Skip to main content

On the road again

It's really nice when our guest came to Torun again. Colin visited Stalag paths again with his brother. The trip was the reason of celebration in Germany connected with offical burial of Anthony Coulthard one of the POW's who try to escape from Stalag two times. Unfortunatley he died during Long Marches....

But Coilns trip could't be organized unless his gradfather Stalag history which began in 1940. 
Sgt. Neil McLellan was captured in France and transported to Torun. Thanks his photographic skills he became an offical Stalag Photographer responsible for pictures to offical camp newspapper The Prisoners Pie and after New Prisoners Pie but not only. His rich collection included many very interesting pictures from, sport competitons or entertainment. For special occasion serves series of pictures form funerals. Thanks which we could see how germans behave to the dead soldiers. There are couple of picutres from Garnison Cemetery which shows official procession and all drill regulations during the funeral. What is more interesting during the ceremony German soldiers very offten gave a last salute and wreath. Neil tired to escaped with Anthony but they were find on the ship ready to cruise to Sweden.They were turned around to Stalag.

On the picture below you will see the grave of PTE Robert Park(on grave Parc) and new picture which shows the same place after the 70 years. After the war PTE Robert Park was moved to Malbork Commonwealth Cemetary and present grave was renovated.If you look carefully you see German wreath.


The grave of PTE Rober Parc (Park) form RAMC

Colin in the same place where his grandfather took a picture

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thanks this trip we've discovered new facts about POW from Stalag XXA in 1945

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
Post a Comment
Read more

Living conditions in Stalag XXA

Monthly bath in Stalag XXA Living conditions Lawrence Travers Dorins a former POW describes „fort XI was surrounded by a high bank and the fence around it with gates across the entrance road, on one side there was also a dry moat with a bridge on it. The bridge led to a tunnel” The fortress was covered with trees, bushes and earth so that the fortress could not be visible from the bird's eye. Prisoners slept in caponiers where initially were supposed to sleep Prussian soldiers. Yet PoW describes the rooms as if there were designed as rooms in the concentration camps. Rooms looked as semi tunnels. “The perpendicular walls were about 3m high and the height of the arched roof was about 5 m, wooden bunks provided sleeping spaces. Each room had only two small windows which obviously allowed no ventilation. Due to the end of the night the air was solid and everyone would have a headache due to oxygen starvation” .In those rooms kept approximately 32 men. There were three shelves whe
2 comments
Read more

Poem

Not many people are aware of the fact that even in Forced Work Camps, Pows wrote  poetry. Below there is a moving poem written by Mr Harry Tapley. Written by Harry Tapley, 4th Btn Gordon Highlanders PoW No. 5532 Kriegsgfangener Lager Stalag XXB, XVIIIB, XXA I find it hard just to explain As I travel back down memory lane Of the strength of mind, and stale black bread And cattle trucks, and frozen dead The companionship, when might was right The petty thieving in the night, The lice, the rags, the hunger pains The barbed wire fence, the stink of drains The sudden blackouts when you stand A raging torrent of commands, Sleeping in snow in open spaces Guards death frozen in their places Sharing out each little mite Eating potatoes black with blight Clogs and foot cloths hurting feet While topping miles of sugar beet Dreaming of bellies being filled While just another prisoner's killed, The eager listening to all news The lies, the rumours, the different vi
Post a Comment
Read more