大象传媒

This story is told in my dad's words as I have it written down by him. I will only change the context if it reads too factual.

Worked on the Gort Line early winter of 1940 on the French/Belgium border.

March 1940 Maginot Line forward outposts at the Sarr (?) basin. Moved into Belgium 13.5.40 and took up positions at Waterloo fighting retreat back to Wormhoute where we made out last stand rear guard action Dunkirk, where a Panser Division tore us to peieces.

Taken prisoner 31.5.40, myself (W. Harrison) and six others hiding in a bull shed with three rounds of ammo between us. Very hungrey and tried as we had not eaten or slept for a least six days.

The following three weeks or so are very confussed and hazy in mind being march daily, when we came to a halt at Charleville and put to workunloading barges of sugar, cheese, jam etc from Holland.

Some time in August we were loaded into cattle trucks 60 to a truck. Did not get off again until we were in Poland which was days later. Were that weak and tired had to fall off the rail truck.

The next four and half years was put to work in various places and jobs from farming to mining.

Made two escapes, the first time was recaptured within a couple of days. The second time on the run for five weeks. Spent a few days with the Polish Underground Movement. When caught was put into heavy punishment camp for six weeks, where you could not speak, if you did it was a boot or rifle butt. Hard labour by day and solitary confinement by night.

Januray 1945 thousands of us were taken to Marienburge as the Russians advanced. We were put on the march which loasted until April 29th when we were released by General Pattons Army close to the River Elbe after marching around 1,200 kilometers. This was mostly through snow and around 30 degrees below.

I did have quite good times during the five years as a prisoner of war as well as bad. I walways elected myself as Confidence man on working comandoes demanding our rights under Geneva Conventions. One of the German Control Officers was about 6'4" tall I called him "Long Tom". We had many battles but gained mutal respect for each other.

During the long march I gave way and dropped exhausted into the snow wanting to die. The next thing I knoew was a pain in my side and a German voice shouting "Harrison, again what? Get up you bloody dog. I could not get up so "Long Tom" picked me up and put me onto a German farm cart as the |Germans were all being evacuated as well. They cared for me for a few days unitl I was strong enough to join the P.O.W. column again.

I think of "Long Tom" often for he did save my life.

Out of interest my dad was 6ft and when he came home he was five and a half stone and spent quite some tie in hospital for the treatment of ulcers, malnutrician, etc. Before being demobed he was transferred in August 1945 to South Staffs Glider Regiment. He was medically down graded. Posted to R.A.O. central demob.

Additional Information:

Joined Worcester Regiment September 1939
Demobed 1946

Sgt Gunnery Instructor June 1960 - 31 March 1967
The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers TA

Committee member, Branch Chairman, President and welfare oficer with The R.A Association - 25years

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