Long March POW Casualty 1945: John Antony Ronald Coulthard, Stalag XXA, Thorn

Whilst visiting the Intelligence Corps Historian to find out what I could on Antony Coulthard, he gave me access to all of their information. The Corps is as keen as we are to find out where he is buried and to find the citation for his posthumous award of an MiD.

One of the documents I took copies of was this Int Corps Index Card, presumably for Honours and Awards, dating from the War. I wonder if anyone knows what File No BM/1236/PW2 refers to? The Historian says it doesn't refer to any files in the Int Corps current filing system; he was as baffled as I was.

I note the cause of death under "By Whom Recommended" is incorrect. It should read mistreatment and malnutrition on the Forced march.



Steve

 

Steve,
Maybe we could ask Dr Spark?
B

 

Some cards in the JAG's index are printed. One version has the following columns:

FS/No. > Charge > Victim(s) > Place > Date > Accused > (blank)

The columns are about an inch wide.

"F/S" means "File Serial" or "File Series".

The letters "P.A." or "P/A" mean "Put Away", indicating that no further action or investigation is to be taken.

"T.Sol" means "Treasury Solicitor" meaning that the papers were sent to H.M. Government's lawyers for their advice on the strength of the case etc.

John ( Meathead version)

 

Steve,

The letters in " BM/1236/PW2" probably refer to a file or index card opened by the War Office Casualty Branch.

Files in TNA WO361 relating to Far East cases ( I have not looked at European theatre missing files) have correspondence to and from War Office Casualty Branch, Blue Coat School, Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, 15.

Files I have seen have original MI9 forms which ask about "Casualty Information". I think that such forms were handed out to returning POWs at the same time as the Liberation Questionnaire and "Q" form. In common with the latter forms there was a pre-printed unique number but this is not used again in correspondence or internal memoranda, in my experience.

I have seen the reference "PD/OR/BM/16165 R" which I think means "Presumption of Death/ Other Ranks/ British Missing ?/ unique number for the individual/ R ( unknown )

PW means Prisoner of War. The "2" means a section of "Cas.PW" or Prisoner of War Casualties.

I cannot be certain but I think the number is personal to the individual, assigned by Cas.PW. Having said that, prisoners were invariably referred to by their name and original service number.

Files in WO361 would probably provide the answer.

John

 

Thanks for the explanation John, I have looked through a good number of the 361 series files during my visits the NAs. Will go through the catalogue again.

Steve

 

Some cards in the JAG's index are printed. One version has the following columns:

FS/No. > Charge > Victim(s) > Place > Date > Accused > (blank)

The columns are about an inch wide.

"F/S" means "File Serial" or "File Series".

The letters "P.A." or "P/A" mean "Put Away", indicating that no further action or investigation is to be taken.

"T.Sol" means "Treasury Solicitor" meaning that the papers were sent to H.M. Government's lawyers for their advice on the strength of the case etc.

John ( Meathead version)
Thanks so much for the help John, much appreciated.
Warm regards
Barbara

 

Whilst visiting the Intelligence Corps Historian to find out what I could on Antony Coulthard, he gave me access to all of their information. The Corps is as keen as we are to find out where he is buried and to find the citation for his posthumous award of an MiD.

One of the documents I took copies of was this Int Corps Index Card, presumably for Honours and Awards, dating from the War. I wonder if anyone knows what File No BM/1236/PW2 refers to? The Historian says it doesn't refer to any files in the Int Corps current filing system; he was as baffled as I was.

I note the cause of death under "By Whom Recommended" is incorrect. It should read mistreatment and malnutrition on the Forced march.

