A local working party was organized in Thorn
for 200 men. They unloaded telegraph poles from barges on the Vistula river. It
was round the clock job, so some of men did early shifts some afternoon and
night. pows were guarded by 8 men: 2 at the front, 2 along and 2 at the back.
Clothing was not sufficient, taking into consideration weather. Men wore scarves,
coats and knitted gloves.
That was wonderful trip. During three days we saw couple of places connected with POW path of Jack Stansfield. Moreover thanks his son Michael we saw notes with memories of last days in Stalag XXA in Torun. In opposit to all facts which says that prisoners left camp in late december 1945 Jack wrote that they started to march on 21 january! That means that lasts groups of POW left camp in 10 days before Torun was liberated. Fortunatley Jack survived afeter he escaped from march. He met russians army and polish partizants. Below we presents you short memories about Jack and trip to Poland... My father was called Jack Stansfield, he was born in August 1918. He was brought up in the market town of Malton in North Yorkshire where his parents were publicans. He joined the Territorial Army in March 1939 and was mobilised on the declaration of war. Jack enlisted in his local regiment joining the 5th Battalion of the Green Howards. After a short time at the Regimental HQ in Richmond, North...
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