 2 August 1945.

4457112 Pte James M `Jackie` Stothard lived at 18 Dent Street,Fulwell,Sunderland the son of James and Ida Stothard born 28 August 1918 . Served with the 11th Durham Light Infantry during the BEF campaign where he was initially posted as `missing`. Confirmed as a Prisoner of war he was held at Stalag XX A with the PoW number 9995 . Remained in captivity until 1945 Discharged Class Z Army Reserve 22 May 1946.

4454734 Pte Noel Atkinson (38) was born 24 December 1901 the son of the late Robert Atkinson and his wife Isabel . Noel resided at Hertford Crescent, Hetton . Another soldier who served with The 11 Durham Light Infantry during the BEF campaign. Posted as missing with no date recorded his German PoW record card which survives at the National Archives in London (Ref WO 416/12/362 ) gives us a few answers. The card records Noel was born in Hetton le Hole and was captured on 20 May 1940. His camp is shown as Stalag XXA Thorn (Poland) with his PoW number recorded as 10588. Released in 1945 he was discharged Class Z Army Reserve 20 January 1946.

4458624 Corporal Thomas George Marshall (22) was born 29 March 1917 .He resided with his wife Olive (Bown) Marshall and her family at 30 Ailesbury Street, Millfield, Sunderland . Thomas served with 10 Durham Light Infantry during the BEF Campaign initially ,like many,he was posted as missing but was later confirmed as a Prisoner of War . Held at Stalags XXA and XIV with the PoW number of 6344. Thomas remained a PoW until liberated in 1945 Discharged Class Z Army Reserve 10 June 1946.

4458624 Pte George Thomas Riddle (22) was the son of George and Margaret Riddle born 21 May 1918 . He resided at West Lane House, East Boldon . George was intially posted as missing serving with 2nd DLI but later it was established he was a prisoner of war .PoW number 13472 Stalag XXIA (1940) and XXA Thorn Formerly announced as Prisoner of war 29th July 1940 .Returned home after the war and transferred to the Royal Engineers on the 6th August 1945 his documents were sent to Brighton on the 30th October 1945

Left to Right
4459467 Pte Thomas Pearson (23) of No 8 Ashwood Street,Sunderland. The son of John and Hannah Pearson served with 10 Durham Light Infantry in France in 1940 (Transferred from 6 DLI) Further enquiries revealed Thomas had been taken prisoner . Held at Stalag XXID with the PoW number 3961 he remained in captivity until freed in 1945. Discharged from the Army Class Z release on 3 June 1946.

4448550 Pte Thomas Briggs (26) of Tees Street, Hendon,Sunderland. Thomas was serving with the 2nd Battalion The Durham Light Infantry in 1940 . Captured during the retreat to Dunkirk he was held at various prison camps including Stalags VIIIB Teschen, XXIB and XXID . Reased at the end of the war in 1945.

4457664 Pte John Phillips ,of Houghton le Spring had served with the 2nd Durham Light Infantry but had joined the 8th DLI and saw action during the campaign in France during 1940. Posted missing it was established he had been captured on 21 May 1940 . John was held at Stalag XXB with the PoW number of 6360 .Released in 1945 at the end of the war.

4449471 Corporal Edward Foster (25) of 16 General Graham Street,Sunderland . Son of Annie Foster born 21 April 1915 in Sunderland . A pre war regular serving with the 2nd Durham light Infantry he was captured on 27 May 1940 . The battalion were in action at St Venant at the time although the Germans recorded Foster`s capture at Tournai ? Listed at Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf with the prisoner of war number 15630.

Left to Right
2987504 Pte William Black (28) was a former member of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had transferred to The Durham Light Infantry . He had enlisted in 1939 and fought with the DLI from El Alamein to Sicily returning in November 1943 . In 1944 he had returned to fight in Normandy and his family were anxious for news. William pre war had been employed prewar as an iron monger with Messrs Virtue and Company , King Street, Stirling . On the 28th September 1944 the family received some good news when the Stirling Observer announced that Mrs Black of 2 Glebe Place,Dunblane had received news that William although wounded on the 13th September 1944 with the 6th DLI was now safe in a hospital in England . William`s brother was serving in the RAOC during this time

2986226 Pte John Heeps another former member of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had transferred to The Durham Light Infantry was posted as missing . Sadly it was later confirmed that John had been killed in action on the 17th July 1943 fighting with the 6th Durham Light infantry at Primosole Bridge . John was removed from his field grave to Catania Cemetery on the 17th November 1943 and rests there today section III.Row A. Grave 21 .Johns father ,David,was a former resident of Redding ,Stirlingshire.

2987626 Lance Corporal Thomas Docherty (27) another former member of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had transferred to The Durham Light Infantry was posted as missing in June 1942 . A keen amateur boxer who held an army championship title and several trophies he resided with his wife at 69 Main Street ,Bannockburn,Stirlingshire. Thomas a painter who had been employed with Messrs MacIntosh & Hill ,Stirling prior to the outbreak of the war. Mrs Docherty received news shortly after her second wedding anniversary thar her husband was dead, He was killed serving with 6th Durham Light Infantry at Gazala on 14 June 1942. He was initially buried at Gazala but was re interred at Knightsbridge War Cemetery on the 11 January 1945. Section 1. Row F. Grave 9. Libya.

2987505 Pte William C Bundy (20) yet another former member of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had transferred to The Durham Light Infantry was posted as missing on 1 June 1942 . The son of the late Joseph Bundy and his wife they resided at 20 Barn Road,Stirling he was employed as a Nail worher prior to his enlistment with Messrs Somerville . There was happier news for his mother when German radio announced her son had been captured and was now a prisoner of war. Initially held by the Italians at Campo Pg66 (P.G. 66. was at Capua a large Transit camp) eventually William was taken to the German territories where he was held at Stalag XVIIIA with the PoW number of 39073.

FOUR `DURHAMS` FROM SHROPSHIRE .MISSING AT GAZALA WESTERN DESERT IN JUNE 1942

4037220 Pte William Brindley (above left) was born in Stoke on Trent on 25th June 1915 the son of the late Mr W Brindley of Moss Street,Corbridge and husband of Mrs Brindley 201 High Street, Wolstanton. He was reported missing on the 27th June 1942 in the Middle East . Prior to his enlistment in 1940 he was employed at Messrs Howlett`s Foundry . Later reports confirmed William had been captured. Initially held by the Italians under an agreement between the Axis powers he was recorded at Campo Pg 82 Laterina . William was later held by the Germans at Stalag IV/DZ Annaburg and Stalag IVB Muhlberg . He was given the P.o.W number 224614 and remained in captivity until liberated in 1945. Died in 2002.