View attachment 82985


Steve

To add to Steve's note, Sgt Aitken also listed typhus (spread by the rampant lice) and heart attack as causes of Death. Dysentery was another dreadful ailment he was battling.
B

 

Tomorrow Antony's Niece, Barbara, flies from Australia to Germany with her Son Tom in an attempt to find her Uncle's grave. I am travelling by motorbike from England and we aim to meet on Monday 21 May at Becklingen CWGC cemetery. We have been informed by the CWGC historian that two soldiers were moved from Quickborn cemetery after the war by the DGRE organisation and now lie at Becklingen. We have been given the plot numbers, one is marked as "Unknown" and one a soldier from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. From the documents we have found, Antony died in a barn at the tiny hamlet of Kaltenhof on 24 March '45 and buried by his comrades in a cemetery in the next village south, which we believe to be Quickborn. As there was no fighting between British and German troops in the area at the end of the War, we believe the two soldiers were from the Long March and died whilst passing through the area.

We then move on to the Quickborn/Kaltenhof area where we will be accompanied by a local historian, Doctor Rolf Meyer, who has been most helpful in trying to find the barn and to find burial records from the time. He has arranged a meeting with the Pastor of Quickborn and has toured the area to find the barn.

The CWGC has placed the onus on Barbara and I to prove beyond all doubt from local records that one of the soldiers was Antony. We will try our best.

For the next part of the visit, we move to Torun, Poland where we will meet my Sister and Nephew and spend two days looking round the old forts which made up Stalag XXA. We will be accompanied by local guides and hope to trace the exact route of the escape made by Antony and my father, Sgt Fred Foster in Aug '42. From the sketch map of the escape, Dad wrote in one of his letters to Antony's parents, (posted below) it is possible to trace the exact route on Google Earth, even where they cut the wire.

It will be a very interesting and emotional visit, particularly for Barbara, and we hope to return with sufficient proof to Identify Antony's grave.

Steve

 

I want to thank Marina Muller from the Domitz Tourist Office, for her help with our enquiries about Antony's death in the area in 1945. She published our request for information on their website and enlisted Dr Meyer, from the Wustrow Museum, to help us. Dr Meyer has already located a Barn near the River Elbe, for our future investigation, photographed it (attached below), been to chat with the Pastor at Quickborn and arranged another meeting for us on the 23rd May. Hi wife Elke has invited us for Dinner.


Next updates will hopefully be from Germany and Poland. My son Tom is coming with me too.

Barbara

Postscript: After meeting the Military Historian who explained the layout of roads in 1945, we dismissed this location because it didn't fit in with the facts.

 

Hello everybody,

My name is Colin Fulcher, My Grandad Sgt Neil McLellan, was in the Royal Artillery and also a POW at Stalag XXA.

I could not believe my eyes when I started reading this forum topic realising that we all have a connection.

My Grandad passed away in 1996 and like many others rarely spoke about his time as a POW. Fortunately he used to tell me many stories about the goings on in camp often mentioning his close friend Tony!

About 20 years ago a friend of the family wrote a book about my grandad detailing his times during the war and mainly as a prisoner at Stalag XXA.

My Grandad's book makes frequent reference to "Tony Coulter" and details an escape attempt that both Tony and himself made and how they were captured. He also describes the time during the long March in which he went looking for Tony, only to find him within an Orchard/Barn in a deteriorating condition.

By chance I was reading my Grandads book at the weekend where it quote's "Up to this date Neil has never been able to trace any known resting place for his friend Tony" and understanding this was a good friend of my Grandads I decided I would try and search the Internet to see where Tony's grave was.

Alas I then discovered this forum and have been able to piece bits of my Grandads stories to those being discussed here. I am sure that although mentioned as "Tony Coulter" we are actually talking about Anthony Coulthard. With "Coulter" being the notorious way us Scots would pronounce the name.

My Grandad Sgt Neil McLellan is named in the "Escape History Document" posted by Steve on page 13 as one of the Escape Workers and In particular one of the persistent escapers. both alongside Barbara's Uncle, L/Cpl A Coulthard. This helped confirm my thoughts.

I have been very touched to discover this forum post and it is now my intention to get my Grandads book, in particular where he talks about Tony scanned and posted here for you all to read.

My prayers are with you now as I understand that both Barbara and Steve, you are now in Germany in your search for Tony's Grave and I wish you have success. I would love to keep in touch with you both upon your return and hear how you get on.

