CAN YOU HELP?
contact: mail@lamsdorf.com
Frederick Edward Sheady
from: Roderick M. Barron barronrm@hotmail.com
I am trying to make contact with person who posted a message in March 2010 in the "lamsdorf.webs.com" guestbook re Lamsdorf POW. Here is the original link, which I located through a google search :
http://lamsdorf.webs.com/apps/guestbook/?&fw_comments_page=9&fw_comments_order=ASC
And here is the original content of the message :
<<<
sandra wilson
09:03 AM on March 27, 2010
I am looking for anyone who will have known Fusilier Frederick Edward Sheady, of the Royal Welch fusiliers. He was my mother in law's 1st husband and we know absolutely nothing of him. We have the telegram that he died whilst at Stalag V111.B around march 1944. We have a group photograph that someone may recognise their relative from. We live in the town that he comes from, but despite me contact people with the same surname, their has been no replys. So by spreading the net to this site hopefully he will be remembered.
>>>
I have some significant information relating to Fusilier Sheady & his time as a POW at Lamsdorf and I would dearly like to try and pass this information on to Sandra Wilson and any other surviving relatives.
What happened to three British escapers from Stalag VIIIB?
Prague 19th February, 2012
jindra12@email.cz
Dear Sir, Madam,
I would like to kindly ask you for help. I am a Czech researcher and historian trying to trace the history of certain events that happened in Czechoslovakia during WWII, It concerns the destiny of several British soldiers.
On 28th June 1942, early in the morning three British soldiers who had escaped from STALAG VIIIB, Lamsdorf (Lambinowice located in Silesia) and had been on the run for a week, asked for help in the village of Barchov, near Nový Bydžov. They got some food and a chance to dry their clothes, as it was a rainy day. Unfortunately a local informer betrayed them and the village mayor was forced to act. It is important to say that a few weeks before, the villages of Lidice and Ležáky were burned down by the Nazis, for suspicions of cooperating with the Czech paratroopers who assassinated Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich in Prague. But to return to our story, the Mayor had to call for the police located in Nový Bydžov, which is nearby. Before their arrival, British soldiers were warned and were able to escape, but a search for them began immediately.
A few hours later, they were arrested by the police close to the village of Vysočany, on the Cidlina riverbank. They were taken to the prison of the district court in Nový Bydžov, then transferred to the Gestapo. According to information I dug out from the Czech Security Forces archive, all of them might have been liquidated within the next twenty-four hours at the Gestapo office in Kolín.
Their names were:
It is still possible that relatives of the soldiers mentioned do not know what happened to their loved ones. In every respect, this event is still very well known in this county.
Yours faithfully,
Miroslav Jindra
Czech Republic
jindra12@email.cz
Note added 27th November, 2016: Miroslav Jindra: please contact me about Ernest Victor Coo.
Graham Swindon
grahamswindon@hotmail.co.uk
contact: mail@lamsdorf.com
Frederick Edward Sheady
from: Roderick M. Barron barronrm@hotmail.com
I am trying to make contact with person who posted a message in March 2010 in the "lamsdorf.webs.com" guestbook re Lamsdorf POW. Here is the original link, which I located through a google search :
http://lamsdorf.webs.com/apps/guestbook/?&fw_comments_page=9&fw_comments_order=ASC
And here is the original content of the message :
<<<
sandra wilson
09:03 AM on March 27, 2010
I am looking for anyone who will have known Fusilier Frederick Edward Sheady, of the Royal Welch fusiliers. He was my mother in law's 1st husband and we know absolutely nothing of him. We have the telegram that he died whilst at Stalag V111.B around march 1944. We have a group photograph that someone may recognise their relative from. We live in the town that he comes from, but despite me contact people with the same surname, their has been no replys. So by spreading the net to this site hopefully he will be remembered.
>>>
I have some significant information relating to Fusilier Sheady & his time as a POW at Lamsdorf and I would dearly like to try and pass this information on to Sandra Wilson and any other surviving relatives.
What happened to three British escapers from Stalag VIIIB?
Prague 19th February, 2012
jindra12@email.cz
Dear Sir, Madam,
I would like to kindly ask you for help. I am a Czech researcher and historian trying to trace the history of certain events that happened in Czechoslovakia during WWII, It concerns the destiny of several British soldiers.
On 28th June 1942, early in the morning three British soldiers who had escaped from STALAG VIIIB, Lamsdorf (Lambinowice located in Silesia) and had been on the run for a week, asked for help in the village of Barchov, near Nový Bydžov. They got some food and a chance to dry their clothes, as it was a rainy day. Unfortunately a local informer betrayed them and the village mayor was forced to act. It is important to say that a few weeks before, the villages of Lidice and Ležáky were burned down by the Nazis, for suspicions of cooperating with the Czech paratroopers who assassinated Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich in Prague. But to return to our story, the Mayor had to call for the police located in Nový Bydžov, which is nearby. Before their arrival, British soldiers were warned and were able to escape, but a search for them began immediately.
