´óÏó´«Ã½

There are 17 names on the 20 Reichmark note that was paid to my father, Private Ernest Hamlett, Border Regiment, for 7.1/2 months forced labour in the Bad Grund lead mine in Germany, from September 1944 to April 1945. The names are those of the prisoners who shared a hut at Stalag XIB, after being captured by the Germans at Arnhem in Holland. Some names are illegible.

Each of these men received a similar note, signed by the others. They signed them so that they would have a souvenir to remember each other by. The notes were actually worth nothing, as the work was, realistically, slave labour. Payment was a technicality.

Private Albert Edward Smallman, No. 14583529. POW No. 118245
Border Regiment, reported wounded and missing in Action 20th September, 1944,
Tyldesley, Lancashire

W. Taylor,
1st Para TECD, 1ST airborne RECCE squadron, Oldham

Lance Corporal E. W. Ball, No. 4751030. POW No. 117586
7th K.O.S.B., A Company, South Wales (Cardiff)

Private V. Lilley, No.3194627 POW No. 117262
7th K.O.S.B., Anti-Tank Platoon, Berwick
Hospitalized at Apeldoorn, walking wounded, left hospital Sept. 26, and presumably captured then.

J McLintock, 7th K.O.S.B., C Company, Glasgow
(conflicting information suggests that there was a Cpl James McLintock, 14211211, No. 9 Platoon, C Company who was killed at Arnhem on the Oranjeweg/Bothaweg crossroads on 23/9/44 aged 24 of Johnstone, Renfrewshire.) Buried in Arnhem/Oosterbeek War Cemetry 21.A.16
Could the signature have been read wrongly? It is hard to read. Or maybe someone else is buried under his name. I think maybe the name is not McLintock if he was alive and kicking in Stalag XIB

Lance Corporal V. Heywood, T1469067, POW No. 118235
253 R.A.S.C. Air Despatcher, Manchester

Private Joseph Kenworthy, No. 4467370, POW 118066,
Border, reported wounded and missing in action 20th September 1944,
Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire

Private Ernest Hamlett, Signaller, No. 4462122, POW 118075
1st Airborne, 1ST Battalion, Border, Manchester.
1st airlanding September 17, 1944 Captured September 26, 1944
(June 17,1914 — May 27, 2002)

A…..unreadable………could be Thomas…..town begins with G…Glasgow?

Private A. F. Thomson, No. 3190512, POW 117415,
Motor Transport Battalion HQ OF 7TH KOSB …
Wounded. Treated in hospital at Arnhem.…(looks like BLACKMO…..)

R. Mills
1st RA field, 1st Airlanding light regiment — now passed away

B. K. Jones,
1st Airlanding, Light Regiment, Bolton — now passed away

Private Frank Clegg, No. 3451679, POW 118264
1st Border, reported wounded and missing 23rd September, 1944, Oldham, Lancashire

Private John Kelly, London (this is what he put on the Reichmark)

This is what others have suggested:
No. 3595395 POW 117724
Despatch Rider, 1st Border, HQ Company,
reported missing 26th September, 1944
Bolton, Lancashire Is it the same man?

There are 8 more Kellys listed in XIB (South Stafford, RAMC, border, KOSB, RE, RA)

G. Lovatt (??)
1st ALRECCE, chesterfield

Private G. H. Smith-Carter, No. 5125393, POW 117957,
156 Para, Mansfield

G. Jackson
2 (OBMM)HLA/TBRRA (2ND Oban Anti-Tank Battery) Hamilton — passed away

Looking for more information. Can anyone help? jajames@direct.ca

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