POW stalag XX-B

Hi there, I have recently joined hoping to find some information. I am doing research on my Grandfather. William James Nash. he fought for the 4th Battalion Oxford and Bucks. He was captured on May 28th 1940 by Dunkirk. After being marched to Poland he was held at Stalag XX-B. I have found his general Information such as pow# and pte#. but I am hoping to find more information about him. maybe even POW records. can someone help me???

Thank you!!

 

Hi astridl
Welcome to the forum - you've come to the right place as there are plenty of people here that will be able to provide you with info.

 

Hi Astrid,
welcome to the Forum.

There are two Pte W J Nash listed as P.O.W. in 1944 but am presuming the 5381836 Pte W J Nash O.B.L.I. is the right man. P.O.W. No. 11501

Brian

 

yes that is the one! what is O.B.L.I???

 

yes that is the one! what is O.B.L.I???


Astrid,

Welcome to the forum.

"Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry" I believe.

Regards
Tom

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Sounds like he got captured trying to walk out of Cassel with Brigadier Somerset. Sadly there is no book that I know of that covers the Siege of Cassel indepth but quite a bit of information on what happened at Cassel is on here- Type Cassel into the search engine

Regards
Andy

 

I take that back. 4 OBLI along with 2 Glosters didn't retreat from Cassel until the night of the 29th May. He might have been part of D Company at Bavinchove.

I'll do some more digging.

UPDATE:

It looks like Bavinchove was taken by the Germans on the 27th May and most of D Company managed to escape to Cassel. I'm a bit stuck for how he could have been captured on the 28th. Can I ask how you know he was captured on the 28th ?

 

Just a little more info dated 18th March 1945.

St XXB Marienburg Position 50:0:18N - 19:00-18E

The Camp was reported to have been evacuated on 3/2/45 and marching towards Nue Brandenburg and Anklam.
7,600 British and other Nationalities near Dommin and Boitzenburg.
Final Destination not known yet.

There is also comment on Aerial photos with Negative Nos. 40994-40995

Brian

 

Hi Brian,

Do any of your records state when he went into the bag?

Andy

 

I am afraid not Andy.
The Report if he made one in WO344/231/1 would give this information; if he made one.
Had quite a few failures with WO344 Lately.

 

well the only evidence I have of date of capture is a peice of artwork he sent my grandmother it says "captured May 28, 1940" "cassel" I am not sure how he was captured he just said that they were surrounded and captured in a cornfield. I also know that he was also part of what he called the black march, but i have also heard it call the death march... not sure if this helps but thank you SO VERY much for helping me!!

 

I dont know if this would help but i do know that he was a member of the Dunkirk association. thanks again

 

Sounds like he got caught after leaving Cassel.

You may want to read Dunkirk-The Men They Left Behind. This is a good account of what happened to soldiers who became PoW's in 1940 France.

 

TS 26/214 might be of interest

 

what is TS 26/214????

 

Astrid,
TS 26/214 is a File at The National Archives with the description "Brutality on march from Cassel-Hazebrouk".

There are also a few War Crimes Files on the 1945 march from XXB which would probably contain route etc.


what is TS 26/214????

 

Hi
I interviewed a chap last night who was with the 4th Ox & Bucks. He was captured at Cassel when they attempted to break out. He was put into a wooded area, and after a couple of nights he managed to sneak away with a chap from the Gloucesters. He made it to Dunkirk, where he was wounded and evacuated to Ramsgate on a paddlesteamer.
I did speak to another 4th Ox and Bucks chap last year - he was captured near Watou (I think - I need to check my notes) and was marched to Trier. The march was hard going and the Germans failed to give them much food or drink - if civilians tried to pass water or bread to them it was snatched away by the guards. At Trier they were put onto railway cattle trucks and taken to Stalag VIIIB in Poland.
PM me if you want anymore information.

 

Interesting reading, my late uncle ....651 Private George H Bean Royal Sussex Regiment was taken POW at Dunkerk during the rear guard and put into Stalagxx-B. Stil looking for information on this?
Rgds,
Nige

 

Hi all: I am just posting to see if anyone has ANY information they could pass to me. My father was in the 4th Ox & Bucks LI, he was captured on May 29th 1940 at Cassel France. He was held for a short time at Stalag XXA then transferred to Stalag XXb Poland. He stayed there until 1945 until he went on the death march. He passed away in 1968. I have been doing research resently and have gathered a little information, but I would like as much as possible. If anyone has any information please let me know. His name was Private William "bill" Nash pt# 5381836.

Thank you
Astrid

 

hello Astrid

your other thread here
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/prisoners-war/27817-pow-stalag-xx-b.html

link below to apply for service records
Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel and Home Guard records


regards
Clive