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The Clarion was a monthly magazine written by and published for the prisoners at Stalag VIIIB/344 and its various working parties. It was first published in January 1943 and the final edition was for Christmas 1944. The next edition, planned for Spring 1945, was being prepared – but never appeared because of the evacuation of the camp in that month. In the February 1943 issue, a sum of 310.50 Reichmarks (from the Welfare Fund) is shown as being spent on the printing of the magazine. At the official exchange rate (set by Germany) of 5 RMs to £1, this would have been worth about £62 in those days. However, the Reichmarks used as Lagergelt (money used in POW camps) might have had a different value – if anyone has more information about this, please let us know. The Magazine was printed by the Tageszeitung Oppeln, the German language newspaper in the nearby city of Oppeln (Opole).

On the cover of the first edition, RSM Sherriff, the Chief Trustee, wrote “May it’s life be a complete success, but not a long one”.

It lasted for two years.

We think that the copies of The Clarion available on this website are almost a complete collection apart from issue number 17 (of which we only have the last page) and a few missing pages, but if anyone has any copies that we do not, we would be very grateful if you could let us know.

Many names of the Prisoners of War at Stalag VIIIB/344 and the working parties are mentioned in The Clarion. We’ve added those names to the prisoner records of this site. You can find the reference to them in the Clarion in the ‘Data Sources’ field of their record.

Names mentioned in The Clarion are followed by numbers, eg 7/4 – this would mean issue number 7, page 4. The names are shown as they appear in The Clarion, and this might mean that some people are listed twice – for instance there is no way of knowing whether ‘Cpl Brown’ is one of the other Browns whose full name is shown elsewhere.

An excellent dissertation about newspapers and magazines produced by prisoners of war, by Chris Basiurski, The Clarion Calls: Bringing Home into the Prisoner of War Camps, written in September 2013, includes a great deal about The Clarion.

Record of Issues

(click the cover image to view a gallery of that issue)

Number one

January 1943

15 pages (back cover blank)

No editor named

Supervising German officer: not named

Printer: not named

Number two

February 1943

16 pages

No editor named

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln (daily newspaper in Opole, then known as Oppeln, the nearest city to Lamsdorf). OS is Ober Silesia (‘Upper Silesia’) and Tageszeitung is ‘Daily Newspaper’)

Number three

March 1943

16 pages

Responsible for content: Sgt James W. Wood

Supervising German officer: Hauptmann (Captain) Birkhoff

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number four

April 1943

16 pages

Responsible for content: Sgt James W. Wood

Supervising German Officer: Major Birkhoff

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number five

May 1943

16 pages

Responsible for content: Sgt James W. Wood

Supervising German Officer: Major Birkhoff

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number six

June-July 1943

16 pages

Responsible for content: Sgt James W. Wood

Supervising German Officer: Major Birkhoff

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number seven

(Autumn 1943)

16 pages

Responsible for content: Sgt James W. Wood

Supervising German Officer: Major Birkhoff

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number eight

January 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Major Birkhoff

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number nine

February 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Hauptmann Görlich

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number ten

March 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Hauptmann Görlich

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number eleven

April 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Hauptmann Melz

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number twelve

May 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Hauptmann Melz

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number thirteen

June 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Hauptmann Melz

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number fourteen

July 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Major Maibach

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number fifteen

August 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Major Maibach

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number sixteen

Sept/Oct 1944

24 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Major Maibach

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Clarion 17 Last Page

Number seventeen

November 1944

Unknown number of pages (we only have the last page, which is not numbered)

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Major Maibach

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Number eighteen

Christmas 1944

16 pages

Responsible for content: L/Bdr P. R. Parramore

Supervising German Officer: Major Maibach

Printer: OS Tageszeitung, Oppeln

Some of these names have their own prisoner record on this site. See the bottom of this page or try a search.

