大象传媒

This story was submitted to the people's war site by James Barton of the County Heritage Team on behalf of Frank Woolley (the author) and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I joined the RAF in May 1939. After square bashing, went to 112 squadron in Norfolk, working as a flight rigger on Blenheims.
In January 1940 we were sent to Egypt, stationed near Cairo, then to the Western Desert where we lived in tents. In October 1940 I was posted to Athens, working on Gladiators and then transferred to the north of the country as Greece was fighting the Italians. At this point Germany became involved and we were evacuated back to Athens, then on to Crete. When Crete capitulated in 1941 I was taken, as a prisoner of war, to Silesia and joined a working party.

In July 1943 whilst a prisoner in Stalag 8b, a friend and I escaped through a short tunnel dug beneath our hut. We were free for 8 days and after our re-capture were placed in solitary confinement for 28 days. We went back to the working party.

In January 1945 the Russians were advancing on Silesia and we were evacuated to an area closer to Nuremberg. This meant walking from January to April 1945 with poor clothing and very little food. Once there we were put into another camp. Then, as the Russian advance came closer we were moved further inland and I was able to escape once more and found shelter. I could hear gunfire in the distance and next morning American tanks came through and I was able to get a lift from them.

From Nuremberg I flew to France and at Le Havre was put on a troop transporter back to Southampton, then a train to London and RAF H.Q.
where I was medically examined. After some home leave I was sent for rehabilitation in Scarborough. I was demobbed in September 1945.

I met my wife at a Youth Hostel in North Wales in 1946 and we married in 1947.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.