The Wartime Memories Project - STALAG 8b (344) POW Camp



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Information.

Stalag 8b was situated 3 Km from Lamsdorf, the camp was renamed Stalag 344 in 1943. to cope with the over-crowding at Lamsdorf and at the same time divide the work of administering its numerous Arbeitskommandos, transferred administrative staff to form new base camps at Teschen and Sagan. These became known as Stalag VIIIB and Stalag VIIIC respectively, the original camp at Lamsdorf being renumbered Stalag 344. The Silesian working camps were now conveniently divided between Stalag 344 and Stalags VIIIA, B, and C, all coalmining Arbeitskommandos coming under Stalag VIIIB at Teschen. The latter very soon had a strength of 11,000 British Commonwealth prisoners (including nearly 1000 New Zealanders); but only a little over 200 of these were at the base camp, the remainder being spread over fifty or more Arbeitskommandos.

Today the site is a museum dedicated to the memory of the prisoners who were held there. Lamsdorf was one of the largest complexes of POW camps run by the Wehrmacht comprising: Stalag VIII B, Stalag 318/VIII F and Stalag 344. It is estimated that the camps saw about 300 thousand POWs of different nationalities.

As early as during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) a camp for about three thousand French POWs was set up on the site, which had previously been an artillery range. During World War I about Ninety Thousand POWs - soldiers of the Entante - were interned in Lamsdorf.

The camps were liberated by the Red Army on 17-18 March, 1945.

Today the site is used as a military artillary range.



The majority of men held in Stalag 8b were not in the main camp but in smaller working camps known as arbeits kommandos. The "E" prefix stands for English, but POW's from many Commonwealth countries worked in these camps.

Arbeits kommandos:

  • Schalkendorf in the Kreis (Area of) Oppeln.
  • Stauverder
  • E1. Laband
  • E3 Blechammer
  • E8 Krappitz. paper mill
  • E17 Oppeln. cement factory
  • E22. Gliewitz-Ohringen
  • E25 Rauschwalde, Kreis Falkenberg
  • E27 coal mine
  • E30 Cement factory
  • E51. Klausberg
  • E62. Gleiwitz-Steigern
  • E72. Beuthen
  • E75 Knurow
  • E88. Hohrnlohehutte
  • E94 Emilienhoff. limestone quarry
  • E110 Stauwerder
  • E114 Gross Kunzendorf. stone quarry and factory
  • E119 Mankendorf. Saw Mill
  • E138 Ratibor. Steel works
  • E131 Tiefbau Pollok. stone quarry
  • E149 Buchenlust
  • E162 Oderthal
  • E196 Opoleonoora. cement factory
  • E203 Oppeln. cement works
  • E209 Bobrek. coal mine
  • E211 Treibiz. railway
  • E218 Flossingen
  • E234 Tonhain.
  • E243, Breslau (gasworks)
  • E256 Zuckmantel,
  • E260 Grosszeildel
  • E276 Ottmachau. sugar beet factory.
  • E283 Ratibor (sugar mill)
  • E324 Gross Dubrnsko
  • E332 Rudgershagen
  • E365 Gross Strelitz. lime quarry
  • E373 Blaschke, Czechoslovakia. sawmill
  • E389 Rudgershagen
  • E393 Mittel-Lazisk.
  • E411 Hohenzollerngrube Beuthen. coal mine
  • E419 Oppeln
  • E446 Zuckmantel,
  • E456 Kalkau
  • E460 building railway bridge
  • E479 Tarnowitz
  • E484 Neisse. labouring
  • E486 Neisse labouring
  • E490 Beuthen. railway building
  • E494 Gleiwitz Ost
  • E51 coal mine
  • E535 Sosnowitz West. coal mine
  • E538 Sosnowice. mine.
  • E542 Fohrengrund ub Gleiwtz
  • E543 Drmbrowa
  • E552 Hindenberg Philipstr
  • E561 Tarnowtitz. railway depot loading and unloading trains.
  • E 579
  • E563 Bory Jelen Jaworzno
  • E565 Sierza Wodna. coal mine
  • E571 Gruden. forestry department
  • E578 Peiskretscham, Kreis Gleiwitz
  • E579 Niwka
  • E580 Czelads
  • E586 Kazimierz
  • E587 Czelads Piarski
  • E593 Beuthen Schonberg
  • E594 Konigshutte Ost
  • E596 Jaworzno
  • E603 Hindenburg
  • E701 Tichau Czulow (paper factory)
  • E702 Klimontow coal mine
  • E706 Gleiwtiz
  • E707 Sosnowitz
  • E708 Laband
  • E711A Heydebreck
  • E714 Blechhammer, Upper Silesia
  • E715 Auschwitz
  • E719 Steigern
  • E724 Schwientochlowitz
  • E725 Konigshutte Bismark
  • E727 Mechtal Beuthen. power station
  • E728 Neu Oderberg
  • E732 Czciakowa
  • E734 Schoppintiz
  • E739 Dombrowa Grunkolonie
  • E740 Kobier
  • E742 Ober Lazisk
  • E744 Kazimierz
  • E746 Konigshutte
  • E748 Brorek
  • E749 Peiskretscham
  • E750 Kattowitz
  • E753 Graumanndorf
  • E754 Czelads
  • E755 Wojkowitz Komorne
  • E756 Radzionkau
  • E757 Morenrot
  • E758 Knurow
  • E759 Glewitz
  • E760 Bobrek
  • E761 Bobrek
  • E762 Bobrek
  • E902 coal mine
  • E902 Delbruckschachte-Hindenburg coal mine
  • E22050. gas works