A few hours later, they were arrested by the police close to the village of Vysočany, on the Cidlina riverbank. They were taken to the prison of the district court in Nový Bydžov, then transferred to the Gestapo. According to information I dug out from the Czech Security Forces archive, all of them might have been liquidated within the next twenty-four hours at the Gestapo office in Kolín.
Their names were:
- Frederick Thomson, 20. 4. 1912, Littlemore, Oxford, - OFLAG VII C, Nr.3727
- Ernest Victor Coo, 1.3.1919, St.Luke, Holborn, Lamsdorf - STALAG VIIIB, POW Nr.514, private, M.Nr. 6018763, member of Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- William James, 26. 9. 1919, Bream, Lamsdorf - STALAG VIII B Nr.2941
It is still possible that relatives of the soldiers mentioned do not know what happened to their loved ones. In every respect, this event is still very well known in this county.
Yours faithfully,
Miroslav Jindra
Czech Republic
jindra12@email.cz
Note added 27th November, 2016: Miroslav Jindra: please contact me about Ernest Victor Coo.
Graham Swindon
grahamswindon@hotmail.co.uk
Unknown Stalag 344 group
My wife, Lisa Bognuda of Wellington (NZ), has been going through some of her family papers and has come across this photo (below) on the back of which is printed Stalag 344. We do not know who any of these soldiers are, or if this photo is widely available, but thought it might be helpful to share it. If the photo is of interest then please feel free to post it on-line for others to see. We'd be interested to know names of POWs in the photo if others are able to provide them.
Jonathan Gardner
From: Jonathan Gardner
jpagardner@gmail.com
update:
Lisa has dug up a name - William Joseph McGrath, marine radio officer, (26 years of age according to his marriage certificate issued 12 August 1939, City Of Westminster, London, UK). This may or may not be helpful!
jpagardner@gmail.com
Karl Bruckner
My father Stanley Gordon Jones, who is still alive today, was a POW at Lamsdorf. He was a private in 2nd/7th Battalion in The Australian Army taken at Crete. He worked in the coal, sugar mines in Breslau now known as Wroclow.
He also was picked out from a line-up to work for Karl Bruckner to paint the enormous Gasometers. My Father told me of Karl and he would love to know if he has any family still living. My Father is not certain on how Karl spelled his surname. If anyone has any information on the now Wroclow gasometers I would appreciated any information. Marlene Kluzek klampet@bigpond.com Victoria, Australia
My father Stanley Gordon Jones, who is still alive today, was a POW at Lamsdorf. He was a private in 2nd/7th Battalion in The Australian Army taken at Crete. He worked in the coal, sugar mines in Breslau now known as Wroclow.
He also was picked out from a line-up to work for Karl Bruckner to paint the enormous Gasometers. My Father told me of Karl and he would love to know if he has any family still living. My Father is not certain on how Karl spelled his surname. If anyone has any information on the now Wroclow gasometers I would appreciated any information. Marlene Kluzek klampet@bigpond.com Victoria, Australia
Joe Byrne
patbyrne@mac.com
My father was a POW for five years and he spent some time in Lamsdorf. His name is Joe Byrne, he died in 1968 when I was a child. He was originally from Limerick in Ireland, but I think was living in London when he joined up, he was an ambulance driver and was captured at St Valery. I have a small diary of his where he wrote down the other camps that he was moved to. I would really like to know if anyone remembers him and could tell me anything about him.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002155046527
Cpl. Lloyd Craig
Jacki Aubertin
Hi I found a letter in an old book adressed to a woman in alberta from a pow at 344 . I am interested in learning more about this person and am trying to track him down so I can return this letter to his family. It does not state where he is from but it does have his prisoner number. I need advice and help on how to investigate . Any help would be appreciated . His name was Cpl. Lloyd Craig and the letter was mailed out to what I am assuumming is a Red Cross contact in Alberta Canada. Looking forward tohearing from you cheers Jacki
Jacki Aubertin
Hi I found a letter in an old book adressed to a woman in alberta from a pow at 344 . I am interested in learning more about this person and am trying to track him down so I can return this letter to his family. It does not state where he is from but it does have his prisoner number. I need advice and help on how to investigate . Any help would be appreciated . His name was Cpl. Lloyd Craig and the letter was mailed out to what I am assuumming is a Red Cross contact in Alberta Canada. Looking forward tohearing from you cheers Jacki
Gilbert and Sullivan
From Fiona Clampin
I am researching the history of my great uncle who was a PoW in Stalag VIIIB from 1943. I work as a freelance journalist, and would like eventually to write an article or make a radio programme about this. My great-uncle was Eric Huggett, and he told us before he died that he had written down the scores of some of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas from memory and performed them with fellow prisoners. I am trying to find prisoners still alive who remember this, or relatives who were perhaps told about this.