  • W. Acton-Adams Clarion 7/2
  • Cpl Adams Clarion 6/14, 7/4
  • Jackie Allen Clarion 4/13, 7/14
  • Pte. M. Alexander Clarion 6/14
  • Pte Richard Altmann Clarion 4/2
  • ​Gnr Anderson Clarion 7/4
  • Sgt Arsenault Clarion 7/4
  • G. Attwell 6/13
  • Pte R. Bailey Clarion 7/13
  • ​Fred Baker Clarion 6/13
  • Pte R.J. Baker Clarion 4/1
  • Sgt J. Banks Clarion 3/13
  • Pte Barron Clarion 7/4
  • Sgt Barrow Clarion 7/4
  • Cpl Bartho Clarion 7/4
  • H. Barton Clarion 4/7
  • Alan Battle Clarion 7/14
  • Sgt Bayliss Clarion 7/4
  • Sgt G. Bayliss Clarion 7/13
  • Sgt Bill Bee Clarion 2/4, 3/4
  • Cpl E. Beetlestone Clarion 3/11, 7/4
  • Elmer Bell Clarion 4/13, 6/12, 7/14
  • Roy Bell Clarion 5/9
  • Pat Benson Clarion 3/7
  • Sgt Benwell Clarion 7/4
  • Father John Berry Clarion 2/12
  • R.H. Berry Clarion 3/13
  • D. Beveridge Clarion 6/1
  • Sgt Bill Clarion7/4 (x 3)
  • J. Bird Clarion 5/13
  • Bisby Clarion 4/7
  • Cpl Alexander Bishop Clarion 7/2
  • Pte Harry Noel Bishop Clarion 7/2
  • Sgt Blatch Clarion 7/4
  • Dvr Bligh Clarion 6/14, 7/4
  • Gdsmn David Blythin Clarion 4/2
  • Pte Boag Clarion 7/4
  • Rfn George F. Board Clarion 4/10
  • L. C. Bonell Clarion 3/13, 7/2
  • Rfmn Alfred Boon Clarion 2/3
  • Cpl Boyes Clarion 7/4
  • George Lewis Bradbury Clarion 6/12
  • Spr J. Bright Clarion 7/13
  • Cpl Brinkworth Clarion 6/14, 7/4
  • Brooks 4/7
  • Pte Brown Clarion 6/14
  • Cpl Brown Clarion 7/4 (x 2)
  • LAC D. Buchanan Clarion 7/13
  • Dvr Buckingham Clarion 6/14, 7/4 (x 2)
  • P. Burgoine Clarion 4/10
  • Tpr Richard Grenville Burke Clarion 2/3
  • Sgt Khuda Bux Clarion 7/4
  • D. Cameron Clarion 5/13
  • Hank Campbell Clarion 4/13
  • Capt. J. Campbell Clarion 6/13
  • Cpl Norman Nicholson Campbell Clarion 2/3
  • Dvr. L. Cartwright Clarion 6/14, 7/13
  • LAC Ralph Chamberlain Clarion 7/3
  • CSM Charters Clarion 6/14, 7/4 (x 2)
  • Pte Phillip Chura Clarion 7/3
  • Sgt Vladimir Cirotenko Clarion 7/3
  • Pte. T. Clarke Clarion 6/14
  • Pte. William H. Clark Clarion 7/1
  • S.H. Clay 4/1
  • Derek Clift Clarion 7/14 (x 2)
  • Pte. M. Cloutier Clarion 6/14
  • L/Cpl Robert Cockin
  • A.Coleman Clarion 7/11
  • Sgt Colgan Clarion 7/4
  • Dvr Bernard Colligan Clarion 1/14
  • Gnr John Colligan Clarion 1/14
  • Sgt Alan Ronald Cook Clarion 6/2
  • L/Cpl Cooke Clarion 3/13
  • Bob Coulam Clarion 3/7, 6/12
  • Charles Coward Clarion 7/2
  • Pte Craven Clarion 7/4
  • Sgt Creighton Clarion  7/4
  • Sgt C. Croall Clarion 4/1
  • Bdr R. Crompton Clarion 3/13
  • Pte R.J. Cross Clarion 4/1
  • Pte Cross Clarion 7/4
  • Cpl Cullinger Clarion 7/4 (x 2)
  • A.W. Cullington Clarion 3/7