    If you have any further information on these work camps or any which are not yet on our list please get in touch.



My late father, L/Clp Austin Vaughan Cooke of 2/2nd AIF was captured on Crete, ending up at Stalag VIIIB. I have some photos that I can organise to get copies to you if you are interested along with some other items. I have his army dog tag together with his prisoner ID 8016 for Front Stalag 183.



My sister's late husband George Kennard was in Stalag VIIIB for about four years and would like you put his name on you prisoners list. I will be able to send a photograph taken at the camp later.



My father, Jack Vaughan, was captured in Crete and spent 4 years in VIIIB He had deducted one year from his birth date so that he could join the Royal Horse Guards at 17. In January 1940, the regiment took horses to Palestine and there he rode as many as 70 miles a day through many places mentioned in The Bible, including one day drinking ice cold water from Jacob’s Well. As the war progressed and European countries fell to Nazi Germany, he transferred to the Commandos after undertaking specialist training in Egypt. He went to Abyssinia where he took parts in raids behind enemy lines, sometimes covering as much as 200 miles in a day. After a further short spell in Egypt, two commando units went to Crete, but the weather was too rough to land. After changing on to a cruiser, he eventually landed at Suda Bay and fought hand to hand across the island for five days before being captured by the Germans.

He was taken to Stalag VIIIB where his experiences were horrific including being hospitalised for four months after being severely beaten. Released by the Americans in 1945, he returned to the UK spent some time in hospital receiving treatment before resuming Guard duties at Whitehal. Later, due to his treatment in the prisoner of war camp, he was disabled out of the Horse Guards.

I have cartoons and pictures drawn in a log book by WMH who I have now deduced is Bill 'Toad' Hughes as a result of meeting up with the wife of former inmate Stan Livingstone - she also has a log book containing a cartoon by WMH. We found the reference and some further pictures in a book called Almost a Lifetime by John McMahon.

We know of at least 5 cartoonists / artists who drew in prisoner's log books - doe anyone have any information on these prisoner artists please? I would lik eto hear from anyone who remembers my father.



My father Percy James Grant of 239/101lt AA & A / T Regt Royal Artillery was captured he told me at St Valery in France and was reported missing about June 1940. He was marched through France to Germany and ended up in Poland. My father is no longer with us but told us very little about his time in a Prison of War camp except we have a picture of him with colleagues in Stalag VIII B in 1942. He had a POW number of 6333. He did mention that they were made to work in a Jam factory while being prisoners of war. The only other thing I know is that he was picked up by the Americans nr Prague and brought back to the UK at the end of the war. I have a few words in a diary with a whole list of names which might be people he was with in the camp.