Colin Fulcher

 

Hello Colin,

I have managed to get on line from our hotel in Thorn (Torun) in Poland. Great to read your post above and to know your Granddad knew Antony and probably my Dad, Sgt Fred Foster. I will keep this brief but Barbara and I have had a fantastic adventure visting Kaltenhof where Antony died, Quickborn where he was buried and Becklingen CWGC cemetery where we believe he laid to rest by the DGRE in July 47.

We were hosted by Dr Rolf Meyer and a local historian Oliver (LTDan) and visited the barn where he died on 24 March and the cemetery in Quickborn where he was buried by his Long March friends. Rolf and Oliver could not have been kinder or more informative. I interviewed Herr Apitz whose family owned the farmhouse and barn; he was a 13 year old boy at the time and saw Antony's body lying under a blanket on the morning of 24 March 45. I will post much more detail and photographs on our return to UK.

Today Barbara and I visited Stalag XXA and saw the actual rooms the POWs lived in and took photographs of the spots where we have 70 year old photos of dad and Antony. The high point of the day was walking the exact route of their escape in Aug 42, even down to where they cut the wire, bluffed their way past the German Sgt Maj's house and walked down to Thorn station to buy their tickets to Berlin. It has all been highly emotional for Barbara and I.

Colin, much more, including photos, on our return to UK when we will be hoping to prove to the CWGC that Antony lies beneath the unmarked grave in Becklingen cemetery.

Steve

 

Hi Colin,
Welcome to the Forum, which has been the key to all this work.
I was absolutely amazed to get your email, thanks, and struggled to get the internet on my phone to behave so I could forward it to Steve as well! Your Grandad would be happy to learn about our progress I hope. Must sign off as we are due back at the Stalag, but warm regards to you.
Barbara

 

Neil's account of the Forced march may offer insights on the suffering of Antony's column and the deaths which occurred. I would also be interested to learn more about Antony's contribution to life at the camp as we have little information.
In Torun we saw two stalag locations both now privately owned. We read scratched messages in the cell block walls mostly anti hitler and pro British with plenty of the F...word about petty sentences for small offences such as punching a prison guard etc. these engraved bricks are at risk of deterioration, because the polish have no money for such preservation work.

We look forward to anything you can publish Colin.

 

Kaltenhof is a small village close to the Elbe river. The village still has the old farmhouses and barns. The terrain is flat, supporting large areas under pasture. There are good roads winding through the farmland though in 1945 there were mostly dirt roads.
A local historian named Oliver helped us pinpoint the barn where Antony most certainly died. The barn is now owned by a couple named Dangar and Frank. They know an English soldier died in their barn and this is evidenced by an elderly man who lived there aged 13 in 1945, and saw the body under a cover.
We went into the barn and it seemed untouched by modern life- just quiet, dark and dusty with scattered hay and empty animal stalls.
Afterwards our group had coffee with the family and discussed their plans for the barn. Dangar is an architect and deeply CHristian. She and Frank plan to convert the barn into a special refuge for those in need. I hope they call it after Antony!
B

 

I am pleased to read your efforts are being rewarded and look forward to the report.

 

This is the first post of probably many with photos and documents from BarbaraWT and my visit to Kaltenhof and Thorn. I will kick off with our visit to Stalag XXA where we had two days looking round the old Prussian Forts which were situated in a a ring around Thorn. The ones to the south of the River Vistula made up the XXA complex. Fort 13 was where Antony and my father, Sgt Fred Foster, were held until their escape in Aug 42.

Whilst we were looking round one of the outdoor areas in the Fort, I thought I recognise this place. Sure enough it was where dad and some of his colleagues had their photo taken by the Germans conducting outdoor typing lessons; probably for propaganda reasons. Attached are the thumbnails showing:

a. Sgt Foster (nearest the camera with pipe) and his friends taken in May 1940.
b. Myself and my Sister Margaret standing in the same place.
c. Margaret and her Son, Christopher, standing in the same place.

Three generations of Fosters separated by exactly 72 years.