4037212 Pte Robert Broad (above 2nd left) was born 27th Feb 1915 was the husband of Mrs Norah Broad 15 Acres Nook, Goldenhill son of Mr Thomas and Emmaline Broad, White House , Chatterley, Staffordshire, He enlisted into the Shropshire Light Infantry and was transferred to 9th Durham Light Infantry . He was reported as missing on the 27th June 1942 and later confirmed as a Prisoner of war . Initially held by the Italians under an agreement between the Axis powers there was no camp listed in WO 21 for him. Following the Italian capitulation the Germans held him at Stalag IVD his P,o,W number was recorded as 261928. Remained in captivity until liberated in 1945. Died on 15th August 1989 at 57 Monument Road,Talke Pits, Staffordshire aged 74.

4037288 Pte Stephen Thomas Holdcroft (2nd from right) was born 9 February 1915 in Stoke on Trent the son of Stephen T Holdcroft and Elizabeth (Till) Holdcroft , He enlisted in the Shropshire Light Infantry but transferred to the 9th Durham Light Infantry . He was posted as `missing` on the 27th June 1942 in the Middle East .Later confirmed as captured at Gazala . Under the axis agreement he was held by the Italians at Campo Pg 82 Laterina . Stephens wife,Mary (Mellor) whom he had married in 1938, was residing with her parents at 47 Chaplin Road, Normacot whilst he was serving overseas. Prior to enlisting he had been employed by Mr B Tansley Meir . Following the Italian capitulation he was held by the Germans at Camp F 31979 in Northern Italy and was then recorded at Stalag IVD Torgau. and Stalag IVC his P.o.W number was 275220. Released from captivity at the end of the war 1945. Died 1986 aged 71.

4037388 Pte Ernest R Rhead (right) born 30th Jan 1915 in Newcastle under Lyme the son of Ernest and Ellen (Bloor) Rhead . He enlisted into the Shropshire Light Infantry but was transferred to the 9th Durham Light Infantry . Ernest and his wife Annie (Dibble) resided at 25 Brindley Street, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire. He was educated at Longston High School and had worked at Messrs H Bell and sons , Newcastle under Lyme before enlisting in 1940. Reported as missing in action in the Middle East it was later confirmed he had been captured at Gazala on 27th June 1942 . Held under the axis agreement by the Italians initially at Campo Pg 70 Monte Urano, a mile or two from the sea and Porto San Georgio. Later, following the Italian capitulation the Germans held Ernest at Stalag IVB . The P.o.W number allocated to Ernest was 251296 he remained in captivity until hostilities ended in 1945. Ernest Richard Rhead died in 1973

missing in action .
middle east casualties
confirmed as prisoners of war 1942

, (L to R) 4459830 Pte H Todd (22) 6th Durham Light Infantry 31 The Parade,Hendon,Sunderland posted missing 28th June 1942 . Later confirmed as a Prisoner of War held initially by the Italians at Campo Pg 82 Laterina . Opened to house members of the Allied Forces who had taken prisoner throughout the middle east. After the Italian Armistice of 8 September 1943 the camp passed into German hands and was used as a transit camp renamed Dulag 132 - from which prisoners were sent to Stalags in Germany. 4459830 Todd was sent to Stalag IVC and given the PoW number 222903

4461266 Pte Harland Coates (22) 8th Durham Light Infantry , 4 Beachville Street ,Sunderland,posted missing on 29th June 1942. Later confirmed as a prisoner of war held by the Italians at Campo Pg 70 Monturano, a mile or so from the sea at Fermo West of Porto St Giorgio on East Coast. New buildings consisted of Textile Works near Railway Line built in two Sections.
Camp was opened 19th August 1942 . Following the Italian capitulation in 1943 4461266 Coates he was moved to Stalag IVD with the PoW number 249950. Remained in captivity until 1945.

4457639 Sgt W GT Aylen (23) 6th Durham Light Infantry , 1 Minton Square, Pallion,Sunderland. posted missing on 28th June 1942 he was later confirmed as a prisoner of war held also at Campo Pg 70 Monturano . 4457639 Sergeant Aylen was moved to Stalag IVB with the pow number 260954 following the Italian capitulation and remained in captivity until 1945.

4460490 Pte H Rewcastle (27) 8th Durham Light Infantry ,21 Wordsworth Avenue East ,Hetton Road, Houghton le Spring. Initially posted as missing on the 14th June 1942 later confirmed as a prisoner of war . The listing for his camp was recorded as Cmpo Pg I53 which may refer to Campo PG 53 situated at Sfozacosta, it was one of three in the Marche province near to the city of Macerata. Following the capituulation of the Italians in 1943 4460490 Rewcastle was sent to Stalag IV D with the prisoner of war number 251346. Remained in captivity until 1945.

Above Left to Right
4460703 Pte J E Stanness (24) The 9th Durham Light Infantry lived at 16 Baltic Terrace ,Pallion Sunderland . was reported to be wounded on 1st June 1942 and later captured on the 28th June 1942 possibly in a field hospital at Gazala. Initially he was held by the Italians at Campo Pg I58 .Held in captivity until 1945. His father Nathaniel Stanness (56) a caulker and cutter at James Laing Shipyard died on November 6th 1941 following a fall at work he died later in hospital following an operation. He was buried at Bishopwearmouth cemetery . A notice of his death was placed by his widow Letitia Stanness (nee Montgomery).

4461340 Pte J Johnson (22) of 25 James Armitage Street The 8th Durham Light Infantry was captured on the 29th June 1942 at Gazala. Held by the Italians at Campo Pg73 he escaped in 1943 and made his way to Switzerland . Whilst awaiting repatriation he was employed in agricultural work. It was announced that he had returned to England in 1944,

4460577 Sergeant T Graham (26) 5 Enderby Road,Sunderland was posted as missing on the 27th July 1942 it was later confirmed that he had been captured and was held by the Italians at Campo pg 73 and Campo Pg 78 - Sulmona . He escaped on the 12 th September 1943 and was able to complete an Interrogation report held at the National archives reference WO 208/3344.

4264648 L/Cpl J Hudson (39) The 9th Durham Light Infantry 35 Glebe Street,Sunderland born 1 October 1903 in Southwick . He was posted as missing on 27 June 1942 at Gazala/ Mesa Matruh and was initially held by the Italians at Campo Pg 70 before he was moved to Stalag IVB the Germans gave Joseph the PoW number 249223. He remained in captivity until 1945 but Josephs years in captivity had taken a toll on his health. On the 17th December 1946 the Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette announced that Joseph Hudson the son of James and Isabella Hudson;husband of Charlotte Hudson had died on 12th December 1946 of Tuberculosis,a coroners inquest ruled that Joseph Hudson,a former Dunkirk Veterans condition had been accelated by his war time service and captivity. A PoW card survives for Joseph at the National Archives Ref WO 416/186/405.

captured at st venant stretcher bearers repatriated 1941

The Evening Chronicle 20th November 1944 reported;- The band of the Durham Light Infantry which has left to take part in the rejoicing of the liberated countries ,includes three repatriated prisoners of war who as stretcher bearers were regarded as protected personnel under The Geneva Convention.
They are Corporal J W McPherson of Seaham Harbour, Bandsman H Hall of Shildon and Bandsman U G Nottage of Torquay, all of whom were captured in May 1940 at St Venant between Bethune and Lille.
Stalag Memento,
It was in this frenzied attack that the `Deaths Head Hussars` took a prominent part and Corporal McPherson still wears on his finger as a souvenir a `Deaths Head` silver ring such as is worn by all the SS Troops.
Bandsman Hall carries as a memento his Stalag identity disc a small perforated metal square stamped on each half. "If a prisoner died died" he explained " one half was buried with the body and the counterfoil was included in the personal effects". The disc was put to many other uses "We used to measure out our bread with it"said Hall "to ensure every man got a fair share however small."