I'm a grandson of the late John Lally. My grandfather was a POW at Stalag 8b after he was taken prisoner at Dunkirk. He was wounded in his left leg which he then lost. He was in the camp for almost 4 years until his repatriation in late 1943. I'm trying to gather information on his days as a prisoner. His details are- Pte. John (Jack) Lally. Army No.13006468. Pioneer Corps and his POW number was 30842. I would be very grateful if you can help me with any of this. I'm attaching some photos I have of when he was in the camp. Could you advise on the best way to trace any of the men in the pictures? If they are still alive or even just the names. I do believe the ships involved in the repatriation were the SS Drottningholm and the Hospital Ship Atlantis. This is not very much to go on but I would greatly wecome any information about any of the above.



My father Walter Dorman was a POW in Stalag 8b-344. He ws captured in Crete about June 1941—he was a Jewish soldier from Palestine. His Stalag number was 6399 and his rank Corporal, I don’t know his unit. He never wanted to tell us what he saw in the camp or suffered there.

We know he was in the battle on Tubruk–he got some medals for his action in the battle and we were told he and two other friends escaped the death march-in Germany. Because he was born in Germany, he and his friends were able to find their way to the English and American armies.

We have some photos from the camp and postcards wrote to his wife in Israel—we know that love kept him alive—and the hope he never lost-to come home. In 1945 he got to England and met his sisters and young brother who lived there. After a few months he was standing again and went to Israel. He and mom died in 1998 within four weeks of each other. He was 82 years old. We love him and mom very much. Love kept them together in war and peace



My father, Cpl Robert Peden, Lothian and Border Horse, as far as I can gather, was captured at St Valery and spent all or most of the war in Stalag VIIIB/344. I have a number of family photos with the camp stamp on and recall him telling me that at one point, Douglas Bader was there for a while before being transferred elsewhere. In keeping with many POW's, my father was reluctant to talk about his time as a prisoner. On the few occasions that he did drop his guard, he told me of soup containing a horses eye, making spirit from potatoes and being allowed to leave the camp to go to a nearby village to collect a piano. This was to allow the POW's to entertain themselves and he brought it back apparently with the aid of a wheelbarrow. I think that he did mention becoming a 'trustie'. He did once talk about being on a forced march where men died but I do not know any of the detail.

This picture may have been taken in the camp but has nothing positively identifying it. My father is 4th from the right standing with the fair hair. I do not know who any of the others are.

This photo has 'Friewaldan May 1943' written on the back. My father is standing in the centre. Again, I do not know the others.

As far as I can gather, Freiwaldan is in Austria so I suspect that my father may have been in another camp at some point. If anyone knows any of the others in either of the photographs or can help fill in the gaps in my knowledge I would be most grateful. My father passed away in 1996 and I have no other means of increasing my knowledge of this time in his life.



My uncle, Sgt Aubrey "Tommy" Dutch was a prisoner in Oflag 111C, Stalag VIIIB and Stalag 383 from his capture on Crete in 1941 to his liberation in 1945. He played the banjo in many camp concerts and performed after the war at the POW concert held at (I believe) the Prince of Wales theatre in London. He died in 1983.

Barry Pullen MBE



The Band. Wilf is sitting second from the left. He played the trumpet.

This is the writing of George Wilfred Wyatt, written in the mid 90's about his experience.

"Courage and Determination"

In 1939 after working down the mines for four years, I joined the army and served as a gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery. I was posted to France as part of the 51st Highland Division B.E.F. and was taken Prisoner of War at St. Valery in June 1940.

We marched to Holland and then went onto Emerich in Germany by barge. We then travelled by train to Scubin in Poland where we were put into working party camps. Whilst at this camp we were sent to work on farms, in factories and on the railways and roadworks. We were also sent to build camps for P.O.W's. About two years later in 1942, we were sent to work in the mines in the Katowice mining area.

At this mine, a young Polish girl was working in the lamp cabin. Her job was to hand out checks and lamps to the miners working below ground. This was the beginning of my friendship with this young Polish girl named Halinka. As our relationship blossomed daily to eventually corresponding and meeting occasionally when ever possible during the following years.

Halinka's father was a Polish Resistance leader who lived throughout the war never knowing whether that dreaded knock at the door would ever come, (i.e. GESTAPO"). Halinka obviously kept her friendship with me a big secret, knowing that any relationship with a P.O.W. would be against her father's wishes.

