Thomas Horrocks Houston – War diary and transcript
Capture, In Camp, Liberation and Repatriation, Treatment and Welfare, War DiaryMr Thomas Horrocks Houston, my father, born December 1915 joined the British Army, Number 6896496, on the 29th September 1938. He was captured and taken a German POW in Calais on the 26th May 1940, marched to Lamsdorf Camp arriving on the 21st…
Theatrical Shows – Xmas 1944 at E565
In Camp, RecreationAmongst John Victor Paul Malam's collection of documents were these relating to a performance at E565
John Burton Shanks – wartime experiences
Communication, Education, Firsthand Long March Accounts, In Camp, Liberation and Repatriation, Long Marches, Recreation, Uncategorised, War Diary, WorkIn the introduction to his journal Jenny Kingston wrote:
Much to his parents dismay, my father, John Burton Shanks, lied about his age and signed up to help the war effort when he was 17 years old. At school he had been a member of the OTC…
Robert John Clucas – Experiences of a Prisoner Of War
Capture, Firsthand Long March Accounts, Liberation and Repatriation, Long Marches, Treatment and Welfare, WorkRobert John Clucas - Experiences of a Prisoner Of War
BY PRIVATE R.J.CLUCAS. POW No 33597
INTERVIEW BY ENID ENGLAND
As edited by M.L.Clucas
The Prologue June 22nd, 1942: In Egypt, 4 and 5 New Zealand Brigade is allocated defense…
Blechhammer Synthetic Oil Refinery maps
Camp Administration and Background, WorkThe Refinery was in two parts, Blechhammer North, and Blechhammer South, approximately three Kilometres apart.
Below, shows the layout of Blechhammer North
Below, shows the layout of Blechhammer South
During…
Church and Religion
FaithFor some prisoners it was their faith or religious conviction that kept them alive. There were many faith leaders in the camps and churches supporting different denominations. The churches took many forms here we see the church at Stalag 344.
and…
The Jimmy Howe Band
Recreation
Jimmy Howe was a professional band leader and, as well as being the band leader and director of music for two Scottish regiments, he worked for the BBC as a conductor and organiser of band concerts throughout the UK. He set up a band in…
Letters between Arthur Weston and Elfriede Hannak
Camp Administration and Background, Commemoration, Communication, In Camp, Post-war experiencesArthur A Weston OBE organised trips to Lamsdorf and was eventually motivated to write to Elfriede Hannak who had been an office worker at Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf (it is not clear how he had obtained an address for her).
In this letter written…
Howard Holmes – war memoirs
Capture, Firsthand Long March Accounts, In Camp, Liberation and Repatriation, Long Marches, Treatment and Welfare, Uncategorised, WorkHoward Holmes War Memoirs
I was a private in 15th platoon Hawke’s Bay Company which I’d joined in December 1940 when I was 23. After seeing action in Greece and with little in the way of weaponry we were taken off on the “Ajax” and…
Charles (Chaz) John Keslake – diary transcription
Capture, Firsthand Long March Accounts, In Camp, Liberation and Repatriation, Long Marches, Treatment and Welfare, UncategorisedDiary of Charles (Chaz) John Keslake
In this book, I intend to give an account of my life from the time I enlisted in the British Army, during the Second World War, 1939 - 1945, until my discharge.
The contents are entirely for my own…