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The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) were in 1778 as the 78th Regiment ( Highland ) Foot.
During the Second World War further battalions were raised and the regiment saw action in North Africa , Sicily , Italy , Burma and North-West Europe.
My father, was in the Seaforth's and was captured May 28th on the retreat back to St Valery. He hated the forced labour in the coal mines. After he passed away I found a small note book which contained notes of his experiences and places he stayed. I would assume that Mechtal and Gleiwity are Work Camps and he would have not been staying at the main camp.
Below are his notes of the time:
May 28th- Belgium’s capitulated road to Popering cut. Ambulance tries to get away, but is machine gunned. No chance of getting through. 8a.m M.G. fire from all sides, think we’ve had it. 11a.m Captain Melson N.H surrenders. Marched back through German lines stop in village for rest and water. Interrogated . March all night.
May29th- Arrive in Courtraix
May 30th- Arrive Ronce leave column go into hospital
June- Reach Nivelles. Put on train. Seventy four put into our wagon. Travel through Holland arrive in Meppen Germany .
June- Leave Meppen for Eastern Germany Berlin, Breslone , Lamsdorf.
July- In Stalag V 111 B place crawling with lice.
July 26th- Leave Lamsdorf with 100 men on working party. Reach Beuthen then on to Mechtal get to billets at coalmine .
Sept- Injure hand in pit. Go to hospital at Scharli Poland. Six weeks in hospital.
Dec 26th- First RX (Red Cross) parcel.
1941
March- smashed thumb in pit six weeks of work.
Nov- Left to hospital with bad throat ten days rest.
1942
April- Run out of Red Cross supplies, things pretty tough, no rackets.
July- Escape. Recaptured. Bunker. back to work.
Sept- Leave Mechtal go to coal mine at Gleiwity.
1943
Still in coal mine , must get away, eat soap but still get marked fit.
1944
Feb- Go sick with chest . Get Stalag.
Feb 15th- Arrive Lamsdorf. meet Ernie
May 19th- Leave Lamsdorf for Jroppau railway party job all right .
Sept- Sent to Oderburg via M. Ostrau to clear up after bombing raid . No work done so we are sent home again. Five Kiwis killed in raid .
1945
Mar 7th- leave Jroppau for Bennisch ten inches of snow. 25 kilometers .
Mar 8th- leave Bennisch arrive Freudenthal
Mar 9th- Freudenthal to Romerstadl 23 kilometers.
Mar 10th- Rest
Mar 12th- Arrive at D. Liebau
Mar 14th- Arrive at Triebity to work on railway, billets crawling with bugs refuse to work.
Mar 18th- Jattenity work in sawmill
April 8th arrive Hohenstadt go on to Gr Heilendorf. No work.
May 6th – Russian troops 16 Kilometres away. Escape meet partisans escorted to Brunles by P’s .
May 7th- 2p.m. battle begins. 6p.m. Drinking to victory with Russian Officer. Celebrate my release with the Russians. Get pretty tight.
May 8th- Gr Heilendorf taken , boys get through all right .
May 9th- Left Brinles for home , reach leznity .
May 10th –Left Leznity get lift in Russian truck through Sternburg to Troppau. Visit some Checkish friends in Gilsevity as a free man. Get a great reception.
May 11th- Leave Troppau by lorry go through Ratibor, Rybonik, spend the night in Kattowity
May 12th- Leave by train for Bielsko arrive Bielsko walk to Bysky billeted in sanitorum . Waiting transport for home.
May 26th- Left Bystra to get train at Bielity . Pouring rain.
May 27th- Leave Bielity by train reach Diedly .
May 28th- Octerberg, M.Ostrau very slow train .
May 29th- Leave M. Ostrau for Prague pretty fast train , reach Olmuty
May 30th- Still going M. Tribau Zwittau. Should reach Prague to night . Arrive Prague.
May 31st – Left Prague. Met the Yanks at Rokycany outside Pilsen. Very pleased to see them. In camp at Pilsen with the Yanks. Plenty good cigs and food. Saw a film tonight. First time in five years.
June 2nd – Left Pilsen airport at 10.45 am in a B 34. Arrived at Riems 1.30pm. Good trip.
June 3rd – Left Riems at 1.30 pm in Lancaster, arrived Guildford 2.50 pm.
June 4th – Outfitted at Worthing, left for home."
Photographs
If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.
List of those who served.
- Isaac J. Dignam.
- L/Cpl. Michael J Turner. 6th Bn.(d. 27 May 1940)
- Alexander Morrison. Read his Story
- Munro Read his Story
- Reg Ward (d. 18th January 1944) Read his story
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to a soldier or regiment please get in touch.
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