During the last few months of 1944, we moved to another mine, 20 kilometres north of Halinka's village and later still yet another mine, 15 kilometres south of her village. However, every few days I would see Halinka walking near by the camp. Some times, we could have a chat and other times it would be impossible, but she never complained.

In January 1945 along with a friend, we escaped from the camp and made our way with the help of Polish friends to the village some 15 kilometres away. Knowing the Russians were advancing to the area. Local people until liberated hid us until we were liberated.

We then decided to get married. So we travelled to Krakow airport where the R.A.F. had a base. Travelling on top of a cattle truck 80 kilometres to receive permission from an officer, which he granted and signed my pay book, escorting me out of the base, against the will of the Russians.

We made our way to the city of Krakow 5 kilometres away and found a church with a friendly priest who willingly agreed to marry us and also kindly found us accommodation for our wedding night.

We returned to my wife's home in Niwka and after the initial shock, her family accepted us with open arms and gave us their blessing although with a little doubt. (Was I true or false).

Our happiness did not last long, as the Russians put out an order that all P.O.W's must report to military headquarters within a week or be treated as spies and shot. A party of eight reported to Krakow where we were given hard rations, mostly dried vegetables, for 4 days journey by train to Odessa. They would not allow girls to travel, however, between us we managed to smuggle my wife Halinka with us, hiding her under top coats in our sleeping compartments.

On arrival at Odessa, the British Military Mission, who had to escort her back home, held my wife. I was sent home by merchant ship, via Italy, Gibraltar and Scotland. On my arrival, I informed my unit and the British Red Cross of my marriage and received only acknowledgement.

Later my wife home from Odessa with a British Military escort and was told to wait until later and to get in touch with the British Embassy, which at this time did not exist. However, Halinka being very impatient decided to make her own way to Prague in Czechoslovakia with papers or passport.

At the British Embassy, her good luck still held out. After being checked, she finished up in the office of a Major Wyatt whom was delighted at meeting a namesake and looked after her the time she spent in Prague.

Halinka arrived in London on VJ Day. Unable to contact anyone owing to a public holiday. However, the police found me and informed me that Halinka was on her way to Nottingham by train and that I should meet her when she arrives.

Courage and determination played a big part in our romance throughout.

George Wilfred Wyatt

I hope that I have done the right thing for my uncle Wilf. He was a kind man and did tell me one or two anecdotes about life in the camp. If I remember rightly, he told me how they used to make fish soup by tying the fish onto a piece of string and passing it across the top of the boiling water. They didn't eat very much as the rations the Germans gave them were very meagre indeed. I suspect probably just enough to keep them going. He also told me of the time when he was out with some of his POW mates. I think he worked nearby in a mine or a farm. They had been given some eggs and they were looking forward to having something more substantial to put into their stomachs. One of the guards stopped them and when he went to search the knapsack, uncle Wilf gave the bag a huge clap and smashed all the eggs, so then the Germans couldn't take the eggs either. He had a very dry sense of humour and was a genuine good man.

Colin Winterbottom



My grandfather, RCAF Harold (Roy) Janes was a POW at stalag 8b from around 1942 (late) to 1945 when I believe he and a few other escaped after being moved to other camps. I know alot of people are looking for information on their loved ones but there are a lot of names from the camps. I have a bounitful supply of photos, newspaper clippings and 3 years of letters sent to my grandmother (she kept everything). Most of the photos we have are from the plays and things put on in the camps, and the germans did a good job of painting out most of his letters, but I can't think of any names offhand other than a couple letters sent to her by I think someone by the name of alby and george (i think). He (like most) does not talk about it alot but recently he's started opening up about the things that happened during his stay. My grandmother intends on donating some of the stuff she has to a war museum but i can try and get all the info i can to keep. If anyone thinks they knew of him or might be looking for someone who would have been with him, I can certainly dig up some information.

Lauren Smith



I was a member of the 11th Battalion of the DLI, captured at Lille in 1940. I spent the rest of the war in Stalag 8b. One of my fellow POW's was a Mauri who was the New Zealand Army Division Heavy Weight Champion boxer.

We had a Sergeant in charge of our working party E565 Siersza Wodna at a coal mine near Trzebinia, Poland, we knew him as Sgt "Krappitz" (The Man of Confidence) He was from County Durham or Northumberland, spoke with a slight lisp and had trouble pronouncing his R's. He was a great man and was like a father to us younger lads. Does anyone remember him?