Please contact me on fionaclampin@yahoo.com
From Fiona Clampin
I am researching the history of my great uncle who was a PoW in Stalag VIIIB from 1943. I work as a freelance journalist, and would like eventually to write an article or make a radio programme about this. My great-uncle was Eric Huggett, and he told us before he died that he had written down the scores of some of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas from memory and performed them with fellow prisoners. I am trying to find prisoners still alive who remember this, or relatives who were perhaps told about this.
Please contact me on fionaclampin@yahoo.com
The name on the back of this photo is Pte A. McIlwain. William McAleer says: "I have recently been going through some old family photos and came across a photo of a gentleman who I am not familiar with within my family tree, but I have a feeling that he was one of my mother's uncles. He is in uniform and on the rear of the photo is a stamp mark Stalag V111B GeprUft: Nr.28. The soldiers name is Pte. A.McILwain ( 15499) and the photo is addressed stalag-VIII B--(E360), Germany. It would be great if someone could supply some more info on his identity or history it would be of great interest to me". If you have any more information you can contact William through the guestbook. Does anyone have any more information about E360? William's email address is: williammca1@aol.com
Jim McQueen
Jim is hoping to hear from former fellow POWs. Jim says:
Was Sgt WAG in RNZAF in Wimpey shot down Belgium August 1942. Spent 2½ years in Air Force compound. Did the march to Zeigenhain and released by Butch Patton Good Friday 1945. Mucker was Douglas Boston Patterson from Owen Sound Ontario-since deceased. Through contact with Canadian Tex Hyde who was official photographer for escape committee, I got to operate various radios from which source Harry Whelan, RAF navigator, linguist, and others produced newsletter. Would be interested to hear from families of either of the parties mentioned as to whether they ever wrote of the connection. Now heading for 01 so time as they say is of the essence.
rayjim@xtra.co.nz
Jim is hoping to hear from former fellow POWs. Jim says:
Was Sgt WAG in RNZAF in Wimpey shot down Belgium August 1942. Spent 2½ years in Air Force compound. Did the march to Zeigenhain and released by Butch Patton Good Friday 1945. Mucker was Douglas Boston Patterson from Owen Sound Ontario-since deceased. Through contact with Canadian Tex Hyde who was official photographer for escape committee, I got to operate various radios from which source Harry Whelan, RAF navigator, linguist, and others produced newsletter. Would be interested to hear from families of either of the parties mentioned as to whether they ever wrote of the connection. Now heading for 01 so time as they say is of the essence.
rayjim@xtra.co.nz
Polish Girls giving food to POWs
My father Stanley Gordon Jones, who is still alive today, was a POW at Lamsdorf. He has a photo of a young girl from the time he was in Stalag VIIIB . Her name is Mariska. Does anyone know of a Polish girl smuggling food to the POW’s?
Marlene Kluzek klampet@bigpond.com Victoria, Australia
Marlene Kluzek klampet@bigpond.com Victoria, Australia
Donald Williams
My late father, Donald Williams, was transfered to Stalag 344/VIIIB in September 1943, having been captured in North Africa in 1942 and initially being a POW in Italy. I have no information about his time at Stalag 344 and would be grateful if anyone could guide me as to where he was likely to have been held and what labour detachments he could have been attached to.
Donald Williams was a driver in the RASC, army no. 260840, and was captured near Tobruk in June 1942, POW no. 32102, and taken to various prison camps/hospitals in Italy before being transfered to Stalag 344/VIIIB in September 1943 following the Italian surrender. After suffering from ill health in the Italian prison camps he was declared "fit to work" by the Germans and was sent to a labour camp, but I do not know which one.
My late father had stated that he started on "the March" in December 1944 but most accounts say the march from Stalag 344 began in January 1945. Were some elemants of the camp wound-down in December, or was my fathers memory playing tricks?
He also stated that he ended up in Moosburg (Stalag VIIA?) and was liberated by the Americans in April 1945. Does anyone know which camps from Stalag 344 ended up in Moosburg?
If anyone can supply me with any information that can help to identify which parts of Stalag 344, or any labour camps, that my father might have been in I would be most grateful.
wlcolonelken@aol.com