Long-Shot PoW Question

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by Buffnut453, Dec 4, 2012.

  1. Buffnut453

    Buffnut453 Member

    Hi Folks,

    Fascinating reading some of the information on this forum, particularly the accounts of atrocities meted out on Allied PoWs who were marched from camp to camp in early 1945 (eg http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/prisoners-war/40535-ill-treatment-pows-march-lamsdorf-stalag-344-formerly-stalag-viii.html). I've been trying for some time to work out the PoW record of a cousin of mine, Pvt Francis Lee of the Welch Regt.

    Frank went ashore on D-Day with the King's Regt providing beach security. Once the fighting moved inland, Frank was assigned to a personnel holding depot that provided reinforcements to make up for casualties in combat units...hence his move to the Welch Regt.

    Frank was captured in Oct 44 during the fighting for s'Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. There is no record of the PoW camp, or camps, in which he was detained. The next thing my family learned was that he had arrived safely home to Blighty around 10 Apr 45 but, sadly, we received a second telegram a few hours later saying he had died.

    I managed to obtain a copy of Frank's service record and he died at an American military hospital near Oxford of extreme malnutrition. It appears (although I have no proof of this) that he was evacuated from Europe by air to the Oxford area which, for years, has been associated with military transport flights. His emaciated condition indicates he was mistreated, perhaps enduring similar privations to those described in the "long march" thread.

    Does anyone know where I might find information to help piece together my cousin's history? For a start, it would be useful to know which PoW camps were liberated by western Allied forces in early Apr 1945, as well as any information on PoW repatriation flights back to Blighty.

    I realise this is a very long shot but it would be good to have a better idea of what happened to my cousin.

    Many thanks,
    Mark
     
  2. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    Timeline of some of the evacuations here:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_March_(1945)

    Some good references to F/U on info as well.

    Only F. Lee in Welsh Regt in POW lists:

    First Name: F.
    Last Name: Lee
    Rank: Private
    Regt / Unit: Welsh Regiment
    Soldier Number: 3774896

    Unfortunately no camp info, he may have done a POW liberation report (not all did though and if he was seriously ill he may not have), have you checked?

    Wayne
     
  3. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Hi Mark and welcome to WW2Talk.
    You could try enquiring with the International Committee of the Red Cross:
    ICRC Archives
     
  4. Varasc

    Varasc Senior Member

    Hi Mark and welcome to WW2Talk.
    You could try enquiring with the International Committee of the Red Cross:
    ICRC Archives

    Hello Mark, welcome, very sad story. I wish you all the best for this search. Yes, I agree with this kind suggestion and I warmly recommend you to try with the Red Cross. This would probably be the best chance to know more, even if it may take up to 12 months to have an answer. If you are a next of kin or familiar, it will be free of charge.
     
  5. Buffnut453

    Buffnut453 Member

    Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately, we tried ICRC and they came back with nothing. I guess I'll just have to keep probing. It's really frustrating because officially the PoW repatriation flights didn't start until May 1945 but somehow he made it back in early April. Perhaps we'll never know...but I will keep on searching.
     
  6. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Buffnut,

    As far as I am aware Repatriation of POW's was carried out by all sides during the war, depending on the extent of injuries, both physical and mentally.

    This may me a case of normal repatriation due to deteriorating health and the Germans not having the facilities available to help.

    Just a thought.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  7. Buffnut453

    Buffnut453 Member

    Hi Tom,

    Yes, repatriations did occur but, given the chaos across Germany during the first quarter of 1945 as PoWs were marched from camp to camp, I suspect formally-agreed repatriations probably didn't happen. One only has to read accounts of those who witnessed the results of these forced marches to realize hundreds if not thousands of PoWs were severely malnourished.

    Cheers,
    Mark
     
  8. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    Mark,

    Are you still watching this thread?

    Regards,

    Nick
    KenFentonsWar.com
     

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