The letter from family

10 Alexandra Terrace

EVENWOOD

Bishop Auckland

Co. Durham

DL14 9QN

England

28 April 2011

Dear Pawel

4456672 Corporal Joseph Russell Bell, 10/DLI (POW 10558 Stalag XXA)

Died 24 July 1943

On behalf of the Bell family, may I thank you and Hanna for your assistance with our visit to Torun, 15 April 2011. Your knowledge of WW2 history, the Prussian Forts and Stalag XXA have been a great help to us in our efforts to learn more about Russell Bell. We still do not know whether he was killed as a result of attempting to escape or natural causes. We will have to wait for the Red Cross details to arrive from Geneva to see if they shed any light on the matter.

May I also extend our warm thanks to the people who run the Muzeum Historyczno-Wojskowe. We found this to be an excellent museum and one which deserves greater support and public backing. We were so impressed that we will forward copies of all our personal material concerning Russell to the museum and perhaps they could use it as a display, on their website or even as a permanent memorial to him.

Also may I mention that the owners of Fort IV were extremely helpful and hospitable and we extend our thanks to them and their staff.

We have communicated with you since our visit and with your help, I think we will gain a greater understanding of the Stalag, the conditions therein and the difficulties experienced by the Polish people (before, during and after the war).

If there is anything we can do to assist you in your studies or the museum in its quest for recognition then please ask.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Richardson

On behalf of the Bell Family, Evenwood.

Comments

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