2735741 Guardsman George Albert Noel CASTLE, 2 Welsh Guards: POW

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Mar 19, 2013.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Date of Enlistment: 15 February 1940
    Army Number: 2735741
    Rank: Guardsman
    Name: George Albert Noel CASTLE
    Unit: 2 Welsh Guards

    Date of Birth: 24 December 1916
    Place of Birth: Cardiff

    Date of Capture: 25 May 1940
    Place of Capture: Boulogne-sur-Mer, France

    POW Number: 4813
    POW Camps: Stalag XXIB
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2024
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Name: George Castle . Date of Birth: 24/12/1916 . Place of Birth: Cardiff . Service:... | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 416/60/231
    Name: George Castle.
    Date of Birth: 24/12/1916.
    Place of Birth: Cardiff.
    Service: British Army.
    Rank: Guardsman.
    Regiment/Unit/Squadron: Welsh Guards.
    Service Number: [2735741.
    Date of Capture: 24/05/1940.
    Theatre of Capture: Boulogne.
    Camp Name/Number: Stalag XXIB Schokken Schubin.
    PoW number: 4813.
    Date of Death: [unspecified].
    Number of Photographs: 1.
    Number of Fingerprints: 1.
    Number of X-rays: 0.
    Number of Cards: 3.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2024
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    View Record via Ancestry

    WO 344-58-1

    PART I
    General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

    1. No.: 2735741
    Rank: Guardsman
    Surname: CASTLE
    Christian Names: George Albert Noel
    Decorations: -

    2. Unit (Army): 2nd Battalion WELSH GUARDS
    3. Division (Army): -

    4. Date of Birth: 24 December 1916
    5. Date of Enlistment: 15 February 1940
    6. Civilian Trade: Parcel Porter G.W.R.
    7. Private Address: 47 Heathfield Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff, Glamogan, South WALES

    8. Place of Capture: Boulogne, FRANCE
    Date of Capture: 25 May 1940

    9. Were you Wounded when Captured: No

    10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
    Camp No. Location From & To
    XXIB Shubin 5 June 1940 - 27 June 1940
    XXD Posen 12 March 1941 - 22 June 1941
    XXA Thorn 23 June 1941 - 23 October 1944
    XXB Marienburg 23 October 1944 - 24 January 1945

    11. Were you in a Working Camp?
    Location From & To Nature of Work
    Usch 27 June 1940 - 17 November 1940 Road Work
    Graudenz 15 August 1941 - 22 February 1942 Labouring
    Brannau 14 February 1943 - 1 April 1943 Sewer Digging
    Falkenburg 1 May 1943 - 23 September 1943 Stone Breaking
    Gros Woltz 23 September 1943 - 18 September 1944 Ditch Digging
    Neuteich 23 November 1944 - 24 January 1945 Sugar Factory
    & also several other small camps

    12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
    -
    Nature of Illness Cause Duration
    -

    Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
    -


    PART II

    2. Lectures before Capture
    (State where, when and by whom)
    (a) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave in the event of capture?:
    -
    (b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
    -

    3. Interrogation after Capture
    (State where, when and methods employed by enemy)
    Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?:
    -

    4. Escapes attempted.
    Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
    (Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when captured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to our companions?)

    Hasenau 1 June 1941. Breaking through window. Private Joseph FINNIGAN 7 June 1941. Recaptured Kensau. Police
    3 September 1941 Cutting wire. Alone. Hohenkirch. Police. 4 September 1941
    11 November 1941From moving train between Nakel - Konitz. Private John McRAE, Graudenz 18 October 1941 Police.
    Wamlstat 25 December 1942 Wire cutting, Gunner K. BROWN. Thorn 26 December 1942 Railway Police.
    Brannau 1 April 1943 over wire. Gunner K. BROWN. Schonsee 6 April 1943, Military Police
    Evacuation March 24 January 1945 Dodging guards, Gunner K. BROWN and others Parchau 10 February SS
    Neutiech 17 February Gunner K. BROWN and others 1 March 1945 Parchau S.S.

    5. Sabotage.
    Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc., when employed on working-parties or during escape?
    -
    (Give details, places and dates).
    -

    6. Collaboration with enemy.
    Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy against other Allied PoWS?
    (Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
    Sergeant George Marshall, West Yorks.
    Whilst undergoing severe treatment in a punishment camp Sergeant Marshall gave information of our activities to the Commandant and Guards.

    7. War Crimes.
    If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of “Form Q” on which to make your statement.
    -

    8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
    -


    SECURITY UNDERTAKING.
    I fully realised that all information relating to the matters covered by the questions in PART II are of a highly secret and official nature.
    I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.


    Date of Signature: 4 May 1945


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    Last edited: Apr 24, 2024
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Letter attached to Questionnaire:


    47 Heathfield Road
    CARDIFF

    Dear Sir

    The following is the information that you ask, and is given to the best of my ability. All dates and times are approx: and though I have received great help at all times from the Polish people, I took no names etc, as it might involve them and their families in great danger.

    My first escape took place on October 15th at a village called Usch I was alone and at liberty for 4 days, being recaptured at Schneidemuhl on the 19th October 1940. I got out of the camp by climbing over the barbed wire.

    On another occasion I was accompanied by Private Joseph FINNIGAN of R.E.K. (BUFFS) Regiment. We escaped together from Hasenau on June 1st 1942, and were retaken at a village the name of which I fail to remember, [inserted] Kensau, but which was only a mile or two from Konitz. The date of our recapture was June 15th. Part of the time we lived in the woods around Bromberg and were finally given away by a German farmer on passing through the previously mentioned village. Our escape was effected by cutting the wire over the windows after having forced same and scaling the wire that surrounded the camp.