I would like to get in touch with anyone who remembers Sgt Krappitz from those times. He was with us on the long march from Poland to Landshut where we parted company.

I would also like to get in touch with the family of one of my fellow prisoners who was killed in a accident whilst working in the coal mine in July 1944. He was about 23 or 24 years old, from London I think, I didn't know his full name but I think he may have been Pte Harry Williams of the 5th Battalion of the Hampshire Regt who died on the 15th July 1944 and is buried at the Cracow Rakowicki Cemetery.

I'd also like to hear from my friend Cecil B. Moulden who was from Stroud in Gloucestershire, we lost touch after the war.

George Black



I believe my father James Charles Mackie was a POW of Stalag 8b. His service number was R8982/C96-31. I would like to know if there are records. He escaped shortly before war ended and recuperated in England.. 6`2" at 96 lbs..He was on the Death march.



My father, Lawrence, (Lol) Tilley was in Stalag VIIIB during WW2. He would be in his early 20s. He was in the Cheshire Regiment and came from Sandbach, Cheshire. He's still alive (87 this year)and would be interested in hearing from anyone who knew him then. He's started talking about the camp and I think he would like to know what happened to some of the men he knew there.



I am trying to obtain information on my uncle pte John Gallagher, Canadian Scottish, who was captured in the Dieppe raid.He was imprisoned in Stalag v111b and as in there during 1943.

Charles Gallagher



I understand that my father Bombardier AW Ward (Royal Artillery) Woolwich, captured at Dunkirk and marched eventually to Stalag 8B and imprisoned until end of war. He worked in coal mines (sustained back injury), but cannot find any references. I would be grateful for any assistance.



I have just returned from a visit to the museum at Lambinowice. I was trying to find further information about my father - Jack Abrahams who spent time there and like most prisoners never talked about it. I only found out about the camp when I found old letters sent to and from this camp.

I contacted the camp by email - on their website, and the curator Maciej Lachowicz could not have been more helpful - with trains and providing a translator who spoke very good English- Anna Wickiewicz who was so helpful. I also stayed the night - but beware there are no pubs and restaurants so take your own food.

Obviously I would lie to find more information about my father but for those interested in visiting the museum - I can certainly recommend it.

This picture of a group from 8B was in a wartime picture magazine in New Zealand. It comments on the New Zealander in the photo. He was Gunner Edward Gordon Weight from Wellington. He died in April 2004, following an accident, aged 85.

He told me a little of his experiences at the camp, He was a bootmaker and repaired prisoner's boots with wooden nails. He first made a hole with an awl and then tapped them through to the steel lath until they broke off. He referred to it as being on a "racket". He said only the airforce chaps did the escaping. He said he was often let out on work parties. On his day of liberation he was in hospital, he said. However he was unable to recall the day, other than being in hospital. He was captured in Crete. A few days after he told me about the camp, I asked him how he was feeling today and he said, "At least I'm not having any more nightmares now."

I hope somebody might remember him. He was a very young chap in the photo group though. The others looked definitely older. His widow, Ruby, is 60 and so able to take an interest in his camp background, although his war experiences were evidently too hard to bring into his family life. Therefore, what he told me, was unknown to his wife of 35 years.

Like me, Edward "Gordon" Weight was known by his middle name, Gordon, which is how the photo is captioned. It's a bit tatty because it was kept in Gordon's tin of treasures and lent to me by Ruby after he passed away. It was very sad that the accident also put an abrupt end to any more wartime recollections from Gordon.

The stories he told me, were not easy, at first, for him to tell me. He remembered the events leading up to capture with ease and enthusiasm. However, after capture in Crete, he would tell me a few recollections per visit and then say, "Well, that will be enough for today", and I knew he meant it, since he was sensitive and intelligent. However, unlike the "war-time thriller stories", he calmy told it as if just another day at the supermaket.

I printed him a good picture, from the internet, of the Aquatania, the troopship he went over on. Since

I am a friend of the family.



My father, Charles Osborne Leech was taken at Dunkirk and spent the whole of the war in Stalag 8b. He was from Liverpool and was with the King's Regiment. Sadly, he died, aged 49, in 1968. He kept a kind of scrap book which included details of Red Cross parcels, some poetry and some calligraphy but I have no idea what happened to it. If anyone has any memories of him, I would love to get in contact.