  • Pte Curry Clarion 6/14
  • Cpl Cuthill Clarion 7/4 (x 2)
  • Peter Dale Clarion 3/7
  • Les Davies Clarion 6/12
  • J. Davis Clarion 6/13
  • Pte Frederick Cecil Davis  Clarion 3/13
  • G. Dayman Clarion 3/13
  • Sgt Dean Clarion 7/4
  • Sidney De Haan 7/1
  • Bdsn. Ellis Clarion 6/14
  • George Ellwood Clarion 5/9, 6/12
  • Taff Evans Clarion 6/12
  • Sgt Evans Clarion 7/4
  • Cpl Filmer Clarion 7/4
  • Charles Fitzpatrick Clarion 3/11
  • Cpl. C. Fitzpatrick Clarion 6/14
  • R. Flintoff Clarion 6/13
  • George Ford Clarion 6/13
  • H. F. Ford Clarion 4/10
  • Capt. H.M. Foreman Clarion 6/1
  • Eric Francis Clarion 3/7, 6/12
  • Pte John Reginald Gambrill Clarion 5/2
  • Mr Abraham L. Garf Clarion 5/2
  • Cpl Garshore Clarion 7/4
  • Gnr E. A. Garvey Clarion 3/13
  • F. Gillespie Clarion 6/1
  • Sgt. Girdham Clarion 6/14, 7/4
  • CSM Golder Clarion 5/11, 7/11
  • W. Goodyear Clarion 5/13
  • George Gordon Clarion 4/13, 6/13
  • Cpl R. Gordon Clarion 7/13
  • R.H. Gray Clarion 5/11
  • R. Gray Clarion 4/10
  • Surg. Cdr. W. Greaves Clarion 6/13 (twice)
  • Derek Greene Clarion 3/7, 7/13
  • Cpl B. Greenslade Clarion 4/1, 6/1
  • Cpl Grevitt Clarion 7/4
  • Pte James Grieve Clarion 3/2
  • Pte K. Griffiths Clarion 7/13
  • Dfr Major Guardhan 6/14
  • Pte Griffith 7/4
  • Dennis Williams Gutteridge ​Clarion 7/2
  • Sgt Hadaway Clarion 7/4, 7/4 (x 2)
  • Neville Hall Clarion 6/12
  • D.G. Hamilton Clarion 4/1
  • Cyril Hamersma Clarion 4/10, 6/13
  • Rfn. Brynley Harcombe Clarion 6/2
  • Cpl Hardie Clarion 7/4
  • G.H. Harding Clarion 3/6, 5/3, 6/3, 7/5
  • Pte Charles Hargreaves Clarion 7/3
  • Cpl. D. Harrow Clarion 6/14
  • Cpl. J. Haspell Clarion 6/14, 7/13
  • Sgt Galham Hassan Clarion7/4
  • Cpl Sultan Hassan Clarion 7/4
  • A. Haughey Clarion 3/13
  • Wilfred Hawkins Clarion 5/9
  • Cpl Haynes Clarion 7/4
  • Pte Richard Hemmings Clarion 4/2
  • G. A. Hemsley Clarion 3/13
  • Vic Hennell Clarion 6/12
  • F. Herring Clarion 3/13
  • E. Herwin Clarion 5/13
  • H.E. Hewett Clarion 7/2
  • Sgt Hillen Clarion 7/4
  • Rfn W. Holmes Clarion 7/13
  • Henry Victor (Ozzy) Hook Clarion 6/12
  • George Hopkins 5/9
  • Spr N. Horsfall Clarion4/1
  • Jimmie Howe Clarion 3/11
  • Dvr F. Howell Clarion 7/1
  • Charlie Hudson Clarion 6/12
  • Alfred Hunter Clarion 7/14
  • Billy Hunter Clarion 6/13
  • Wanger Hunter Clarion 4/13
  • Cpl Hyrmin  Clarion 7/4
  • Bdr Innes 7/4
  • Flt Sgt Phil Jacobs 4/10, 4/13, 7/14
  • Cpl Jaswanti 7/4
  • PSM Jenkins 7/5
  • Leonard Jepps 5/9
  • Eric Johnson 3/7, 4/13
  • George Johnson 6/12
  • Gerry Johnston 6/12 (twice)
  • Sgt Johnstone 6/14, 7/4
