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This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by CSV/大象传媒 Radio Nottingham on behalf of Christine Dudley with her permission. The Author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

My Uncle Tom Marshall joined the South Wales Borderers at the beginning of World War Two. He was first posted to France before being posted to India for two years. During his time there he was surprised to have met his uncle, a Pay Master, in the Regiment who were stationed in the same camp.

Tom Marshall was then posted to Iraq, then Palestine and Libya, before being taken Prisoner of War whilst fighting at Tobruk.

He was held a P.O.W. in several camps in Italy. The last camp he was imprisoned in was a working camp near Milan. There, the P.O.W.'s were wearing Khaki Drill (Desert uniform) but were still sent to work in the fields in mid winter. The men suffered severe hardship in the extreme cold weather. My uncle said he was forever grateful to the Red Cross for the food parcels he received - without them he would not have survived.

My Aunt, (who is now 86 years old) was Tom Marshall's twin sister, and remembers a neighbour coming to their house in the village of Argoed to tell them that he had heard 'Lord Haw Haw' on the wireless and that uncle Tom's name was listed in the P.O.W.'s taken at Tobruk.

My Aunt also remembers the family giving up food and clothing coupons to buy items to send to him.

Tom Marshall was able to escape from the P.O.W. camp and, with the help of the Italian Resistance Movement; he walked approximately 120 miles to the Swiss border - and freedom.

When he finally returned home to his village in Wales at the end of the war in 1945, he was given a heroes welcome by friends and family.

My Uncle Tom passed away in 1994 and was given a Military funeral with the help of the British Legion. Three shots were fired - as a salute to one of our Countries unsung heroes.

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