am back - to tell story of Cpl Fred Walton, Royal Tank Corps, POW

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by smudger1948, Oct 26, 2010.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    smudger1948


    dont give up

    read this link to help you
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/suggestions-feedback/29900-why-does-ww2-log-you-out-after-certain-time.html

    from von Poop in post #6

    "Tick the 'remember me' box when you log in.
    If that doesn't sort it - and it does in most all cases I get relating to this (you are not alone) - It'll most likely be a security setting on your browser that's disallowing cookies.
    Problem is; there are many browsers, and many reasons for having uncommonly high 'security' settings, so I'm loath to give individual suggestions. The forum works to a resonable 'web average' set of requirements and it's not really my place to tell people how to set up their pooters.

    Good practice is to quickly select and copy the entire text of a post before hitting Go Advanced/Preview/Submit. I do this as a matter of course for medium/long posts on any forum I use now, as it means if there's a crash or hangup I can just paste the lost text back in once I've sorted the glitch. Keeps the swearing to a minimum."
     
  2. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    From the docks in Naples.we were taken to a p.o.w camp(campoconcatramento) all I can say is it was very nice. beds .bedding.
    e.t.c.not much food was forthcoming.but we had our first red cross .
    parcel.(God bless them )one parcel between two prisoners.I shared with a fellow prisioner from our unit.first we had a cup of english tea.with sugar and condensed milk.and a spotted dick for sweet.would not attempt to put into words our feelings afterwords.as I lay down to sleep that night. had difficulty sleeping.as my whole body was tingling so much.probably due to the sweetness after so long.alas this was not for long as with
    the advance of our troops.Italian forces were being withdrawn from Africa and our camp was needed.so we were on the move again.next move was a fairly long one.to Porto St George in Northern Italy.on the Adriatic coast.we would remain he for some time.barbed wire surrounded a large hanger.it was very dark..two small lights did nothing to penetrate the gloom.we were to sleep in three-tier wooden beds .jammed nose to tail. to accomadate all of us.the beds had dry sraw in.the bottom and middle beds were always showered with dry dust.not long before we were all lousy; which meant you spent hours every day hunting fleas and lice in the seams of your clothing.obviousy no work.because .we were in the middle of nowhere again.
     
  3. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    A lot of boredom is taking place.at present.time is dragging terribly.so to relieve the boredom.it was decided to put on some sort of show. there was no shortage of volunteers. because the reward for those selected was a meat bone.from the cookhouse.if you were fourunate it might have a bit of meat on it,I think eventually the Italians supplied some sort of
    musical instruments.the biggest blessing of all.was the recieving of red cross parcels.the same one parcel shared between two.it was still manna from heaven.a piece of camp was set aside as a brewing pitch.with english tea and coffee from the red cross parcels.all the empty tins were put to use.and it was a revelation to see the different kind of stoves e.t.c which had been made from emty tins.eventally we hear that Italy has been invaded and the allies are advancing towards us.
    Free in a week.?even the Italian guards had come down from the walls.
    blackshirt uniforms had been changged for royalist garb.told we could wander about.but not go too far.or you will be mixed with fleeing Germans
    and may get killed.what shall we do?some immediately left.my friends and I wandered outside.had some grapes and waited .as we thought for the arrival of allied troops.we had been in the camp for about three days.when we noticed the Italians changing back into black shirts,in the sentry boxes