  • Frank Jones 6/13
  • H. Jones 6/13
  • Howard Conroy Jones 6/12
  • Sgt Jones 7/4
  • B. Kaenel 5/13
  • Pte I. Kaufmann 7/13
  • Pte J. Kemp 6/14
  • Revd Geoffrey Kestell-Cornish 5/13
  • Cpl Alam Khan 7/4 (x 3)
  • Ali Khan 6/14
  • Pte Ismael Khan 7/4
  • Sgt Lal Khan 7/4
  • Dfr. Yusaf Khan 6/14 (x 3)
  • Sgt Yusif Ali Khan 7/4 (x 3)
  • S/M Medi Khan 7/4 (x 3)
  • Dafaldar-Major Mohamed Khan 6/13, 6/14 (x 4)
  • Cpl Mohd Khan 7/4
  • C. Kite 5/13
  • George Kline 7/11
  • Pte George Harry Thomas Knight 4/2
  • Sgt Knolles 7/4
  • Pte. R. Knowles 6/14, 7/13
  • Bill Laidlaw 4/13
  • Pte Laivenisse 7/4
  • PSM Lamb 5/13
  • Jimmy Lamb 5/9
  • Bob Lawrence 4/13
  • Cpl. H. Lawrence 6/14
  • CQSM Sidney Cecil Lawrie 1/12, 2/13, 5/13, 5/16, 6/16, 7/16
  • Cpl. E. W. Lawson 3/13
  • CSM J. Leader 3/13
  • L/Cpl Lee 7/4
  • Sgt Lee 6/14
  • Pte Cedric Russell Leeks 2/3
  • Pte Leighson 7/4
  • Don Liddle 3/7, 6/12
  • L. Liliey 6/1
  • J.C. Lillie 5/10
  • E.I. Logan 6/1
  • Capt. L.H.V. Longmore 3/11
  • A. Loveland 6/13
  • Lovery 4/7
  • Sgt J. Lowdell 6/14
  • WO J. Lowe 4/9, 5/9, 6/9
  • Major S.G. de Clive Lowe 6/13
  • Freddy Lumb 6/12
  • P.A. Lynch 6/1
  • H.J. Macdonald 5/11
  • Pte J. McDonald 7/13
  • Cpl. R. Macdonald 6/14
  • Cpl J. MacDougall 3/13
  • Cpl Mackenzie 4/10
  • Cpl T. MacKenzie 6/14
  • A.I. MacKenzie 6/1
  • Jock MacKenzie 6/12
  • Capt. L. MacLean 6/13
  • Pte J. Mansfield 7/13
  • Pte James Marklew 6/2
  • Ldg Seaman Oscar John Marks 3/2
  • L/Cpl Marshall 7/4
  • PSM Martin 7/4
  • RSM G.A. Martin 3/9
  • Dvr. Charles Massie 6/2
  • Pte El Milcholi Masud 5/2
  • L/Cpl J. Matheson 4/1
  • S.S.M. S.A. (Jock) Matthew 6/12, 6/14, 7/4
  • Gdsmn Thomas Maxwell 4/2
  • Gnr. J. McAllister 6/14
  • Cpl W. McBride 6/14
  • Sgt J. McCormick 4/1
  • Cpl McKenzie 7/5
  • Cpl McKnight 7/4 (x 2)
  • Sgt McIlravey 6/14 (x 3), 7/4 (x 3)
  • Pte J. McKenna 3/13
  • Pte James McMillan 5/2
  • Sgt McMullen 7/4 (x 2)
  • Cpl McPherson 7/4 (x 2)
  • Cpl Meredith 7/4
  • H. Metcalfe 6/1
  • Sgt Victor Mitchell 3/11, 7/13
  • CSM Moat 6/13
  • Sgt Morgan 4/10
  • Cpl. P. Morgan 6/14
  • Sgt R. Morgan 6/14
  • Ivor John (Taff) Morgan Clarion 4/13
  • Pte Morris 6/14
  • Cyril C. Moses 3/13
  • S/Sgt M. Murphy 4/1
  • A. Murray 6/13
  • W.D. Murray 4/1
  • D. Nachmanovitz 4/10
  • Pte Ezra Nasser 3/2
  • Bryan Naylor 3/7, 3/11, 6/13
  • Sgt Neale 7/4
  • Spr George Newman 5/2
  • Nic Nicholls 3/7, 6/12
  • Nobby Nix 3/11
  • Sgmn Nelson D. Ogg 4/2
  • Cpl O’Malley 7/4 (x 2)
  • Michael Orr 5/9, 6/12
  • Laurie Page 3/7, 4/13
  • C. Palles-Clarke 7/14