Soldiers in this article were ;-
4447752 Cpl John (Jack) William McPherson
4449111 Bdsm Haldane Hall
4445726 Bdsm Unwin Gilbert Nottage

Repatriated Corporal ......Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 20 July 1942

4452154 Corporal John Redmond Coleman (23) of 8 Romford Street,Sunderland,23 year old section commander in the 1st DLI who was wounded and captured during a British attack on Fort Capuzzo last year is home on leave after being repatriated under an agreement between the British and Italian Governments.
A native of Sunderland Corpl Coleman joined the Durham Light Infantry six years ago After serving in China he was sent to the Middle East early in 1940.
“It was in May last year when we were attacking Fort Capuzzo” he told me yesterday. “that I was wounded by machine gun fire. I was inside the fortifications at the time and as our attack was beaten off,there was no chance of escape. Most of the Company were captured with me.
“ Although we were captured by the Germans we were regarded as prisoners of the Italians and were taken to Italy shortly afterwards. I was in a hospital for a few months and then transferred to a prison camp. “ Rumours were constantly flying round” he added “that we were about to be repatriated , but the first definite news was when some of the wounded prisoners,including myself went before an International Medical Board in December , After another period in Hospital more than a hundred of us were released and brought home after a journey through Turkey and Egypt”
Corpl Coleman expects to return to hospital when his leave is ended. (Wounded in the right arm and needed to learn how to write with his left )

Repatriated alongside 4452154 Cpl John Redmond Coleman were;-
4452122 Pte B Brown (Gateshead ,Shattered right arm)
4452120 Pte Thomas E Potts (Tyne Dock)
4451177 L/Sjt Patrick Arnold (Amputated leg)
4455470 Pte Harry McCafferty
4452113 Pte N Murphy
4458944 Pte T Stanley
4459032 Pte H Carson
All captured at Fort Capuzzo 15th May 1941 .

The first intimation Mrs McCafferty the wife of 4455470 Pte Harry McCafferty of 5 Oak Avenue.Houghton-le-Spring had that her husband was amongst those repatriated prisoners was when a munitions worker returning from night-shift handed her a copy of the `Newcastle Journal` from her husband on it was written "Good to be free love to daughter Shirley and keep smiling !"
On 28th May 1940 he received wounds to his hands and face in the Dunkirk evacuation whilst serving with the 11th D.L.I . After recovering he was transferred in August 1940 to the Regiments 1st Battalion serving in the Middle East. On May 15th 1941 he was posted as `Missing` at Fort Fort Capuzzo . It was later established that he had been wounded and captured . McCafferty`s wounds consisted of a broken thigh ,broken hand and facial wounds . In a previous letter home Pte McCafferty had told his family that his wounded leg was now one and a half inches shorter than the other !

Mrs Kathleen Brown the mother of 4452122 Pte B Brown of 89 Morrison Street Gateshead was not at home when an `Newcastle Evening Chronicle` reporter called on her. Mrs Brown whose soldier son was taken prisoner in the middle east last May (1941) was dashing in and out of neighbours houses full of excitement after hearing the news . She had read in the `Journal and Northern Mail` the name and initials of her boy. Pte Bart Brown 31 and single joined the Durham Light Infantry in 1936 and served prewar in China. In 1941 he was fighting in the Middle East on May 15th 1941 at Fort Capuzzo he was seriously wounded and taken prisoner. Eventually he was sent to a Prison Camp in Italy.
At the end of March 1942 Mrs Brown received a letter from Bart he wrote " From what I have heard I do not think it will be long before I am seeing you? " Private Brown in previous letters had spoken of his injuries including a shattered right arm.

Mrs Harriet Atkinson had before the war been a motherly figure to 4452120 Pte Thomas E Potts and treated him as she would her own. When an Evening Chronicle reporter called at her home at 100 Nora Street Tyne Dock she was unaware that her `son` was returning home. She had not read the list of repatriations and was absolutely delighted when the name of Pte Thomas E Potts was pointed out to her.
"YES" she said that is him ! "He gave the wrong age so he could join up at Fenham Barracks . He was only 18 when he joined ..he wanted to fight for his country"
Pte Potts previous letters were always printed because he couldn't use his fingers after he was shot through the arm . Mrs Atkinson had perhaps been given an hint of his repatriation when the last letter from her soldier charge contained the passage "Send no more parcels Expect me home soon!"

In late May 1941 the parents of 4459032 Pte H Carson ,Mr and Mrs Walter Carson of Stockport Road , Mossley, Manchester received news that their son, Harold ,(Carson) who had been serving with the 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry had been posted as missing in action since May 15th.
In July the family received a letter stating that The Apostolic Delegate had been informed by the Vatican that Pte Carson was a Prisoner in Italy and was being well treated. A further letter was received by Mr Mrs Carson stating that their son is one of those Prisoners of War who have now been repatriated from Italy.
The War Office state that arrangements will be made for his return to this country as soon as possible. Mr and Mrs Carson then received a cable from their son which read ;- "On way to Egypt. Write as soon as possible .Love Harold."
Pte Carson had his left foot amputated following his wounding in action .He is, at 23 the eldest of three soldier brothers . Before enlisting in 1940 he was an apprentice at an Ashton Locksmiths.

4452162 Pte Matthew Lamb `behind the wire`

Matthew Lamb was born on 3rd September 1919 . He enlisted in the DLI his army number 4452162 came from Army Book 358, Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry,Book no. 18,This covered nos. 4452000 - 4452999, and the enlistment period from 13th May 1936 - May 1938.
4452162 Pte Matthew Lamb served with 'C' Company, 1st Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, in Shanghai, China in 1938,The 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry moved to the Western Desert on the outbreak of war via Hong Kong . Matthew was wounded on the 15th May 1941 at Fort Capuzzo in Libya. Following his recovery he remained in the Western Desert and was posted missing on the 28th June 1942 although he was still listed with 1st DLI the battalion were at this time in Malta and had been since January 1942? The official lists give Matthews unit as 1st DLI throughout . As he was posted as `missing` in June 1942 in the Western desert it would appear he was attached to one of the three territorial units of the Regiment (6th/8th or 9th DLI) at the time ,during the German assault at Gazala. Later confirmed as a prisoner of war.
Matthew was held initially by the Italians ,who took responsibility for all allied PoW`s captured in Western Desert. The Italians moved Matthew to Italy where he was held at Campo PG 57 Gruppignano, Fruili , Northern Italy.
Following the Italian surrender in 1943 the Germans took control of the prisoners and moved them to Germany and their occupied lands, Matthew Lamb was given the Prisoner of War number 6842 and was held at Stalag XVIIIA (18 A ) prisoner-of-war camp located to the south of the town of Wolfsburg, in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia, then a part of Nazi Germany. Shortly before Christmas 1944 Matthew met Maria Zrelec in a work camp. He remained in captivity until his release in 1945.
The Matthew and Maria married shortly after the war, and they eventually returned to the North East living at no 60 Coldridge Avenue, Gateshead. After the army Matthew worked at the Dunlop factory at Team Valley until his death from Pancreatic cancer in 1978.