    well armed Germans appeared .they immediately closed all the gates and locked them.end of the dream.,
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  4. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    It was probably next day when a train of cattle trucks came down the line into the camp.immediately we had to grab our few belongings.we were allocated to the trucks .about 25 at a time.we were issued one red cross parcel between two.and a kind of German bread.which had the date on it.this was 1943.the loaf was dated 1937.mine had the top come adrift showing green mould underneath.must confess I ate every bit of it. am still alive today.at my age.the trucks of the doors were closed and locked.and the train pulled away. life inside our truck was very unpleasant
    We had one small barred window ,one side of the truck was reserved for performing our bodily functions.disgusting .but what could we do.with the doors locked two incidents I remember about that journey.is we had been in the trucks six days.when suddenly we stopped.was in a large station.
    we were ordered to relieve ourselves in full view of people on both sides of the station.another lesson in propaganda.the other incident was the train was stopped .all out again.into a field containing large tents.middle of the night.not very warm.first strip of all clothing.next all had a haircut.this was performed on a old fashioned sheep shearer.which was operated by two Russian P.O.W.S.turning a handle.three times over the head.one in te centre.and 2&3 at sides result should have been.bald as a billard ball.
    acually results varied.it depended how quickly the Russian P.O.W.S
    turned the handle.if they slowed down.it was hard luck.the hair came out at the roots.after this it was into some hot showers.mean while all our clothing had been put into a incinerator.to be steamed and supposeedly cleaned.out of the showers .no drying .get into clothes wet.hot and steamy.but we had to get back on the train,I assume all this was because the Germans knew we were lousy.coming from Italy.and this was the way to get rid of them,Ihave to say it was sucessful.
    Eventually train arrived at STALAG IVB. which was a massive P.OW.CAMP
    in East Germany.I have to say that in all the time we were on the train.we were never once pestered with allied aircraft.Ifind that unbeliveable.
    Maybe fourunate for us.
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  5. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    After arriving in Stalag IVB.fred and his pals were moved to Leipzig.they were among 30 prisoners based in a room within the factory.each man had a single bed and a small wooden box for is belongings.the room had a stove with a hot water cylinder.close by.at one end a partitioned section accommodated German guards.during the first day.each of us had a red triangle painted on our battle dress.on the knee at the front and in the middle of the back.these would serve as targets if we tried to escape.
    at night we were locked in.this was always repeated each night.our only toilet was a bucket at one end of the room.not very long before being detailed for work.this was 30 of us.being collected by a sentry.and marched with what gear we had.this was 7.0.clock in the morning.we marched in threes.on the right side of the road.we would take turns to be the right hand man in the front ranks.that was where you could pick up dog -ends.thrown away by the Germans.we arrived at the railway station.
    we were put on a train in proper carriages and set off.although the guard spoke little english .he would not tell us where we were going.he had a wait and see attitude.eventually we reached our destination.which was the city of Leipzig in East Germany .our home for the next eighteen months.from Leizip we march about a mile to Bittergelder Strassa.
    halted outside the factory.this is the name of the place fred was.
    Kristaleis Fabrick Und Kuhitrieds.Aktien Gesselschaft.
    sorry cannot translate this.belive it could be ice factory.?
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  6. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    image.394.this was given for fred to wear.at all time .by the Germans
     