  • Sgt Palmer 6/14, 7/4 (x 2)
  • Pte Panajotis 6/14 (x 2)
  • Cpl Parish 7/4
  • Pte Parisien 6/14
  • Pte. Albert Francis Kitchener Parker 6/2
  • Wally Parrott 6/12, 7/14
  • Sgt Passmore 7/4
  • RSM G. Pearce 7/5
  • Sgt Pearcey 7/4
  • Sgt. G. Pettigrew 6/13
  • Sgt J.J. Philip 3/5
  • Sgt Phillips 7/4 (x 2)
  • Ken Pickett 4/13
  • Sgt Piercey 6/14 (x 2)
  • A. H. Pittigrew 3/13
  • Stanley Platts 5/9
  • Dvr Pollard 7/4
  • Pte. Pollard 6/14
  • Sgt A. Pratchett 6/14
  • Sgt T. Pratchett 4/10
  • J.R. Preston 4/14
  • Sgt Price 7/4 (x 2)
  • Abdurah Ram 7/4
  • S/M Gordham Ram 7/4
  • Bob Rankin 5/9
  • Sgt J. Rawson 6/14
  • T. Reed 5/13
  • L/Cpl Reid 7/4
  • Ernest Rickman 6/12
  • Gnr L. Rigby 3/13
  • Cpl. J.H. Riley 3/13, 4/7
  • RSM Roberts 1/8
  • Pte. A. Robbins 6/14
  • Gnr. T. Robinson 6/14, 7/13
  • Cpl J. Rochford 4/1
  • Pte Rock 7/4
  • Rocky 4/7
  • Pte C. Roffley 3/13
  • Spr N.S. Rogers 4/1
  • Sgt R.G. Romans 3/11
  • Sgt. L. Rose 6/14
  • Michael Rouse 3/7, 5/9
  • Sgt C. Rowbottom 4/10
  • Dvr Emyr Rowlands 5/10
  • Fsr A. W. Rowe 3/13
  • Pte A. Russell 7/13
  • Harry Sanders 7/2
  • Gnr Sankey 7/4
  • Sgt Saunders 7/4 (x 2)
  • Harry Sellars 3/7, 6/12
  • L/Cpl F. Sexton 7/13
  • Pte Seymour 7/2
  • N. Shefford 6/1
  • RSM S. Sherriff (Chief Trustee) 1/1, 6/14 etc
  • Cpl J. Sims 7/13
  • Dfr Bhargat (Bhagot?) Singh 6/14 (x 2), 7/4 (x 3)
  • L/Dfr. Biji Singh 6/14, 7/4 (x 2)
  • Cpl Igbal Singh 7/4
  • Cpl Naringer Singh 7/4
  • ​Les Slavid 5/9
  • L/Cpl J. Slythe 3/11
  • Spr. Smaill 7/2
  • SQMS Smelt 7/4
  • Gnr Smith 7/4
  • Arthur Smith 4/13, 7/14
  • H.F.O. Smith 6/1
  • Bdr. S. Smith 6/14
  • B. Staff 6/1
  • Gnr L. Talbutt 7/13
  • Pte Tatchell 7/4
  • A. Taylor 6/1
  • Dick Thairs 6/12
  • Cpl. T. Tilling 6/14
  • V. Timms 4/1
  • Pte Bruce Trethewy 6/14 (x 2), 7/4
  • Bob (Walter Robert) Tullett 6/13
  • E. Tyrer 3/13
  • PSM Frank Vonk 6/12, 6/14, 7/4
  • Bob Wagstaff 4/13
  • Ted Wainwright 4/13
  • P.S. Walker 6/1, 7/4 (X 2)
  • Frank Walmesley 6/13
  • Sgt. R. Watkin-Edwards 3/13
  • Sgt G. Waugh 7/13
  • Pte. M. Weir 6/14
  • Cpl. G Whatford 6/14
  • Sgt Wiggall 7/4
  • Pte Robert Wignes 5/2
  • A. A. Wilkinson 3/16
  • R. Williamson 6/11
  • P/Major G.H. Wilson 7/14
  • Pte. Kiri Winiata 6/2
  • L/Cpl O.E. Winstone 3/13
  • J. Woloiski 7/11
  • Rfn. James Wood 6/13, 6/14 (x 3), 7/4 (x 3)
  • Sgt James W. Wood 4/16, 5/16, 6/16, 7/16
  • Kay Wood 4/10, 6/12
  • Pte Wood 6/14
  • Gdsn. E. Woods 6/14
  • W. Woods 3/13
  • Cpl Wright 7/4
  • Sgt Maxwell Joseph Wyllie 5/2
  • Spr Yandle 4/1
  • Pte L.Yeomans 7/13
  • Pte Isaac Zassler 3/2