Belsen-April 1945. 618 Government Military Detachment

Discussion in 'The Holocaust' started by alan8376, Sep 12, 2009.

  1. alan8376

    alan8376 Member

    Looking for anyone who was with this unit or if a friend or family member served with the Unit attending end of April 1945 Belsen?

    Thanks
    Alan
     
  2. jfox

    jfox Junior Member

    My grandmother Lucy Powell/Edwards was a Sister with the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) and was at the relief of Bergen-Belsen from the 17th April 1945 and I believe for 6 months after. I am currently researching this and am looking for any accounts from nurses at Belsen. What is your connection?
     
  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    jfox,

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    There have been several questions asked regarding Bergen-Belsen.

    You may wish to make use of our Forum search facility.

    Third from right on Toolbar.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  4. alan8376

    alan8376 Member

    jfox,

    My interest in Belsen was in connection with the search for a British/Polish soldier who worked there in April 1945.

    There is a book written by Captain DA Sington in 1946 called 'Belsen Uncovered.' Captain Sington was one of the first Officers to be involved with Belsen from the beginning. The book can be reserved/obtained by your local library. It may include names of nurses working there at the time and be of interest.
     
  5. alan8376

    alan8376 Member

  6. Oggie2620

    Oggie2620 Senior Member

    Must have been very hard work and quite heartrending for the staff working there. They must have been very brave in their own quiet way.
    Dee
     
  7. Capt Bill

    Capt Bill wanderin off at a tangent

    I assisted John Nichol in gathering Medics to tell their stories to add to his book (see link below)

    He had enough info at the end of his research to write at least three books.
    I was upset thet he did not include a story from Belsen. In my humble opinion, having read the diaries, these were truly heroic medics and nurses who went to clear Belsen and set up shop in the cavalry barracks next door



    Alan,

    have you tried here Relief Staff
     
  8. Greta

    Greta Junior Member

    My late Father, Ernest Nixon, was with the 6th Guards Tank Brigade which liberated the Bergen-Belsen camp. He had to bulldoze bodies into a pit using his tank with a large blade attached to the front. I believe my Father had influenza at the time and his duties were turned over to another guardsman.
     
  9. Capt Bill

    Capt Bill wanderin off at a tangent

    My late Father, Ernest Nixon, was with the 6th Guards Tank Brigade which liberated the Bergen-Belsen camp. He had to bulldoze bodies into a pit using his tank with a large blade attached to the front. I believe my Father had influenza at the time and his duties were turned over to another guardsman.

    might this be him ?

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Greta

    Greta Junior Member

    Hello Captain Bill:

    I was unable to open your photo. Can you send again to my e-mail address?

    mmcclurkin at hntb.com

    Kind regards,

    Greta
     
  11. Greta

    Greta Junior Member

    That is one of the Royal Engineers who arrived at the camp after the Guards had moved on.

    Thank you.
     
  12. Finna1

    Finna1 Junior Member

    Hi Guys n Girls,

    I have recently started doing my family tree and came across and uncle that was part of the clean up team that entered into BELSEN at the end of the war...

    Details i have are

    Name: Ronald (Ronnie) Nixon
    Unit: Royal Engineers (Not sure what brigade or out)
    Number: 290115 WR/275085

    I am after any pictures or tales that people might have or have heard....any info really.
    Its a long shot but doesn't hurt asking

    Thanks Ste
     
  13. nickyf

    nickyf Junior Member

    removed
     
  14. sanchaaze1

    sanchaaze1 Junior Member

    Hi Guys n Girls,

    I have recently started doing my family tree and came across and uncle that was part of the clean up team that entered into BELSEN at the end of the war...

    Details i have are

    Name: Ronald (Ronnie) Nixon
    Unit: Royal Engineers (Not sure what brigade or out)
    Number: 290115 WR/275085

    I am after any pictures or tales that people might have or have heard....any info really.
    Its a long shot but doesn't hurt asking

    Thanks Ste
    hiya my great uncle was in the same team (Tom Hallam) i dont have much info as they wouldnt,and still wont discuss it.all they can tell me is the experience did irrepairable damage to him until his death,i dont blame you for trying though good luck
     
  15. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I have the actual Army medical teams report when they went into Belsen somewhere in my papers.
     
    Bill Forgie likes this.
  16. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    There are quite a few units who stopped at Belsen who's official histories mention nothing at all of the place. My Grandad always told my Dad he was there but the reports and diaries for 129 and 130 Field Ambulance's of the 43rd Division said nothing to support this story. However, we found from the IWM Sound Archive an interview with a veteran of 129 FA who completely verified both Unit's presence. 129 FA only stayed for a couple of days but 130 FA stayed longer having taken much of 129's stock of supplies and equipment.
     
  17. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    There are quite a few units who stopped at Belsen who's official histories mention nothing at all of the place. My Grandad always told my Dad he was there but the reports and diaries for 129 and 130 Field Ambulance's of the 43rd Division said nothing to support this story. However, we found from the IWM Sound Archive an interview with a veteran of 129 FA who completely verified both Unit's presence. 129 FA only stayed for a couple of days but 130 FA stayed longer having taken much of 129's stock of supplies and equipment.

    Belsen in 1945/46
    Came under the area of XXX Corps Military District. ie.43 Division.
    Most of XXX Corps troops and attached formations were in this area and would have seen or been involved with Belsen.
    Rob

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

     
  19. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    That's a good map. Thanks for sharing that Rob. I was just surprised that two of the Field Ambulances attached to 43rd Division both failed to mention the camp by name or description at all in either the War Diaries or the Quarterly Reports compiled by their respective C.O's.
     
  20. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    That's a good map. Thanks for sharing that Rob. I was just surprised that two of the Field Ambulances attached to 43rd Division both failed to mention the camp by name or description at all in either the War Diaries or the Quarterly Reports compiled by their respective C.O's.

    Johnathan
    I would imagine units were told not to write any reports on their time at the camp because of the situation there.
    My fathers Arty Regt spent some time on guard duties there,but there is just a couple of lines in the diary saying what Bty Troops were on duty, nothing else.

    As to
    Royal Engineers
    There is a file at the NA Kew on the RE at Belsen April-June 1945
    WO205/1142

    Rob
     

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