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  7. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    image 435.
     

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  8. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    image part one.first page.557
     

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  9. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    First day at new factory.sentry left us at factory gate.for German workers
    to look after us.All the Germans were elderly or sickies.Each of us were given our jobs by top German .Herr Mey.(most commonly known as Dick Bow Willy)my job was with Max.a mountain of a man .German of course.we were in a meat carrying railway vehicle. with all the hooks in the roof .the meat was brought up on a bogi .from the factory to the side of the wagon.It was frozen and difficult to handle.Huge sides of beef .goodness knows how much weight they were.the job was to carry the meat from the bogi to the hooks in the wagon.so when all the wagons were loaded the train would take it were ever it was supposed to go.after being a P.O.W. for eighteen months was not feeling very strong. after about twenty minutes struggling to lift one of these heavy animals.I think managed to lift one.meanwhile Max had almost filled the wagon.Idid not understand a word .what he was saying to me.but he did not seem to mind.my not being able to lift them.Ithink he understood.towards nighttime
    he stripped a huge fillet of beef from one of these animals.and showed me how to wrap it round my tummy under my shirt.so it did not show.I was shaking like a leaf until we got back.to were we lived.but we managed to cook it .and I must say . it was bloody lovely.from her on I cannot put things in order.so i will have to put occurences down as i remember them.
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  10. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    As I was saying that night we cooked the fillet of beef.there was enough for all thirty of us.and the German sentry.giving food to the sentry had to be done .because we could not hide the smell of the cooking .it was very dangerous game for both ourselves and the sentrys.but hunger will conquer all fear.stealing of meat by Englishers became so bad.I do not know how we got away with it.the only people allowed to touch the meat was the Germans and the English P.O.W.S.this was in spite of the fact we had people working there from most of europe.French,Hollanders,Spaniards.and Russians etc,only Russians and English were p.o.w.s.all the rest were on some sort of understanding were they did not have sentries.I think in the main all Germain and English were stealing meat .but the Germans only took small portions.but with the English.it had to be seen to be belived.but Ithink we were all at it.
    It was a case of silence.my days with Max soon came to a end.as I was transferred to work with another German. never saw Max again . wonder what happened to him.regarding the factory .where we lived .what happened was simply.because every-one was starving,all food was for the forces.because of this we were able to bribe all but the sentries, with occasional gifts of meat.consequently they turned a blind eye.
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  11. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    For air raid purposes .all major cites in Germany had two rings put round them on a map,when Allied planes entered the outer ring.the fore alarm sounded.this meant stand by.when planes entered the inner ring.the right alarm sounded this meant get in the cellar.the head air raid man was a engineer employed at the factory.so when we went into the cellar,when the alarm sounded.he was also in there.and used to get any information reguarding the raid by radio in the cellar.so of course we heard .and even in German we were eventually able to understand,the worst message was 1400 enemy planes over our city.escorted by 700 fighters.stand by for bomb offloading.after one of the raids some exploded bombs were found on the roof of the factory. almost immediately 2 huge German vechicles arrived carrying German soldiers and a lot of people in long sripped gowns.
    Jewish Isuppose from the concenration camps.all went on the roof.and eventually the bombs were made safe.they were then dragged down the stairs.and back onto the vechicles .Heartbreaking but we could not get near them to help in any way.or even give then some-thing.
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  12. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    In the factory where we lived was a large room called a Katrauba.Ithink it meant rest room.in it was a stage.lots of chairs and a piano.was not in use.at present time.fighting hunger was a constant priority,whereever and whenever they could.and dispite close supervision of armed guards.fred walton and his prisoners colleagues pilfered and plundered food to augment inadequate rations.even during air raids on Leipzip.fred recalls food remained the prisoners priority.we sheltered in cellars where butter was stored behind a lattice -work gate.at first it seemed impossible to get at.but with a long piece of wood with a nail protruding.the butter was dragged to the gate and thus disappeared.when the prisoners were ordered to unload barrels of butter from railway trucks.again there was a chance to boost illicit food -stocks.two of us were working in one truck.watched by a German who had a swastika on is arm,with this Nazi in attendance it seemed we were not going to be able to get butter for oursleves.we kept saying .I wish he would go away,or clear off, then suddenly he said.I know what you are saying.needles to say we got nothing that day.but it was different later when one of the barrels was dropped.by accident?
    while hunger forced the prisoners to take all manner of risks.they also had to contend with boredom.fred remembering the stage room.fancying himself as a producer,managed to produce a few shows. in that room.from the talent of our 30 prisoners.we were fortunate to have a Wally Myers. from some-where in yorkshire.he was a first class pianist.
    fred had no previous experience.(and done nothing like it since)fred made is contribution.known throughout is military career as joe walton.
    in the factory where he worked by day.he persuaded Fralein Mopser a
    German clerk.to type a programme for a show staged on october the first
    1944.we put on three shows in a large room.we had the piano there.nearly all the Germans we worked with attended the shows.
    one programme joe has is very torn and battered ,so will type the programme.
    Lager 103 presents variety on a sunday.1st oct 1944.
    doors open 6.15 pm,commence 6.30.
    programme
    1, The last round up.
    2. Parson Harry.- the prisoners friend.
    3. The Operating Theatre
    4.Out Bill
    5.The Scandel Brothers
    6.Two Coons From Coonland
    7.Cafe In Cario
    8.Radio Presents Ten Minute Interval.
    9.Chapel In The Moonlight
    10.Mellow Mouthorgan Melodies
    11.Burglers Night Out
    12 I!m Burlington Blondie
    13. The Registery Office
    14.Facts Of Life
    15.Memories.
    Produced by Joe Walton
    Musicial Score.?? Wally
    Stage Lighting Effects. Alec Mac
    Stage Management. Johnny Mac+ Curly
    Costumes.- Steve+ Blondie.
    All for now
     
