Canadian Prisoner of War Diary

While continuing to research Sgt Stephenson's story, I came across a posting requesting information on Sgt Stephenson and Sgt Cole on the #75 New Zealand Squadron site. Robert Neeson of New Zealand was looking into the death of his Great Uncle 404439 Sgt (Pilot) Frederick Lio Wood RNZAF who had been killed in action on Oct 15/1941 along with the rest of his crew of his Wellington IC serial .X9916 code AA.
Knowing that these two members of the Squadron had survived that night, Mr. Neeson was asking if Sgt Stepehnson or Cole ( or family of) would have any pictures or information on his Great Uncle or crewmembers.
Mr Neeson and I have exchanged a few E-Mails and he has looked into this thread for his information. He has also graciously given me permission to post his pictures of the crew here.

#1 Sgt ( 2nd Pilot ) Frederick Lionel Wood
#2 F-Gnr Sgt Arthur Service
#3 Navigator F-Sgt Neville Welsh
#4 R-Gunner Sgt Donald Frederick Barkhouse
#5 Sgt Johnny Matetich-Captain
#6 W-Op Sgt Frederick Harry Worlledge

I continue to be amazed at the generosity of others. Thank you Robert.

 

Thank you for the thread, George. Reading about Mr. Stephenson's experiences reminded me of what my father talk about his life as a POW in Germany. He was never in a Pow camp except for one night. As others have said thank his wife and son for sharing his diary.

 

Thank you so much for letting us have an insight to life as a POW and thank Sgt. Stephenson's son Jim for giving his permission.

My biological Father was a Canadian in the CRAF who was based in the Croydon area during WW2 and it is storys like these which help me to feel closer to him.

Regards

Jacqueline Lamberton

 

Update! Sgt Stephenson's Log Book (as mentioned in #69 above) has been located. If anything is found there of note, I will add it when made available.
George

 

Thank you and thanks to Mrs. Stephenson for sharing this with us.

 

George, thank you for taking the time to share Mr Stephenson's ordeal with us, and to his family for allowing it to be shared. Much appreciated.

 

I have just finished reading this thread and would like to thank George for transcribing it and the Stephenson family for sharing it. What was of particular interest to me was the mention of Red Gordon. Red was in a number of POW camps after being shot down in Africa. Eventually he ended up in Stalag Luft III where he was my father's room mate. They were on the Death March acoss Germany together as well. Dad unfortunately lost his kriegie log in a fire after the war and while writing his story we had to rely considerably on his memories some 60 yeas ago. To actuallly see excerpts from a diary was amazing for me and added considerably to what Dad had told me.
Thank you once again
Leslie