大象传媒

Jonathan Wilkinson

PEOPLE IN STORY: Jonathan Wilkinson, Bill Evans, Uggie Clemans, Alf Forrester.
LOCATION: Sidi Nsir (Battle Against the Odds in Northern Tunisia); POW CAMPS in Italy, Germany and Upper Silesia; the Great March back across Czechoslovakia to Southern Germany and Freedom.
UNIT NAME: B Company 5th Hampshire Regiment.
BACKGROUND: Army.
MATES REMEMBERED : Dickie Stamford, G Howells, G Brown, N Croker, E King, G Lloyd, F Keeping, C James, B Morgan, J Cook, L Evans, J Hicks, J Wort.

PERSONAL DETAILS:
My family moved from the North East to Southampton to find work in the shipbuilding yards on the River Itchen. I was born in Southampton in 1920, and am a proud 'Saint' and Hampshire man. I attended Ludlow School where we had the best football team in the county, and represented the county in athletics. My speciality was the 440 yards. Cricket was another favourite sport and I still watch Hampshire at the Rosebowl.

I married my childhood sweetheart and we are still happily married in the 'house what I built'. Yes I was a great Morecambe and Wise fan, and of course Tommy Cooper.

I spent all my working life with British Railways (then Sea Link) as a foreman painter producing signs for passenger trains and then the Isle of Wight ferries. I retired over 20 years ago, and still devote a great deal of my time to my love of sport.

I am sure this interest helped me to survive the hardships of my time as a pow. In Italy, I was taught how to box by two amateur champions, and was invited to attend a Manchester United trial (after the war) by a 'scout'. While working down the coal mines in Silesia, I worked at keeping fit and we played football as much as possible. When I eventually returned home after the deprivations of the long march, my poor fitness meant that I had lost the chance of pro soccer.

I still play a round of golf most weeks, and watch cricket even though we have Aussies at Hampshire. One of my two daughters is a qualified cricket scorer whose hero (unfortunately) is Aussie Glen McGrath. My grandson is a talented cricketer and has played for the county since he was 10 years old and I have enjoyed seeing him develop.

Only recently have I been able to talk about my war experiences, even to my close family. But in the last few years the memories have come flooding back. I am now actively involved in veterans and ex pow groups, and this summer attended a Garden Party for POWs at the Palace, with my wife. I have also been fortunate to return to Poland with my wife on two occasions, visiting friends and local schools... wonderful experiences. We have just returned from a visit to Tunisia as part of the 'Heroes Return' scheme. I was able to see the battle site at Sidi Nsir where I was captured by the German forces. I also found the grave of one of my Hampshire mates. It was a very emotional experience.

I have always thought our Long March was not really recognised, but using this Peoples War site I have found that a book has been published on the subject - 'The Last Escape' by John Nicholl and Tony Rennell 2002 ISBN 0670032123. This highlights the scale of this mass movement across Central Europe in January-May 1945.

ARMY DETAILS:
Army number : 5511996
POW number : 82818

ARTICLES POSTED:
I have posted seven articles on the 大象传媒2 WW site. To read these articles listed below please click on the highlighted links.

Sidi Nsir, Tunisia to the Great March
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A4789434

POW in Upper Silesia and the Long March back to Germany and Freedom
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A6183182

Sidi Nsir Battle Plan
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A6227471

The Long March - The Map
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A6228218

The Long March - The Painting by Stan Johnson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A6247956

Return to Sidi Nsir Battlefield
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A6873645

Commonwealth War Cemetery Beja, Tunisia
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A6874455