Military Medal Action 4452858 L/cpl Ronald Tiplady 11th Durham Light Infantry

4452858 L/CPL RONALD TIPLADY 11TH DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY

Military Medal London Gazette 6th June 1946 . 4452858 Lance-Corporal Ronald Tiplady, The Durham Light Infantry `For distinguished services rendered while Prisoners of War and for gallant and distinguished services whilst engaged in special and secret operations`.
The liberation questionnaire stated 4452858 L/Cpl. Tiplady, 11thDurham Light Infantry was captured in France between 10th May and 16th June 1940. His first escape was from a working camp in October 1941 when, having obtained civilian clothing, he cut his way through the roof of his hut. With the aid of Polish farmers he reached Gutenhagen where he hoped to get a boat to Sweden but he was picked up by the police. A year later he made a similar attempt from Work Camp 119 at Lichnau and was at liberty for 3-4 weeks getting as far as Kammin travelling chiefly by rail.
Between November 1942 and January 1943 he escaped 3 times. On one of these occasions he was with another soldier and once he climbed out of Fort 13 (Stalag XX) by rope and tied up the guard. These periods of liberty varied from 3 to 8 days. He made several other partly successful attempts later and in July 1944 he and another soldier escaped from the working party at Weichselgard (Nurnburg) and after 5 days at liberty they were arrested by the police. In January 1945 on the march back to Germany Tiplady and another soldier broke away and were sheltered by a Polish family together with two others till the Russians arrived. They then all made their way to Odessa where they contacted the British Authorities on 1 April 1945.
Ronald Tiplady, left the Army in 1946 and became a Police Officer in Plawsworth Co Durham but rejoined the A.C.F gaining a commission as a 2/Lieutenant 17th May 1949 (Renumbered 404367), promoted Lieutenant (County of London) 14th November 1952 . Tiplady resigned his commission on the 1st September 1954. The Tiplady family resided at 3. Seventh Avenue. Chester-le- Street at the end of the war but moved to a new Police house at Gilesgate Moor in 1950 the keys to this new house were handed to the family by the Home Secretary The Hon James Chuter Ede . Born 31st October 1916 he died on 11th November 1988.

4447744 Corporal Thomas Joseph Burnell 9th Durham Light Infantry
(Repatriated prisoner of war)

The small news cutting from The Newcastle Journal ( 25 October 1943) on the left briefly tells the story of Thomas Burnell who was captured in 1940 whilst serving with the 9th Durham Light Infantry. The article reads:- " When Corporal Thomas Burnell D.L.I, arrives at his home at 276 Westbourne Avenue, Gateshead he will see for the first time his three year old son, Robert.
Corporal Burnell was having his second experience of war when he was captured at Dunkirk in May 1940. A Territorial in the early days of the last war he was wounded in the Somme Battle in 1916 "
A veteran of two World Wars Thomas had more of a story than even I could have envisaged . Thomas Joseph Burnell was born on 11th January 1898 at 53 South Street . The son of Thomas Simpson Burnell and Mary Ann Burnell .The family lived at 348 St Cuthbert`s Road. Father, Thomas Simpson Burnell was a Company Sergeant Major with the 9th Durham Light Infantry and young Thomas followed him into the ranks of the Regiment on the 16th May 1912 (2 years before the outbreak of WW1 ! ) aged 14 years . Thomas had been working at the time as a carpenters labourer at Messrs C Marr & Co,Pottery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Despite suffering Pneumonia and Rheumatic Fever during his training which left him with heart palputations he was classed A1 and embodied into the 2/9th DLI on 5th August 1914 . Thomas was still too young to travel overseas with the battalion at the outbreak of hostilities but on the 20th July 1916 he crossed the Channel from Folkestone to Boulogne . On the 4th August 1916 he joined the 8th Durham Light Infantry and during the fighting in the Somme area was wounded in the right thigh (16th - 22nd September 1916) After treatment at 3 Casualty Clearing Station he was moved to 13 Casualty Clearing Station before being evacuated back to the UK . On 2nd October 1916 he was posted to the Regimental Depot and when he was recovered sufficiently joined `D` Company 5th (Reserve Bn ) DLI where he was promoted to Lance Corporal. Thomas had prior to joining 5 DLI married Ruby Johnson on 3rd November 1916 . Thomas`s younger brother 1753 Pte Edward Burnell also serving with the 9th DLI died on 16 December 1917 aged 17.

At the end of hostilities Thomas left the army being discharged on the 15th February 1919. Despite his wounds and heart problems he was refused a pension and returned home to his wife.
Sometime between 21 June 1928 - 19 February 1930 Thomas again re-enlisted renumbered 4447744 (Previous numbers were 1369,6723 and 203606 ) he once again rejoined the 9th Durham Light Infantry.
When war clouds gathered again Thomas left once more for France during the heavy fighting around Vimy and Arras Corporal Thomas Burnell was posted as `missing` . It later emerged that he had been captured on 24 May 1940 . The Germans gave him the PoW number 32890 and he was held at Stalag XXA Thorn Podgorz . During his imprisonment his mother Mary passed away (2 December 1940 ) In 1943 the decision was made to repatriate Thomas . The old War horse a veteran of two World Wars was coming home.
If anyone was hoping for a farytale ending I am afraid they will be disappointed on the 4th March 1946 Thomas Joseph Burnell died he was buried at Gateshead East Cemetery ,where his younger brother Edward also rests, Division V Grave 5199. He was 48 years old. He left a widow Ruby and two sons Raymond Joseph Burnell and Robert Burnell .

repatriated personnel of The Durham light infantry ( incomplete listing)

The images below contain the Names ,Numbers,Battalions and where known the Companies to which these repatriated Durham Light Infantrymen belonged when initially captured;-

The 2nd Battalion The Durham Light Infantry

The 6th & 8th battalions The Durham light infantry

The 9th battalion The durham light infantry

The 10th and 11th Battalions the durham Light Infantry

4470295 Pte Joseph Maximilian Best 1st Durham Light Infantry captured Kos 1943

Joseph Maximilian Best was born on March 23rd 1923 at Shorditch ,Middlesex. The son of Joseph and Violet Florence Best (nee Marchant) . Joseph enlisted into the Army in 1941-42 ( His Army number 4470295 came from Enlistment Book 34 covering numbers . 4469396 - 4470415, Years 1941 - 1942) and was posted to the Middle East joining the 1st Durham Light Infantry . In late September 1943 Joe and his battalion travelled to the Island of Kos early in October the Germans launched a ferocious assault on the Island the Durhams under strength with no support weapons and no chance of being reinforced were quickly overwhelmed.
The first lists of missing personnel on the Island were released to the press by the war office amongst those posted missing on October 3rd 1943 was 4470295 Pte Joseph M Best. Notifications were sent to the families they contained no detail only that their son,brother,father or other relative were unaccounted for and any further information would be relayed to the families as soon as possible. The Best family received their letter on the 10th November 1943. There now followed a period of limbo for the families .