  13. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    The Germans who worked in the factory.and somme elderly residents from nearby made up the audiance.all enjoyed it.and it gave us some-thing to do at night.when we were not crouched in the cellar.returning to the factory were I worked.Max whom I spent my early days with had disappeared.I do not know why.one did not enquire too deeply into these things.in those days,I seemed to be adopted by Alfred Buccheim an elderly German ,very strong and a good worker,he used to tell me jokes in German
    and laught at himself.you could see his eyes light up.just to please him I
    laught with him even though did not understand him.you have to understand that at this factory a large number of ice blocks were made.these were for eating places and civilian use for ice boxes,this was before obviously refridgerators became common.a delivery of these ice blocks was made by horse and cart.maybe due to lack of transport.
    the driver of this set-up was my mate Alfred.so I had to go with him during delivering.sat very high up on this cart in the middle of Leipzip
    I thought I was the bees knees.when it came to delivering the blocks of ice .it was like a wrestling match.blocks of ice on shoulder.all cold water frpm it running down your neck,and then block sliding all over because you could not grip it with your bare hands,when we had delivered it all.Alfred would take me into one of these eating places.and treat me to a bowl of Saurkraut,there was nothing else to eat.every-one got the same.set menu.it was disgusting eating it, but I tried to look as if I was enjoying it.
    we were still on the quest for food.eggs reached the factory in crates.these were handled by female Russian prisoners.we would meet them later in the cellars.and exchange meat for eggs.which they had hidden in their underwear.they showed no embarrassment.almost strippingg to retrieve the eggs for us.
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  14. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    Fred recalls two unpleasent memories which stick with him.at mealtimes were they worked.we were allowed to eat our food indoors.Russian prisoners were compelled to to eat in the dust and dirt on the road outside.one day a Russian prisoner got up and started looking for dog ends.the sentry called a few times for the Russian to sit down .when he did not. comply.the sentry shot him.another was .there were two large areas surrounded by barb wire,Russian prisoners were in one,British in the other.armed guards in between. in the Russian compound was a large pit.there must have been thousands of Russians in this place.and all day long we could see them taking the bodies of dead Russians prisoners and tipping them into the pit.on another day in Leipzip 15 of us were having our midday meal when the Gestapo came.they took about seven of our men.and marched them away.two hours later they came back.looking very sick.they had been taken to a chapel and ordered to try and reassemble
    the body parts of air raid victims laid out on the floor.
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  15. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    In one office of the factory was three large wooden boxes.which had been made with shafts at each end.for carring like a sedan chair.this was for most of the valuable paper work from the office.when the forealarm sounded boxes were locked with the paper work inside.and office staff went down to the cellar.the English P.O.W.S. were hurrying to the office to collect the wooden boxes.as only the English out of all the nationalities were employed there.we did spend a lot of time in the cellars due to constant air raids.I think the factory recieved four direct hits.impossible
    to disribe what the blast was like.and the effect on the ears.when we sorted out we were trapped in the cellars .fourunally we were dug out by the Germans from around the area.from that day I have had trouble with my ears.stone deaf left and 50% percent in the right ear.I think that Gentleman upstairs must have been looking after us that day.
    when I say cellars.I do not mean air raid shelters.these were just normal cellars under the stairs.not deep down.after one perticular heavy raid.we experiencede our only rough treatment.the factory had been badly damaged and the cork lining on the cold rooms was burning.this meant getting all the meat out and conveying it to the other side of the main road.where another part of the factory had not been hit.German troops were moved into the factory.to put meat onto chutes into a vehicle.where it was conveyed over the road.this was where we were taken.in this place was stored many-many 1 CWT barrels of danish butter.(lurpak) this butter was going to be moved elsewhere to make room for meat.unfortunately
    there was no electricity due to the air raid.so the lifts were useless.this meant for us English prisoners a huge half frozen pig on the shoulder.down
    three flights of stairs.return journey with I CWT barrel of butter on the shoulder.to inprove matters their was a member of the Hitler Youth .one on each step with a stick,I think thats enough said.?( I do not like to dwell on this episode)Many Hitler Youths were sent to to Russian front at the end. so maybe fate was waiting.just a idea of the state of things.another German called Alfred .very nice Getleman,middled aged.called to the front.died eighteen days later.
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    dbf likes this.
  16. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    First.just a note to tell you in the group photo in Leipzip.fred is kneeling down.front row.fourth from the left.After a bad raid on the factory.where we worked .most of our time was spent retrieving bricks from the rubbish.knocking off old cement and stacking ready for the hoped rebuilding.the main effoft was put into the production of the ice blocks,because they were wanted for refrigeration.eventually great jubilation.ice plant back in production at 8.am .alas by 12.00.was flat again.another raid.during my time in Leipzip I was taken to the first aid on two occassions.first time was when Ihad my toe trapped under a wheel of a Bogey container.this was a 20x 1 CWT. barrels of butter,made rather a mess of my big toe nail.which was pulled off.with a small pair of pliers.
    Very painful indeed.this was. there was no bandages,so it was wrapped with cheap toilet roll and foot put into clogs,had problems ever since, when the nail was pulled off.it must have left the roots in .because it was green again.but unfortunately.it always is ingrowing.now and must be
    regular looked at.the second time to the first aid room .was marching back
    from factory to where we lived wearing clogs .deep snow on the ground.
    at the time.it balled up .on the sole of my clog and caused me to fall with my left arm underneath me.made rather a mess of my wrist.put in plaster at first aid.but thankfully it must of healed ok. this first aid was run by a man who eventually became DR KYDD .from Pontefract .he is now well retired
    all for now
    mick
     