    Later, October 5th 1942 whilst being transported to a strafe camp at Gutterwitz I, together with Private J. McRAE, Royal Engineers, escaped from the moving train at a station just outside Nakel, the train was travelling at 7 - 10 miles per hour. The rolling stock was of the type with the corridor down the centre, our party was about 15 strong, a guard was in the corridor at each end of the coach, just as the train pulled out of the station. I unscrewed the bulb (light) putting our compartment in darkness and after judging the station to be a safe distance behind opened, opened the window and jumped out. We were undetected and walked for an hour or two and then slept in an old barn, early in the morning we continued our journey in the direction of Schneidemuhl. At midday we came across a village entirely inhabited by Poles. Here we received every help, food, shelter for two days and nights, and when we left a complete ? ? suit, overcoat, hats, etc. My regret is that I fail to remember the name of the village, although the people in question have my address and promise to get in touch with me as soon as possible Though I do remember the name of the nearest village of any size being “Netzal” both being in the “Wirzitz” area. Leaving there early one morning, we caught a train fro “Schneidemuhl” where we intended to take a train for Berlin in an effort to reach France or Switzerland.

    Failing in this however, we were forced to return to Poland, where my companion was forced, being ill, to give himself up. I myself went on making for a village, “Seehausen”, just outside Graudenz, where I knew that I could count on help. Unfortunately I was stopped by a German policeman when in Graudenz and being unable to show the necessary papers was taken to the police station and from there to the jail.

    On 25 December 1942 together with Gunner K. BROWN Royal Artillery whilst the guards were busy celebrating Xmas night. By breaking through the wire at the back of the camp, which was at Waldstadt. We made our way on foot to Bromberg, and after making a detour through back yards, scaling walls etc, the whole place being lighted by great arc lamps, we managed to board a mineral train. This unfortunately for us ended up in a Thorn siding. We decided as it was now daylight, to lie low until dark and then try our luck on another train. However we were rudely awakened when the train was searched by railway police. We were then held in custody until the arrival of a military escort who took us to the military prison in Thorn. Our dress was Army battle dress.

    On 1 April 1942 once again with Gunner BROWN, from Brahnau (Bromberg). We had made civilian clothing for ourselves out of dyed battle dress trousers, and an army great coat cut down and dyed . Leaving camp with the football party we changed our clothes out of sight of the guards and behind a line of railway trucks. From there we passed under the noses of the guards on to the main road that ran nearby and made our way on foot to Bromberg. There we took a train to Nakel from there by foot to the village where I got rigged out, on about October 5th, this village being close to Netzal.

    On this afternoon we were unlucky, the house being occupied by Germans. We passed it off by asking for a drink, and the direction to a neighbouring village. On leaving we ran into the village postman who wanted to see our papers. We declined and as he insisted, told him where to go to, and that we would only show them to the police. He jumped on his cycle, and dashed off in one direction, while we promptly took to our heels in the other. Making our way back to Nakel we slept on the side of the railway embankment till early morning when we took an early train to Thorn, and from there to Gallab via Schonsee. On arrival at Gallub we made our way outside the town and waited for the cover of darkness. Then reentering the town we made our way to the house of a Pole named “Janhawski”, who lived in “Wasser Strasse”. Had we been officers I think that we might have got more help here. As it was we received a meal and were bundled out of the back door. This was the 5th or 6th day and our only meal so far except for chocolate which we carried on all our efforts. That night we slept in an empty wagon on the railway siding, and caught an early train back to “Schonsee” upon arrival and as soon as we alighted from the train we were arrested by the police, taken to the jail and locked up. We were kept there without food, a wash, or even being allowed to obey the wants of nature until late the following day, when escort arrived to take us back to Thorn.

    On 24 January 1945, from Neuteich, East Prussia. Leaving camp with the Evacuation March, we slipped the guards after half an hour’s marching, took a side road, and settled in a deserted farm building to await being overtaken by the Russian advance. After being in hiding for two weeks we were rounded up by the S.S. and taken to the field guard room in Neuteich. Here we were kept in custody for a few days. We then volunteered to work ad the Sugar Factory in the town, we reasoned that this would afford opportunity of escape once more. After two or three days and whilst the town was being fired on by a Russian tank, we made off and once more hid up. Here we hung on for a period of almost three weeks till one of our number, D. RENTON, Private, R.W.K. decided to leave and join the stream of refugees that were pouring down the main road, striving to cross the Weichsel before the Russians cut them off.

    On the following day two more of our number, Gunner K. BROWN, Royal Artillery and Driver H. WARD Royal Artillery, left to walk back to the Sugar Factory for some food, books, news etc. In their absence, Gunner LECOURT Royal Artillery, Private PEARCE, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and myself were once more picked up by the S.S. and taken to Neuteich.

    This time were were taken to the town jail, where we spent the night. The following morning we left on our journey to Danzig. All escape now being cut off we were held in Danzig for about two weeks. During this time our numbers had increased to well over the hundred mark as others were being brought in every day, among these were Gunner BROWN and Driver WARD. At the end of this time and whilst Danzig was under air attack and shell fire from Russian tanks, we were taken aboard ship for Lubeck. At Lubeck we were liberated by British forces. At the outset of these efforts our food consisted solely of chocolate either from personal or Red Cross parcels. We were also provided with plenty of money for train fares etc, this being easily obtainable anywhere.

    Trusting that the above information will prove satisfactory,
    I remain yours sincerely,
    CASTLE
    (2735741, Welsh Guards)


    CASTLE, George Albert Noel, 2735741, Guardsman, 2nd Battalion WELSH GUARDS, Captured France, 25 May 1940 - WO 344-58-1 With Letter. | WW2Talk
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2024

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