This is a picture of him in 1945 on his wedding day to mother, Lilian, who also died in 2001.

Geoff Leech



My father, Frederick Leonard Richardson was taken prisoner while serving with the 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment BEF forces outside Dunkirk on May 29th 1940. Stalag 8b was one of the camps my father was in I think he was moved to others. He worked in forestry and Polish coalmines. He was a keen footballer played for some teams.

My father is on back row centre

My father is back row on right, on back of this photo is a name number and address must be one of the other POWs.


He was a POW from May 29th 1940 till April 24th 1945 was on the long march until released by the Americans.

Ken Richardson.



We always knew that my wife's father, Thomas David Knowles, was a POW (he has now passed away) but we have just discovered some old photographs that were sent to him when he was a POW.


Written on the back in his sisters handwriting is all the info we needed.

Tony Stuchbury



My Dad, Ernest van Telle was a sergeant in the AIF 2/11th Battalion, captured on Crete. He was interred in Stalag 8B circa 28.10.41. He was later transfer to Stalag 357 on the 24th April 1944. Dad was a red head and "Bluey" is a nickname that was applied to red heads. (It's an Aussie thing)

He has now moved into a home, in the moving process we discovered a number of photos taken at the POW camp.

This photo has the names written on the back - Back row - McDowell and Eton, Second row - Barlet, Michel, van Telle (dad), Wilkins and Johnson, First row - Henderson, Warren, Collison and Daly

Has the photographers stamp on the back - no names and dad is not in it
Has written on the back - "To Bluey - Just to remind you of some of the Kiwis you have met." Signed Cecil Broomfield
Has the photographers stamp on the back - no names and Dad is not in it. - Clifford Harold Anslow, seated centre, see below.
Has no names written on the back - Dad is standing second from the right in the second row.
The photographers stamp is in German and I don't know what it says, I would be interested in the translation:

Fotoautnahme genehmigt!

Dieser Prüfvermerk gilt nicht für

Schriftliche Mitteilungen.

Stalag VIII B


Can anyone put a name to any of the faces?
Gail Brindley
UPDATE: Clifford Harold Anslow (New Zealand) R.M.T.Coy N.Z. ASO 2nd NZ E.F. Maadi Camp Egypt. 2nd World War Thank you for the web site and information. I'm trying to get together the history of my mother's brother who appears on your pages in photos of Kiwi's. His name is Clifford Harold Anslow, he was in the NZ Army R.M.T.Coy N.Z. ASO 2nd NZ E.F., he was in the POW camp Stalag 8B and worked in the coal mines. He was in the Great March after he was captured on Crete. Before that he was in Maadi Camp, Egypt. In one of your photos above, there are nine men Cliff is in the front row and in the middle with white long socks showing and sitting down.

  • Clifford Harold Anslow R.M.T.Coy N.Z. ASO 2nd NZ E.F.Read his Story


    • My uncle William Mooney from Barrhead in Scotland was captured at the Normandy landings and held in Stalag V111B for the duration of the war. I have a postcard that he sent to my grandparents with the official 8 or 9 lines. If anyone remembers him or has any memories regarding his time there please let me know

    Elizabeth Fox



    My father Roy Clinton Barnes born in December 1918 in Portsmouth, England was a POW for 5 years in Stalag 8B. He was captured in France as a Strecher Bearer and forced to march for three weeks to Holland and then placed in cattle cars and shipped to Poland. He was a band member and played carinet remarkably well.

    My father is still alive and is of sound mind and memory, it would be a great comfort and a way of closure for him if someone out there remembers him and can send him a line through me.

    Andrea Brehl



    My grandad Norman Leslie Monaghan was captured during WWII and taken to Lamsdorf camp number 344 He served in the Royal Army Ordanance Corps His prisoner of war number was 267065. I am looking for all information regarding him. If anyone remembers him or has any info please email me.

    Amanda Farnaby





    These are photos of my Uncle, James Shields who was a POW in Stalag V111B.

    Garry Shields



    My late uncle Ron Davies from near Swansea, Wales was a gunner with the Royal Artillery when captured at Crete in 1941. I know that he was at Stalag 344 at the end of the war.I recall him saying that he worked in the mines when a POW. I would be pleased to hear from anyone with any memories, photos etc.