Some would receive the dreaded telegram notifying them that their loved one had been reported `Killed in Action` others that their relative was `safe` but a `prisoner of War.
Joseph and Violet Best waited anxiously and on the 22nd November 1943 received official confirmation that their son Joseph Maximilian Best was now a Prisoner of War held by the Germans at Stalag VIIA just north of the town of Moosburg in southern Bavaria.
Shortly after Joe arrived he contracted Tuberculosis (TB) a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It is a serious condition, but could be cured with proper treatment. TB mainly affects the lungs. However, it can affect any part of the body, including the glands, bones and nervous system. In the cramped conditions of the camp it is safe to assume cases of TB were plentiful?
In the camp hospital there were British orderlies and British Chaplains saw to the spiritual needs of the prisoners, Rev (Captain) R F Gordon Fraser was captured in 1940 whilst serving with the 4th Camerons at St Valery and was present alongside Pte Best at Stalag VIIA. On the 13th June 1944 Reverand G F Gordon-Fraser wrote the following letter to Mr and Mrs Best regarding their son Joseph;-

Dear Mrs Best,
This letter bears you the sad news that your son Joseph, died on 5th May 1944 in this PoW hospital of TB . At the same time I hope you will find a measure of comfort in the fact that Joseph was always very well nursed by our British staff and in the end he died very peacefully without suffering . Unfortunately in the end he developed menengitis and nothing could be done to save him . Joseph was a very great favourite among the patients and the nursing staff . His cheerfulness and quiet courage in the face of a difficult illness were a great example to his many friends. He was fond of reading and did some occupational therapy for as long as he was able. You will also be glad to know that he received any special food from us which he required . Joseph was buried on 8th May in a neighbouring PoW cemetery with full military honours . Everything was carried out simply and in order . A detachment from our hospital was present including our senior doctor Lt Colonel Le Souef (Australia) I conducted the services Two wreathes were laid on the grave . Josephs small effects are sent home to you via the Red Cross . On behalf of the staff and patients I send you our sincere sympathy in your sad bereavement
Yours Sincerely

G.F. Gordon-Fraser

Chaplain to the Forces.
The official notification regarding Josephs death had duly arrived from the War Office on May 31st 1944 Captain Gordon Fraser was able to explain the circumstances of Josephs death in his letter two weeks later.

On the 9th June 1947 4470295 Pte Joseph Maximilian Best was taken from his original grave within the Hoyerswerda-Eisterhorst Prisoner of War Cemetery (Row 6 Grave no 39) and reburied at The Berlin Heerstrasse British Cemetery Section XI Row H Grave No 13 (CWGC) .

The Funeral of 4692313 Pte Lofty Fowle The 10th Durham Light Infantry died in captivity 1943

`Lofty` Fowle died in captivity on 11th April 1943. The cause of death was given as Meningitis and weakness of circulation. He died at Lazaret, Cosel. Edward the son of Mr and Mrs Walter Edward Fowle, 205 Bollo Lane ,Acton, Middlesex was originally buried at The Garrison Cemetery, Cosel Grave No 17. Lofty Fowle was accorded a funeral by the Germans with full military honours. The photographs below bear testimony to the event (please click on image for larger version)

The flag draped coffin of Private Edward `Lofty` Fowle is placed with great reverence into a horse drawn hearse and begins it`s sad journey through the streets of Heydebreck-Cosel ( Kędzierzyn-Koźle) a town in southwestern Poland. Pall bearers drawn from Lofty`s comrades step slowly alongside his hearse.

The German guard which preceeded the cortage was a stark reminder that this was a wartime funeral . The grandeur of the procession was perhaps more fitting for a head of state than that expected for a Private soldier of the Durham Light Infantry .

Solemly the procession made its way to The Garrison Cemetery, Cosel where Pte Lofty Fowle would be laid to rest . Slowly the Padre led the way to the graveside.

The lavish wreathes provided by the German authorities bore the Nazi swastika while his comrades stood silent with their more modest yet much more sincere offerings,

Gathered around the grave the Padre performs the burial service and Lofty Fowle`s coffin is positioned ready for interment. The crosses of British prisoners who had died previously bore mute witness to these proceedings. It is unlikely they were laid to rest in such fashion and the number of official photographs taken suggest this was a grand propaganda exercise.

The pall bearers lower Lofty into the ground ,For whatever reasons the Germans staged this funeral they gave this humble private soldier a send off he could never have envisaged in life.

Heads bowed Officers and senior NCOs of various Regiments stand respectfully at the graveside.

The silence was broken by the notes of the three buglers who sounded the `Last Post`. The service now ended the assembled ranks are marched away back to life in captivity . Pte Lofty Fowle is left alone he will rest here until his remains are re-intered in 1948 at the newly established CWGC Krakow Radowicki Cemetery Grave section 4 . row A ,grave no 13 on the 7th September 1948. He rests there still. `Sleep on dear Ted God knows best. On earth theres trouble in Heaven `Rest` `

Copies of the photographs displayed here are courtesy of the 'Bateson/Collins family'. My thanks to David Bateson for allowing me to use them on this website .

captured at mareth 4463849 Pte Henry Sproat Urwin 8th Durham light infantry

4463849 Pte Henry Sproat Urwin was born on 5th January 1912 . Pre-War he worked as a Bricklayers Labourer and lived at 9 William Street, Grangetown, Sunderland . He enlisted on 24th June 1940 and joined the Durham Light Infantry.
Posted to the Regiments 8th Battalion he was captured during the assault on the Mareth Line on the 22nd March 1943.
Held by the Italians under an Axis agreement with the Germans Henry was present at Campo PG 66 Capua (Italy) from 9th April 1943 to 30th August 1943. Whilst he was held here the Italian`s capitulated which lead to the Germans moving all prisoners back to German territories . He was moved to another former Italian camp arriving at Campo PG 73 Fossoli di Carpi near Modena on the 3rd September 1943 his stay here was short . Leaving Carpi on the 24th September 1943 he arrived at Stalag XVIIIA Spittal on the 28th September 1943 remaining until liberation on 14th April 1945 . Stalag XVIIIA was actually located to the south of the town of Wolfsberg, in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia, then a part of Nazi Germany. A sub-camp Stalag XVIII-A/Z was later opened in Spittal an der Drau about 100 km to the west
Whilst held st Stalag XVIIIA he was employed at various work camps (GAAS) Farming at Steirmark from 14th October 1943 -21st March 1944 and after returning to farming following road working he remained on the farms until July 1944 . Moving to St Marien he spent the rest of his imprisonment labouring until his liberation.

