Guys, In John Dominy's (alias Ron Mogg) book "The Sergeant Escapers" he refers to a situation on transport between Stalag IXc (Bad Sulza) and Sagan in April 1942:- After the train departed, an alert guard spotted two prisoners jumping from the train as it slowed down on a hill. The train came to a quick halt and the guards opened fire on the fleeing prisoners who quickly surrendered. One of the German Guards chased after the now prostrate prisoners, still firing his gun. The prisoners witnessed the defenseless men being clubbed with rifles before being thrown into one of the railway wagons. Despite ‘Dixie’ Deans protests, one of the prisoners, thought to be Sgt. Harry Malcolm Robertson, later died of his injuries at Sagan. He is reported to have been shot on 29th April 1941 and died on 30th April. Refered to also in "Footprints on the Sands of Time." Sgt (E A) Stan Parris, POW no. 39316 refers in his liberation questionnaire to an escape attempt on “April 29th 1942 and says "Please refer to W/O Deans report already made, to RAF and Red Cross, This was a special report made.” Do anyone have anything on this or the report made by Dixie? Regards, Nick
Usually Liberated P.O.W. were asked by MI9 if they had information that the M.O.D. ought to be aware of. Those who had witnessed an incident like this filled in a Form Q. These were distributed to relevent Departments for consideration. They were not kept together as were the Liberation Reports. No one knows where they ended up or even if they still exist. You occasionally come across extracts in a War Crimes File and there is a File with short extracts from quite a few statements. At present I can't think of an easy way to find the Report other than spending hours browsing the War Crimes Catalogues. Perhaps a one word search might find something relevent there. Copies of Forms Q that were filled in by members of Commonwealth Countries were usually sent to their own Country. I have a long list of Reports made by members of the R.A.A.F. that were sent to Australia and have seen nothing to make me think they are not available.
I'm afraid I can't answer your query although I do believe my father would have been on the train from Bad Sulza to Sagan. This was just the sort of incident that dad didn't talk about. After describing the incident on the train Oliver Clutton-Brock mentions that after the RAF left IXC Ray Chown, who was my father's pilot, stayed behind, as he was too sick to travel. I do remember dad saying he had left the camp with mixed emotions - glad to be leaving but unhappy that their crew had split up. Having read Clutton-Brock's description of IXC I now understand why dad was keen to leave.
Nick In case you've not come across this site before, this might be of interest:- Stalag IXC Cheers - Rob
Checked Dixie Deans Liberation Report but it doesn't mention the incident. There is a one page statement describing the Escape organisation though.
Thanks Guys, I am due to go through the escape and evasion reports of some of my guys soon so hopefully will find something there. I have not looked up 'Dixies' liberation questionaire yet so there is a start. I will keep you informed. Regards, Nick
There is a short account of this incident in Vic Gammon's "Not All Glory", supplied by Sergeant Bill Bennett. It reports that: "Dixie Deans at Sagan protested vigorously to the Kommandant and the Protecting Power about the treatment of the men, one of whom died from loss of blood and shock from the beating. It was said that the Feldwebel was arrested, reduced to the ranks and sent to the dreaded Ost-front. The Kriegies felt, that if true, it was the least punishment which the sadistic German richly deserved for cold-blooded murder".
Guys, Just to round this one off, l have found the file, WO311/1002 which consists of the various reports taken from all the POW's involved including Sgt's Harry Mahoney, D Rees, I Bizley, D B Annesley and a few others, together with Dixie Deans report on the situation reported to him upon their arrival at Sagan. It also records the trial of the German officer concerned together with the search for other information. I will write it up and put it on my web site. Regards, Nick KenFentonsWar.com