    Gareth Bassett



    My dad Private Fred Waltho (Leicester Regiment) was held at Stalag VIIIb for quite a while, I still have his German dog tags and some photos. Also lots of letters from him to his mother which I read from time to time and they always make me cry. In them he's obviously trying to be cheerful and remain positive about finally getting home - it breaks your heart. He kept 'his war' quite a private thing, not really ever going into any detail other than to relate the odd funny story.

    Unfortunately my dad passed away in 1994, the best dad in the world - I miss him so much, he will always be my hero.

    Jane Talbot



    My father was a Prisoner Of War in Stalag 8B from sometime after the Battle of Crete (probably late 1941) until the end of the war when the camp prisoners were marched across Germany by German guards/soldiers to reach American forces in the south west of Germany. Like all the others in this situation my father said very little about his time in Stalag 8B, I do know that he worked in the coal mines for extra food. My father was a Private in the New Zealand Army. His name is Douglas Neil Tiffen, known as Neil. He died in June 1990. I have rather vague recollections of a school friend of mine mentioning Richard Pape being an uncle of his. I remember the book, written by Mr Pape, being in my friends possession, but never got to read it.

    Laurie Tiffen.



    This is the first time I have been in this site & to my amasement I found a reference to my father, JIM CARSON 4th R M T N.Z. Unfortunately he died in 1966 at the age of 55, a year younger than I am now. He never spoke much about his experiences during his time overseas,what I do know is he was captured in CRETE & spent the rest of the war as a P O W in Stalag 8B Lamsdorf. It is only now that I am interested in his experinces during the war but at the time he died I had very little interest in that side of his life If anyone who was with him during that time reads this I would be very interested to hear from them.

    Victor Carson



    My husband's father Edwin Thomas George Moore was at Stalag V111B Lamsdorf until the end of the War. (Probably known as Ted Moore) Ted Moore was born in 1900 and also served in the 1st World War. He was a bit of a rough diamond but spoke of his memories in the Army and the Prison Camp always making a joke of everything. He was liked by all and down the pub; made many friends of young lads who loved his stories. So much so that when Ted died in the 1970's there were dozens of these lads at his funeral.

    Groups of inmates were sent out on work-parties. Trucks would take them to farms etc. I have no idea where this particular farm was located BUT the Farmer's name sounds like TEEL or TEAL.. So somewhere in the Camp vicinity was a German family with the surname sounding like TEEL/TEAL. The Farmer had a very young son and asked my Father in law to teach him English. One day the TEEL family had visitors and they were singing round a piano. The Farmer stopped the songs sung in German and proudly announced that their son would entertain all their guests as he knew many songs in English. The lad did so with great gusto as his English was indeed very good. The guests also could speak English but Farmer Teal could not! There was uproar because the guests were profoundly shocked to hear a young lad singing the usual troop songs including the many "swear" words. Corporal Ted Moore despite this remained good friends with Farmer TEEL.

    Anyone who may remember him will know he had a Welsh accent as he was born Newport Gwent. South Wales. In the same camp was another Newport man Albert Vittle. Albert Vittle kept escaping and getting caught. He used to say "See you in the morning Ted" My father in law said "Why do you do it Albert, you know they will catch you" The reply was "Anything to annoy the b*****ers Ted" Ted Moore was in the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers and his number was 12591. He was a Corporal.

    His Life was quite sad, actually, although he would not agree with me. Left school at 12yrs. Then in the 1914-1918 War. Then the Second World War. Riddled with TB. On returning to his work the Directors called him into their office and said "TED you are not well enough to do your job so we have found you a nice light job to do-----tomorrow you are in charge of cleaning the lavatories" !!!!! Because he was a man of his time he thanked them profusely.

    It makes me so angry and tearful to remember Our Glorious Wonderful Boys returning from the War--a new world---they were told. A Land for Heroes. Well, Old Ted found the "new world" no better than the old- although he did not ever complain. In the meantime if anyone remembers Ted Moore, please e-mail me.

    This site is a wonderful tribute to all the men who withstood so many hardships but in their twilight years recalled the comaradie and "funny" incidents with no bitterness

    Thank you. Diana Moore.