captured at el alamein october 1942

5443108 Pte William George F Muir served with The 8th Durham Light Infantry . He was captured on the 24th October 1942 at the first battle of El Alamein. He had enlisted originally into The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry before transferring to the Durham`s. He was born in London on the 05th April 1920 following his capture he was held under the Axis agreement by the Italians at P.G. 68 Vetralla situated 50 miles north of Rome. Following the Italian armistice the Germans moved William to Germany they recorded his details on a card index which survives at the British National Archives reference WO 416/265/94. It records his camp as Stalag XVIIIA Wolfberg the PoW number allocated to William by the Germans was 8029. He was released from captivity in 1945 and remained in Germany with the 9th DLI until his return to the UK and his discharge in 1946.

durham light infantry :- escape and evade

4461223 Pte R H Ainsley and 4467234 Pte F Ainsworth both served with the 8th Durham Light Infantry were captured in North Africa on the 27th July 1942. They were imprisoned under agreement between the Axis powers in camps administered by the Italians. They were held at Campo PG 70 Following the Italian surrender on September 8th,1943 the POW`s had three main choices to stay in camp to await the rumoured Allied advance from the south, or to head south to meet the advancing Allies or to head north to Switzerland ? On the 19th September 1943 4461223 Pte R H Ainsley in the company of 4467234 Pte Ainsworth arrived in Switzerland.

4451273 Pte C Anderson served with the 1st Durham Light Infantry he was captured in the Western Desert (Libya) on the 9th November 1941. He was imprisoned under agreement between the Axis powers in camps administered by the Italians. He was held at Campo PG 52 Following the Italian surrender on September 8th,1943 the POW`s had three main choices to stay in camp to await the rumoured Allied advance from the south, or to head south to meet the advancing Allies or to head north to Switzerland ? On the 19th September 1943, 4451273 Pte C Anderson arrived in Switzerland.

4467444 Pte M Andrews served with the 8th Durham Light Infantry and was captured in North Africa on the 27th July 1942. Imprisoned under agreement between the Axis powers in camps administered by the Italians. Imprisoned at Campo PG 70 Following the Italian surrender on September 8th,1943 the POW`s had three main choices to stay in camp to await the rumoured Allied advance from the south, or to head south to meet the advancing Allies or to head north to Switzerland ? On the 16th September 1943 4467444 Pte M Andrews arrived in Switzerland.

4343244 Corporal J R Horsman 6th DLI [Durham Light Infantry] As mentioned previously in this section Escaped from France to Spain and suffered in a Spanish jail before being repatriated . Awarded a Military Medal

4034140 Private S F Brown 6th DLI [Durham Light Infantry].Repatriated from France. Previously reported as in German captivity and held in France however 1941 casualty list amendment states `no longer in captivity`

4457717 Private W J Roberts 8th DLI [Durham Light Infantry]. Escaped from working camp attached to Stalag XXA, Thorn, Poland, to Russia. Information on this individual can be found in earlier section on this page.

843466 Corporal T Bainbridge 8th DLI [Durham Light Infantry]. Escaped from working camp attached to Stalag XX A, Thorn, Poland, to Russia. Information on this individual can be found in the earlier section on this page

2060459 L/Cpl G Anderson 10th DLI [Durham Light Infantry]. Enlisted in the Royal Engineers and transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment prior to joining The Durham Light Infantry on the 18/4/1940, posted 10th Bn DLI. Served in France notification received that he had been taken Prisoner of War Section B Release 3/9/1947Escaped from railway working party attached to Stalag VIII B and joined partisans (August 1943). Eventually reached Allied Forces in Czechoslovakia, June 1945. Previously listed at Stalag 344 PoW number 12613. Posted 310 Infantry Training Centre. Transferred to the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 19/3/1947.

4469304 Private W Page served with the 16 Bn DLI [16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry]. He
escaped from Campo 53, Macerata ,and later rejoined British Forces in Italy. He had originally been captured at Sedjenane, Tunisia, in March 1943 . Following his return to the UK he joined the 9th Bn The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles),He was killed in action on7th August 1944 aged 24. The son of William and Elizabeth Ann Page, of Carlin How, Yorkshire. he rests today in Bayeux War Cemetery, France, section XX row E grave 14.

4452152 Corporal B V Pyle served with the 1 Bn DLI [1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry]. He
escaped from Campo 78, Sulmona, and later rejoined British Forces in Italy.

4468123 Corporal /Sjt . S. Robdrup served with 16 Bn DLI [16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry]. He was captured at Sedjenane in northern Tunisia, Sedjenane is situated on the railway line to Mateur and the port of Bizerta. Robdrup escaped from Campo 53, Macerata and later rejoined British Forces in Italy