  17. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    One of our fellow prisoners was named Jim.working with us.at this time.seperated from our factory by two lots of railway lines was a MILCHOF.not very sure but think this meant a dairy? the people working there were Belgians.on some days they were working on our factory side.so we were able to converse with them using the usual sign language.one of the Belgians was a very good looking Female.Jim set his eyes on this Female right from the start.and soon things were going nicely.on one perticular day Jim was working in the usual place .with a large piece of pork hidden under is jacket.much sign language between jim and the Female.eventually both suddenly dissappeared underground. after a tense wait. as we did not need to return a man short. Jim returned with a large satified grin all over is face .second incident.was with Jim again.
    Jim had exchanged a piece of pork for a bottle of snapps.silly fool drunk the whole lot.we found him collapsed leggless.what to do. sentry due back soon. by the time he appeared,we had Jim laid out on a handcart.
    covered with our jackets. we told the sentry had suddenly taken ill.
    I belive Jim could of boasted about being pushed through the city of Leipzip.on a handcart whilst stone drunk .in spite of the Gestapo and Germans.
    more later.
    mike
     
  18. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    In the room where we lived was a small trap-door.leading to out-side without going past where the sentries lived.that way we were actually looked in.this trap-door was beneath one of the beds.and maybe the sentries did not know it was ther.after the door was locked in the evening.there was quite a traffic of bodies through there.to the railway line outside.all sorts of people from all over knew of the route.it some times resembled a petticoat lane at times at night.pork was in exchange for what was ever going at the time.this was more often.chiefly Snapps.
    Two of our P.O.W.S. had struck up a friendship with two of our female office workers at the factory.most nights these particular 2 P.O.W.S. were missing most nights.and early morning,they just made it for work each time, I cannot understand how on earth they escaped detection time and time again.After the worst of the bombing.the factory was allowed possibly six railway trucks.these were filled by us .with all the factory rubbish from the bombings.when the trucks were filled they were taken by rail to a place called ESPENHEIN.
    Where there was a large tip.the English were taken on the back coach of a bus.with a tailer.to this Espenhein.our job was then to unload the trucks with the shovels we were given.on to the large tip.so the trucks could be returned to the factory .so the proccess.could be repeated again.this was because at this time.there was a real shortage of railway trucks.in Germany. Whilst in Leipzip we did reasonably well for red cross parcels.
    These were very welcome to us.for the stuff we could not get hold of.
    Tea.Coffee.Sugar.Condensed Milk.e.t.c.Familes were allowed to send a parcel to prisoners.just stuff to eat.and Cigarettes.three a year I think.
    These came via Swizerland.Ibelive their most of been a racket going on some-where with these parcels as I only ever recieved one all the time I was a prisoner.
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  19. smudger1948

    smudger1948 Member

    Whilst in Leipzip.Ihad the misfortune to break the plate of the top of my teeth.a German by the name Fritz Bauhman took them to be repaired for me. I was completly lost without them.when he returned them.they had been joined together with some very hard lumpy stuff. not very nice.but they lasted me until i got back to England.reguarding payment for them,as a p.o.w.We used to get a bit of LAGERG-LD.these were a few notes of very little value .with a red mark on them .to show it was P.O.W .money
    obviously this was only for perchase of razor blades.e.t.c. so this would not pay for my teeth. I had to pay in English Cigarettes.soap from the red cross parcels.and real coffee also from the red cross parcels.rather expensive.but it was well worth it to me.I think this is now the final thing of P.O.W. life in Leipzip.if we worked on a sunday .we were given a day off.in lieu.during the week,we recieved a tip off. we could expect a raid any time by the dreaded Gestapo.on one of our days off suddenly the doors burst open,in marched the Gestapo.too bad they found nothing.thanks to our informant.they had just finished there search,and were on ther way out.suddenly one of them spotted the trap-door open in the false roof.the man pointed this out to the officers.He told him to stand on the bed .move the trap -door and make sure nothing was there.
    Mn gets up and looks left.nothing there sir he said.looks in front.then right. still nothing sir he said. right replace door he said.and off they went.What a pity for him he did not look at the back of him.because there was a huge half frozen pig.which had obviously been stolen from the factory. carried steathly upstairs and into the false roof.if this had been spotted.I am certain .would not be telling this tale today.
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  20. Alan Allport

    Alan Allport Senior Member

    I grew up just a few doors down from where Fred lives, and I had the pleasure of talking to him a few years ago. I hope he's still in fine health and going strong.

    Best, Alan
     

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