I have been reading through the book "Writted In Stone" - The history of Belfast City Cemetry by Tom Hartley and have noted the following German Military Personnel who died at Campbell College Military Hospital were buried at Belfast City Cemetry but later exhumed in 1962. Oberfeldwebel Alfred Rinn died 5th February 1945 of pulmonary tuberculosis. He was from Giessen in Germany, was 44 years old and had POW number B 71040 His unit was Ld Schutzenzug 23/1 (x1) S/Gefreiter Wilhelm Thone died on 7th March 1945. His POW number was B 24399 and he was 42 years old. Obergefreiter Herbert Lisser died on 22nd March 1945. He had served in the Luftwaffe and was 21 years old. He died of cardiac failure as a result of his war wounds. A 58170 Unteroffizier Gerhard Geier died on 25th March 1945 aged 27. He had served in the Luftwaffe and died of a fractured skull. His POW number was B 19042. The old Orangefield Primary School was also a Military Hospital and it was here that Obergefreiter Friedrich Selbach, from Bonn, died on 26th July 1945 aged 38. Obergefreiter August Kreinbring was a P.O.W. at Gosford Castle, County Armagh and had the number B 4246. He was 29 years old when he died on 25th May 1945. Gefreiter Rudolph Blume had also been a P.O.W. (B 4534) held at Gosford Castle and was 34 years old when he died on 25th May 1945. Obergefreiter Wilhelem Jungclaus was a member of the German Navy and a P.O.W. (Number A 811180) held at Elmfield Camp, Portadown. He was 42 years old when he died on 27th May 1945. Ober-Maat Rudolf Schwarz P.O.W. A 939273 was also in the German Navy and had been 53 years old when he died at Orangefield Military Hospital on 29th May 1945. Ober/Kan Wilhelm Dalbeck was a German Soldier who was P.O.W. A 438606 held at the Prisoner Of War Camp at Jackson Road, Palace Barracks, Holywood. He died on 23rd July 1945 aged 33 years. Is the lettering in the POW Number any indication of how dangerous / Pro Nazi etc that the prisoners were? Free French Forces. Ernest Almoyroc was a member of the French Air Force attached to the British Army in Gambia. He died at Campbell College Military Hospital on 25th September 1940 from a cut eye and Blackwater Fever. He was 23 years old. I knew nothing of any British Military involvement in the Gambia so this is interesting. Two Belgian Soldiers. Private Leon Maton, 23 years, from Brussels had been serving with 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Belgian Army died of Memingitis at Campbell College Military Hospital on 9th March 1945. Sergeant Joseph Vandecraen of Number 2 Company, 3rd Belgian Infantry Battalion, 2nd Belgian Brigade died at Massereene Hospital in Antrim on 16th March 1945. A considerable number of Belgian personel were based in Northern Ireand and the Masereene camp is where Torpedoes were constructed. The Military Hospital at Campbell College also suffered a number of deaths and serious injuries during the blitz however I have been unable to obtain any information. I realise I have a number of questions here but ANY help you can give would be very much appreciated.
I knew nothing of any British Military involvement in the Gambia so this is interesting. Quite a few years ago I had a holiday in the Gambia. We were advised not to travel outside the Hotel grounds as the country was a little politically unstable. I took a walk outside through the nearby golf course and came upon a very small CWGC. I had a quick look at the headstones and most were personnel in transit who had fallen ill during a voyage and died of associated fevers. I too was unaware of any Forces being in Gambia during WW2 and just goes to show how far and ranged the CWGC are. Regards Tom
Hi The POW numbers don't relate to their designation of pro or anti-Nazi. There is some discussion whether the numbers relate to the capturing unit - A = American; B = British, but if I recall correctly, this theory doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. I'd be interested to hear other peoples thoughts though.