escape and evade: The distinguished conduct medal 3191176 cpl j .a. martin 8dli

3191176 Corporal James Allan Martin 8th Durham Light Infantry
Report into the escape of 3191176 Cpl James Allan Martin :-
Cpl J A Martin was wounded near Moëres at about 16;00hrs on 31 May 1940 and was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station at La Panne. On 1st June he was taken to another Casualty Clearing station in the Chateau du Moulin Rouge near Dunkirk. There he was attended by RAMC personnel and on 2 June was taken prisoner about 16;00hrs by the advancing German troops. A number of RAMC officers and Other rank volunteered to remain with the wounded and they too fell into the hands of the Germans.
On 5 June Martin was taken to Zuydcoote hospital in an English ambulance under German guard and there he stayed for five days. On June 10 he was transferred to the 17 General Hospital at Camiers near Le Touquet. A number of British RAMC officers were there and the hospital was ran by an RAMC colonel named Wilson to whom all British arrivals reported. There was apparently very little supervision of the Hospital by the Germans and apart from guards posted outside an occasional visit from a German officer there was practically no control.
While in bed he was informed by others that five British officers tried to escape from Camiers two were shot and killed and three got away successfully . The two officers killed by the guards shots were buried in the grounds of No 17 General Hospital at Camiers. Cpl Martin was briefly intterogated in hospital by a German officer who astonished him by saying that he knew Martin was in the intelligence section of the 8 DLI. Martin had been very careful not to reveal his Regiment or his duties and is certain that he had no incriminating documents on him . The only explaination he can offer for the knowledge shown by the German Intelligence officer is that either one of the RAMC orderlies ,who knew his Regiment nad been induced to pass the information on, or else extremely clever deduction by his immedate captors based on other prisoners captured in the same district. Otherwise the interrogation was very brief and no attempt to force him to make a statement was made. The interrogator spoke perfect English with an Oxford accent.
Martin remained at Camiers for about three weeks and was then taken to a clearing station in Lille.He reports that it would have been possible for an active man to have escaped from the Lille clearing station and he was about to try his luck when an RSM stopped him going. His explaination of this is he thought the RSM felt that if anyone got away vengeance would be wreaked on the nuns who had apparently taken responsibility for looking after prisoners at the station . Martin said that similar conditions also existed in the P/W camp at Seclin
From Lille he was moved to Tournai and thence to Brussels and then to a small village over the German frontier near AAchen. By the time he reached there he had been discharged from hospital although he was not completely fit.
The P/W Camp at this village consisted of a very large farm house in big grounds surrounded by a high wall. Martin spent 13 days observing the habits of the guard,timing the changes of the guard etc. and found that at a ceromonial changing of the guard at 1530 hours there were a few minutes when the grounds were not under close observation. On the 14th day he was determined to scale the wall and having escaped detection in getting through the grounds which were wooded, he was given a leg up by an RAF observer and got away un-noticed, As there was only one rollcall per day -at 0900 hours -his escape may very well have remained un-noticed until the following morning. His first act was to lie up in the woods near a small house. He watched the inhabitants of this house go out and when they were clear of the house {having obligingly left the door open} he went in and stole a suit of civilian clothes which fitted him fairly well and buried his Khaki in a hole in the wood. At dusk he set off to walk to Belgium (about 25 kilometres) As there were no frontier guards he had no difficulty in gaining Belgian soil, but he was careful to avoid any village or main road until he was sure that he was well into Belgium.
He struck the main road leading west and skirted Liège and other towns walking only at night or for an hour after dawn and sleering in barns by the way. Martin speaks French fluently and asked permission from farmers to lie in barns etc explaining he was a refugee.
He walked through Tournai and was not stopped or questioned he entered France via Roubaix and made his way to Haubourdin near Lille where he stayed for 4 weeks with an Englishman whom he had met when his battalion was stationed there. He said that the airports near lille were busy with German aircraft starting off for flights to Britain . He also said that there were a number of heavy guns and AA in the Foire Commerciale at Lille at that time. While he was in Lille the civilian population were evacuated from Camiers and district and at firstit was thought that Britain had invaded that part of France. He stated it was his opinion that the French population would help the British in an attempt at invasion although such help would be of a discreet nature owing to fear of reprisals.
The general attitude of the French was very helpful to him and he was surprised at their readiness to assist in his escape regardless of extremely heavy punishment if caught. This was especially so in the North of France where British troops had been previously, where a British victory was considered their only hope.
His friend in Lille provided him with 600 francs and a bicycle and on August 16th after visiting Gondecourt where he had previously been stationed he set out for Spain on his bicycle. His friend had given him two good maps and he was able to buy food without suspicion as his french was fluent. When he was in Gondecourt he heard that 6 men of the Middlesex Regt (probably 8th Middx) were hiding in the area. They did not wish to compromise him by making contact with him . He believed that there were hundreds of British soldiers hiding in France at that time and that they would gradually straggle across to this country.
Before leaving Lille he took the precaution of providing himself with an identity card which he found to be essential. It was actually an old one belonging to his friend on which he had with an ink eraser,deleted his friends name and substituted the French version of his own name ie;Jacques Martin . A point to remember is to practice the new signature until it becomes natural. He gave another bit of advice,viz,the age to be included on the card should be outside the military grade, ie in the case of a young man below 19 ,in the case of an older man ,over 45.
Although he did not realise it at the time his indescretion, giving his correct age (22) ,nearly landed him into trouble he had to explain he was born in America and had not done Military service in France. On the card he suggested that the average escaping prisoner should describe himself as a labourer (main douevre) but to comply with this the hands should be roughened and the muscular development compatible with that of a labourer . Another description for a white-collar worker would be architect (architecte) or student (studient). Only a knowledge of Frence is necessary for any prisoner attempting this means of escape.
At Hendaye Martin was arrested by French Gendarmerie who thought he was a deserter from the French army . He was however set free on the next day and swam the river to Irun in Spain. walked to San Sebastian where he reported to the British Consul. Next day he was arrested and put in prison because he had no papers. He was released after 24 days and proceeded to Madrid with the assistance of the British Consul. He still had no papers and was arrested there again and imprisoned in the Direction De Seguridad where he was kept for 9 days. He was then released at the insitigation of the British Embassy where he stayed for several days and was put on the train for Gibraltar, thus eventually reaching England recently.
There were many other useful tips given by Martin as follows:-

i) If you can speak French even moderately well you can probably get away without detection if you produce an identity card in France which is in order. The government stamp must be carefully copied on tracing paper and forged on the card and the Mayors signature must be forged. It is essential to have an identity card from which to copy but it is not difficult to obtain these from well wishing French civilians but care must be taken that they are not seeking to entrap you and report you afterwards.

ii)Possession of money is important but if it is impossible to get any, get food sent through the usual channels in tablet form.

iii) Simple labourers clothes are the best disguise and can easily be `acquired` (without payment)

iv) A bicycle is by far the best means of transport and easily `lifted`Bicycles are supposed to be licenced but the license is not often checked and this risk is one you must take.

V) You may be `advertised` for in the local papers. It is therefore desirable to try and obtain glasses or to alter the shape of the face somehow?

Vi) Belguim is ,or at least wasnot so full of Germans as France and any escape from Germany might well be made through Belgium where a bicycle could fairly easily be acquired?

Vii) The best time to escape is from hospital, where supervision is at a minimum. It is possible to make out that one is more incapacitated than is actually the case

Viii) In the space for town of registration on the identity card put a town which has been wrecked by bombardment , eg:- St Valery or Amiens, where the records could not be checked

(ix) If challenged as to reason for travelling in France say you are a refugee going to stay with relatives in the South.

(x) When trying to cross the frontier into Spain the river should be swum out of sight of villagers or others. There are plenty of places.

(xi) If arrested in Spain try and gain time until you can contact the British Consul. Refuse to answer questions without an interpreter.

Cpl. Martin brought back some information on enemy intentions etc. which, although now out of date, is of interest. He states that he gave to the British Consul in San Sebastian as much information as he could about German gun implacements and airports which he saw during his journey.
He {Martin} said that although it was forbidden to the BBC many people in France did so. The Germans tried to make British prisoners believe that they had complete control over the air but those with Martin refused to believe it.
He {Martin} said that he saw many German uniform troops in San Sebastian including a large number of Officers. The Spainish papers reported that Franco reviewed 50,000 troops in San Sebastian and Martin thinks that these were all German. This was on the 23rd August.
A German soldier who shared a cell in the Madrid gaol with Martin, said the troops were going to La Linea. This German had been put in gaol for being drunk and assaulting a policeman.
He [Martin} said the Spainish were detective-minded. He was imprisoned for 3 days in a darkened cell in Spain for refusing to say 'Viva Franco' and give the fascist sign. His worst experience was in the underground prison of the Direction de Seguridad where he met prisoners of many nationalities including a night porter of the british Enbassy in Madrid who had incidently been in the DCLI.
The Spainiards would not allow Martin to communicate with the British Consul but a released prisoner did so for him.
When at San Sebastian he heard that there was German artillery on the rock above the prison there and was told that the Germans had brought it with them when they had come.
He estimates the Spanish feeling vis-a-vis Britain is mixed, the Communists being 100% pro-British.
His general treatment by the Germans in the concentration camp was decent, but he only had one meal a day consisting of cabbage, soup and black bread. Extra rations were offered as a bribe to prisoners who would perform manual labour in the camp. The camp was very lightly guarded. He thinks there were only six men on guard at a time. In this connection it must be remembered that this was shortly after the great German push and that camps in Germany proper will be different. Martin stressed, however, that the chances for a prisoner who speaks German to escape are 'very favourable' (he puts it at 5 to 1 on) and provided the camp is not too far from the Belgium frontier he thinks that even non-German speaking prisoners could, with luck, make it.