Very near we found the steep grassy bank where Antony and Fred had their pre-escape photos taken in August 1942. After two and a half years of captivity, both were by then very thin. Barbara and I had our photos taken in the same spot as her Uncle and my Dad, 70 years after the event. Atached thumbnails show:

d. L/Cpl JAR Coulthard Aug 42
e. Barbara willoughby-Thomas in the same spot as her Uncle.
f. Sgt F Foster Aug 42
g. Steve Foster in the same spot as his Dad.

Much more to come, will finish off the Stalag XXA tour including walking their escape route and then move on the section in Germany where we looked for Antony's grave.

Regards

Steve











View attachment 81664

 

Hi again,
Please see below a picture of Stalag XXA, Fort 13 Main Gate taken during the war and picture of my Sister and I outside it last week. The other two photos are of the Red Cross Parcel Store in 1940 where POWs can be seen unloading a lorry and a view of the same building taken last week.
Our guide was just taking us from the Stalag HQ building when I looked down a yard and thought I recognise that. The whole of Fort 13 and the outlying buildings are now part of a Polish Army Store Depot.

Steve

 

Last post tonight covering our recent visit of Stalag XXA.

One of the most interesting parts of the visit was when our guide, Dr Michal Targowski, walked us around Antony's and Dad's escape route within the camp. The first thing they had to do was to break Antony into Fort 13 as by 1942 he was in a working party outside of the camp. They then marched down with the Stalag HQ work party, walked into the building where dad edited the camp newspaper "prisoner's Pie" and hid Antony until it was time to hop out of the window. The route then went round the back of the HQ building, round the back of the Red Cross Parcel Store and into a stable building which had doors on either side of it. They were then out of the barbed wire. All of this in daylight in Brtish uniform.

Then past the German Sgt major's house (the first attempt had to be abondoned as he was in his garden), across a lane and into a second stable building where they changed into their civilian clothes (previously placed there with their forged passes). Jumped out of the top story and through a hole in the wire they had cut previously. They then brassed it out in top coats, glasses and civilian hats and walked down to Thorn station and ordered two tickets to Berlin at the ticket office. On the way to the station they walked betwen two working parties, one of which was Antony's, and were given the Heil Hitler salute by all who passed them thinking they were big in the Gestapo!

Atached photos are:

a. Dad's sketch of the escape sent to Antony's parents
b. Stalag HQ building where they started the escape
c. Red Cross Parcel Store
d. The first stable where they entered one side and out through the other.
e. The lane which they had to cross to the second stable (exactly where the person with dog is walking)
f. Thorn station ticket office where they ordered two tickets to Berlin (and got them!)

Steve





View attachment 81683

 

Hello Barbara & Tony!

I am so glad to read that your adventure went well! I look forward to reading more about it and seeing more of the pictures taken.

My Granddad's book is only in paper format at the moment and consists of a few hundred pages. I am now in the process of getting it in an electronic format and hopefully soon make available online.

The excitement in reading your posts has really encourage me to move this forward. I have attached a few excerpts from the book that I have only scanned so that you may read. Mainly where my Granddad talks about Tony, their adventure and friendship.

I must apologise for the poor quality and also for the errors in spelling where present. The author has given me permission to correct spelling whilst converting it to electronic format.

I particularly like my Granddad's reference to the "Apple Tree", near the Barn and how a local tree here in Rothesay reminds him of that night when Tony died. That local tree still exists today and I pass it daily on my way to work. I always remember my Grandad telling me the story of it and his memories of Tony!

Colin

 

Thanks Colin,

Will read the pages from the book with interest. I am back in UK now and Barbara is jetting back to Oz via HK for a short holiday with her husband. Now I have posted about our Stalag XXA visit, the next thing is to get onto the site our findings from Kaltenhof and Quickborn. Lots of photos and documents to post including the barn where Antony died and a photo of what we believe to be his grave.

The barn where Antony Coulthard died is part of a large farm in Kaltenhof which may well have an orchard. Will read it all and see if I can tie up the two accounts.

I am working on a very important letter to the CWGC with all of our evidence to ask them to recognise the grave in Becklingen CWGC cemetery as that of Antony.

More to come

Steve