    My grandfather, Leopold John Carpenter (Jack)was part of the 2nd New Zealand Exp Force. He was captured on Crete and was a member of Stalag 8B from the 11/1/1942.

    Scott Hannan



    My father, Winston Yeatman from Christchurch, New Zealand was an Engineer (or 'sapper') in the 19th New Zealand Army Troop Engineers. He was a prisoner of war in Stalag V111B after being captured on Crete in 1941, arriving back in UK May 1945. His POW number was 7490. From his war record he seems to have been in a few camps - Salonika, where he was first registered as a POW at Front Stalag 183; V111b; 344; Stalagluft 6; He was an Engineer in the NZ Army.

    He changed identities with Richard Pape (and others) and his exploits are in the book written by Richard Pape 'Boldness Be My Friend' and it's sequel. Dad passed away in 1986, he was always actively involved in the RSA, EX-POW & Tin Hat Club in Christchurch, New Zealand.

    Cynthia Fraser



    I have my Grandfathers dog tags from Stalag VIIIB. I was wishing to find out some more information on him and the camp if anyone can help. His name was: Flt Lt Charles Bryce Watson of Sandringham, Victoria Australia. ID 26821 (on tags)

    Scott Laney



    My Grandfather was in 2/8th Battalion Australian Imperial Force. Ronald William Dwyer, also known as "Dick", service no.VX6410. He was held in stalag 8b, and according to his service record was there for 4 years. He was captured on the Yugoslav-Greek border. Like so many, he wasnt able to talk about his experiences, and had a lot of difficulties in assimilating after the war. He died in 1968 and we really dont know anything about him, would love to know if anyone remembers him or knows of him. On the rare occassions he did speak about this time, he did mention at least 2 attempted escapes.

    Also, there doesn't seem to be many australian pow's listed, does anyone know of any australian pow groups?

    Pippa Parnham



    I'm looking for any information about my grandfather, LOUIS AUDET from Quebec, Canada. He was part of Operation Jubilee in Dieppe with Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. He became a prisoner held in Stalag 8B after being captured in Dieppe. If anyone has any information or knows where I might find Canadian Dieppe survivors, please let me know. Thank you.

    Isabelle



    My father Wladyslaw Szczygiel was a POW in Stalag 344 and took part in the 'death march'. He was interned in stalag 344 after being taken prisoner, following the second rising of Warsaw, in 1944 as part of the Armii Krajowej (Polish underground). He told me some of the ordeals of the march and how they were liberated by the Americans.

    Jan Szczygiel



    My father, Gunner Frank Allen of the Royal Artillery. He was taken prisoner in Crete June 1941 and held until 1945. He died in 1965, he never told me about his pow days as I was too young but I have some photo's. I would like to find more info on Stalag 8b and what it was like for my Father.

    Brenda Allen



    My Grandfather Cecil Charles Fogell was in the 145 Field Ambulance (R.A.M.C) and was captured at Dunkirk,on the 28th May. He was taken to Stalag VIII B Lamsdorf. We have his German POW indentification card which shows he entered the camp on 14.06.40. He was prisoner number 12440. He was then transfered to Stalag VIII D on the 1.9.41. It then seems he was transfered to Stalag IX-C between 26.9.41 to 1.12.43. He then was moved again in April 1943 to Stalag XXID. If anyone knew him during this time. We would welcome any memories.

    His POW id-card

    John Smithson



    I have a distant releative, John Herbert Swift from Royston, Hertfordshire, who was a POW at Stalag VIIIB, but I can hardly find anything out about him. Can anyone out there help ? Trevor Gilbert


    My father, Thomas Craven spent 4 years in stalag 8b but would never talk about any of his military life. It was only after his death that items have beenshared, his german dog tags numerous photos from stalag8b which I am willing to share with others. My father was captured on Crete in a vilage called Xamadohouri and I am still in touch with people from this village who knew my father and they still have photos. If anyone would like to see the photos please let me know.

    Paul Craven





    List of Prisoners

    If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.





    Photographs

    My grandad, Pte William Henry Bowden is in the top row 2nd from right He was with the Dorset regt and held in Stalag 8b.

    Colin Meacock



    Recomended reading



    Sojourn in Silesia: 1940-1945
    Arthur C. Evans


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    POW Camps Index



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