Gazetted 7.3.41

ESCAPE and EVADE MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

4456581 Private G Lindsay 10th DLI [Durham Light Infantry]. Escaped from France to Spain. Previously reported as in German captivity and held in France however 1941 casualty list amendment states `no longer in captivity` Trf Royal Engineers 8/12/42, Posted No 2 MTT Depot.
Pte G Lindsay was captured on May 20th 1940 near Doullens when his platoon was ambushed . He was taken by lorry to Amiens . Ten days later on the 30th May 1940 he managed to escape and made his way through Boulogne , Etaples, Calais, Frevent to St Seuveur where he sheltered for three months. On the 30 September 1940 he crossed the Somme and went to Paris where he spent a month. He was given a lift to Libourne where on the 29th October 1941 he crossed into unoccupied France. At Perigueux Pte Lindsay was arrested and taken to Marseilles from where he again escaped in December 1940. After crossing into Spain he was held in what he termed as `concentration camps` for nine weeks before his release and eventual repatriation. Lindsay left Gibralter on the 11th March 1941 arriving in Greenock on 17 March 1941 . A lorry driver in civilian life he had served three years in the TA with 10th DLI . He lived at 2 Back Church Street, Shilden ,Co Durham he was awarded a Mention in Dispatches . The award was published in the London Gazette dated 15 July 1941 .

4452659 Sergeant William Old Carr, M.M. and MiD
the 11th Battalion and 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry

William Old Carr was born 1 April 1921 he enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry, acording to the enlistment books between 13th May 1936 and May 1938. He served with the British Expeditionary Force arriving on 24th April 1940 .He was captured on 21st May 1940 at Abbeville . Held at a number of PoW camps including Stalag XXA Thorn and VIIA Munich .He was freed on 6th May 1945 and returned to the United Kingdom where he sent a postcard to his mother, concerning his arrival back in England, postmarked Burnham, 13th May 1945,
During his captivity he was sent to Germany . In July 1942 he and two other soldiers escaped from a working party at Bishoff Rhola but they were recaptured later that day . He made a further four attempts from his camp and also a punishment camp he had been sent too .The liberty period lasted only day`s before he was recaptured . For these deeds he was awarded a mention in despatches announced in the London Gazette on 14th February 1947.
At this time William Old Carr had joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper a letter from the Royal Engineers Record Office, Brighton addressed to Sapper W.O. Carr, Shafto Terrace, Craghead, County Durham was received informing him that his name had appeared in the London Gazette of 14 February 1946 for the further award of a Military Medal to be presented in March 1946. The circumstances of this award are not known at this time .
William was discharged from the RE on 29th May 1947 and re-enlisted into The 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (T.A.),and continued his service with the DLI from 30th May 1947 to 30 May 1951 achieving the rank of Sergeant .
William Old Carr died on 6th March 1989 . A letter from the Cleveland and Durham War Pensions Committee was received on 13th March 1989 by Mrs. W.O. Carr, Ousterley Terrace, Craghead, County Durham, concerning the death of her husband, William Old Carr, and expressing their appreciation of Williams work for the benefit of the ex-service community, William had been a member of the 8th and 11th Durham Light Infantry Old Comrades Associations.

behind the wire (prisoners of war)

​4435534 RSM Goddard A.:-POW No 2920 :2nd DLI

4457717 Cpl Bill Roberts and 843466 Cpl t Bainbridge ​8th Durham light infantry

4458632 Pte W Hodgson 6th Durham Light Infantry

4467081 Pte F Millward 16th Durham Light Infantry

For those in Peril on the Sea

NINO BIXIO (August 17, 1942)

Military Medal award 5951812 Sgt James Hood 16th Durham Light Infantry

3244382 L/Cpl.J.H.Hunter 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry.

4343244 Sgt Jack Horsman MM `A Thousand Miles from Freedom`

Massacre at Château D’Audrieu , Normandy ,France..8th June 1944

Hände hoch Tommy!

Hände hoch Tommy!

​ 4443022 CSM Herbert Arthur Neeve The 11th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry

4447867 Pte Burton Fortune Sunderland man captured at arras with 6th D.L.I

Military Medal 4451272 Bandsman Robert Pratt ​The 1st Durham Light Infantry

We regret to inform you........Missing? Prisoner?.....Dead ?

FOUR `DURHAMS` FROM SHROPSHIRE .MISSING AT GAZALA WESTERN DESERT IN JUNE 1942

missing in action . middle east casualties confirmed as prisoners of war 1942

captured at st venant stretcher bearers repatriated 1941

​Repatriated Corporal ......Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 20 July 1942

4452162 Pte Matthew Lamb `behind the wire`

Military Medal Action 4452858 L/cpl Ronald Tiplady 11th Durham Light Infantry

4447744 Corporal Thomas Joseph Burnell 9th Durham Light Infantry​ (Repatriated prisoner of war)

repatriated personnel of The Durham light infantry ( incomplete listing)

The 2nd Battalion The Durham Light Infantry

The 6th & 8th battalions The Durham light infantry

The 9th battalion The durham light infantry

The 10th and 11th Battalions the durham Light Infantry

4470295 Pte Joseph Maximilian Best 1st Durham Light Infantry captured Kos 1943

captured at mareth 4463849 Pte Henry Sproat Urwin 8th Durham light infantry

captured at el alamein october 1942

durham light infantry :- escape and evade

escape and evade: The distinguished conduct medal 3191176 cpl j .a. martin 8dli

4452659 Sergeant William Old Carr, M.M. and MiD the 11th Battalion and 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry

4435534 RSM Goddard A.:-POW No 2920 :2nd DLI

4457717 Cpl Bill Roberts and 843466 Cpl t Bainbridge
8th Durham light infantry

4443022 CSM Herbert Arthur Neeve The 11th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry

Military Medal 4451272 Bandsman Robert Pratt
The 1st Durham Light Infantry

missing in action .
middle east casualties
confirmed as prisoners of war 1942

Repatriated Corporal ......Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 20 July 1942

4447744 Corporal Thomas Joseph Burnell 9th Durham Light Infantry
(Repatriated prisoner of war)

4452659 Sergeant William Old Carr, M.M. and MiD
the 11th Battalion and 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry