Thomas James Reeve - Stalag V111A

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by lolboy147, Apr 24, 2011.

  1. lolboy147

    lolboy147 Junior Member

    Hi all - I'm Laurie and Tom was my dad. I think he was in the Sherwood Foresters. He was captured in North Africa and was a POW in Italy before being moved to Stalag V111A. I know he worked down the mines but that's about it. Sadly he's not around to ask any more questions.
    He was a good footballer (semi pro) - came from East London - and was a PT instructor (did I hear boos then...).

    I know so little about this time in his life. I'd love to hear from any contemporaries of his time in Stalag V111A.

    If this is the wrong place to post this kind of enquiry I'd very much appreciate being pointed in the right direction!

    Thanks in advance, Laurie
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Laurie

    Do you have a note of his Regimental no. ?

    Could this be your father?

    From British Army Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
    Name: T. J. Reeve
    Rank: Lance Corporal
    Army Number: 4807782
    Regiment: Lincolnshire Regiment
    POW Number: 75827
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: VIII-A
    Camp Location: Görlitz, Saxony
    Record Office: Infantry Record Office, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
    Record Office Number: 19

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/8564-army-number-block-allocations.html
    Lincolnshire Regiment 4792001 - 4848000


    Has anyone in the family applied for a copy of his service records from the MOD?
     
  3. lolboy147

    lolboy147 Junior Member

    Diane - thank you so much. That was him!

    Considering I got his regiment wrong you've done a great job there. Now I have these details I will indeed ask for his service records.

    You're a star!
     
  4. tcrandle

    tcrandle Junior Member

    Hi Laurie, My father wrote/eddited a book called INTERLUDE while in V111A from Sept'43 til Feb '45.The book was never published. I presented a copy to Goerlitz Lord Mayor last june.There's a private museum of V111A in Zgorzelec (the Polish side where V111A is.) There are survivors. I expect to revisit the site late June. I can send more information.
    Terry Auckland New Zealand
     
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  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  6. lolboy147

    lolboy147 Junior Member

    Thanks for the response TCRANDLE -I'd love any more info you have. All info is more than I currently have!

    I've attached a couple of photos of camp inmates - one a band - called "the Moles" would you believe!

    The second is of a group - probably a work group - with my father and a lot of others in it. My dad is in the second from back row - fifth from the left. Cheers, Laurie



    http://[​IMG]
     
  7. lolboy147

    lolboy147 Junior Member

    Thanks Drew - I'll be on the case to find his records.

    Re being a PTI - he didn't talk a lot about his time in the war but he used to have a glint in his eye about being a PTI and how that enabled him to put officers through hell :D

    I guess I can understand the enjoyment he got out of that....

    I found the following photo - my dad is in the middle row, third from the left. Maybe someone elses relation is on here too!





    http://[​IMG]

    Cheers, Laurie
     
    Drew5233 likes this.
  8. lolboy147

    lolboy147 Junior Member

    One final piece of the puzzle that I've just discovered.

    Dad escaped during the lamsdorf march (I think it was called) with two others. One, I know, was a South African. Apparently they hid up in a barn and made their way cross country back to the approaching allied line.

    One of the photos above was sent to dad from a South African called:

    Pierre Jolivet
    2 Helmsley
    4 Bornick Road
    Durban, Natal
    South Africa

    I suspect that this is the guy dad escaped with. Just a bit more info but wonder if this might be interesting from a South African angle.

    Finally, would dad's escape mean that there is a likelihood of him being interviewed when he got back to allied lines, and if so, where should I look for these records?

    Thanks again for all the help. I'm a newby but rapidly getting very interested in this site and all the fantastic info on it.

    Laurie
     
    Marc Jolivet likes this.
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Ha !

    Physical Training and Hardening School


    Absolute Quality !

    Thanks for sharing the pics from an ex PTI.
     
  10. Gayant

    Gayant Junior Member

    a couple of photos of camp inmates

    Hi Laurie,

    I'm french and my english is not very good.
    You posted two photos, one POWs group, the other with a band
    Can you confirm that they were taken to Stalag VIIIA

    I am interested by Stalag VIIIA because my father was POW there. The story of his captivity (in french and english) is on this forum I am moderator: HERE

    If these pictures relate well Stalag VIIIA, do you accept that I put them on line on the forum?


    Thank you for your next reply
    best regards
    Joël.
     
  11. Gayant

    Gayant Junior Member

    My father wrote/eddited a book

    Hi tcrandle

    - In your father book called "INTERLUDE while in VIIIA from Sept'43 til Feb '45" have you some informations on different kommandos of stalag VIIIA: number, location, activity ?

    - Do you have some group photos or daily life photos in Stalag VIIIA ?

    Thank you for your next reply
    Best regards
    Joël.
     
  12. lolboy147

    lolboy147 Junior Member

    Bonjour Joel!

    Yes I can confirm that the first 2 of these photos were taken at Stalag 8A. I have the originals with my fathers writing on them. I am happy for you to post them on your site.

    The third photo is of my father in a group of physical training instructors in a training camp in England - before he was captured.

    I will take a look at your site later today (I'm meant to be working at the moment).

    Thanks for your reply.

    Laurie.
     
  13. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    Sig.Pierre L.Jolivet 7729 P.O.W. No. 76421 has an entry of St.8C in the P.O.W. Lists compiled in 1945.

    You mention Lamsdorf which was St. 344 and was evacuated in the 4th week of January 1945.
    He could have joined the Lamsdorf March at some point even if he wasn't registered at the Camp.

    Most of those who managed to get away from any of the Marches as a rule didn't make an Escapers Report. He may have made a Liberation Report but unfortunately not all former P.O.W. did.



    One final piece of the puzzle that I've just discovered.

    Dad escaped during the lamsdorf march (I think it was called) with two others. One, I know, was a South African. Apparently they hid up in a barn and made their way cross country back to the approaching allied line.

    One of the photos above was sent to dad from a South African called:

    Pierre Jolivet
    2 Helmsley
    4 Bornick Road
    Durban, Natal
    South Africa

    I suspect that this is the guy dad escaped with. Just a bit more info but wonder if this might be interesting from a South African angle.

    Finally, would dad's escape mean that there is a likelihood of him being interviewed when he got back to allied lines, and if so, where should I look for these records?

    Thanks again for all the help. I'm a newby but rapidly getting very interested in this site and all the fantastic info on it.

    Laurie
     
  14. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    Just a little more.

    Your Fathers entry for 1944 shows him Registered in the same Camp as Jolivet. Stalag 8C.
     
    dbf likes this.
  15. lolboy147

    lolboy147 Junior Member

    Hi ADM199 - this is really interesting. I had no idea that dad had been in 8C as well as 8A. I now have a completely new line of enquiry to follow!
    May I ask where you find the information on who is registered to which camp?

    Thanks again, Laurie
     
  16. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    Hi ADM199 - this is really interesting. I had no idea that dad had been in 8C as well as 8A. I now have a completely new line of enquiry to follow!
    May I ask where you find the information on who is registered to which camp?

    Thanks again, Laurie

    The information regarding 1944 is from a File I have. Handy but not hand on heart accurate as are none of the POW listings.

    The Camp given for most O.Rs is for administration purposes as they were usually out on work details attached. Any N.C.Os on the work details were usually only supervising.
    Some were many miles from Camp given.
     
  17. Gayant

    Gayant Junior Member

    I've attached a couple of photos of camp inmates

    Hi Laurie,
    Thank you for your autorisation to publish them.
    They can be seen HERE

    The two pictures are taken before the same hut. On the first we read on a door: "stage entrance"
    It may well be whether the hut 27 B. French and Belgian POWs had converted the hut 27 B in theater and concert hall.
    Photos was probably taken late 1943 or 1944. English prisoners arrived autumn 1943.

    stalag VIII A - plan.jpg clic to enlarge


    You can see more informations on stalag VIIIA, in english and polish, on the last post: HERE

    You can get more information about your father by completing this online formulary on ICRC: HERE
    It takes several months to get an answer. It's free for parents.

    Best regards,
    Joël.
     
  18. clearerjim

    clearerjim New Member

    My brother has a copy of "Interlude" at his home in Manchester. I intend to get him to send it to me as, in June, I will be driving to Dresden & would like to visit the site of Stalag 8a. Does anybody know if there is still anything worth seeing at Stalag 8a? My father was captured at Tobruk & marched up through Italy to S8a, he also mentioned working in Dresden when it was bombed - in the zoo?

    regards Jim
     
  19. Marc Jolivet

    Marc Jolivet New Member

     
  20. Marc Jolivet

    Marc Jolivet New Member

    Good day Laurie, my dad was Peirre Jolivet and indeed it was him that escaped with your Dad. As you say there were three of them. My dad didnt talk much of his experiances but after my self and brothers were consctipted into the army he began adding a few stories of his own. One of which was the escape you talk of. If you are still monotoring this thread please reply and I will tell you what I know.
     

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