2724272 Guardsman Douglas Stanley BELL, Irish Guards: PoW

Date of Enlistment: 3 February 1944

Army Number: 2724272
Rank: Guardsman
Name: Douglas Stanley BELL
Unit: 3 Irish Guards

Date of Birth: 16 September 1924
Place of Birth:
Address as of 30 May 1945: 324 Hertford Road, Enfield Highway, Enfield, Middlesex

Date of Capture: 21 April 1945
Place of Capture: Wistedt, Germany

 

WO 344-24-1


PART I
General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

1. No.: 2724272
Rank: Guardsman
Surname: BELL
Christian Names: Douglas Stanley
Decorations: -

2. Unit (Army): IRISH GUARDS
3. Division (Army): GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION

4. Date of Birth: 16 September 1924
5. Date of Enlistment: 3 February 1944
6. Civilian Trade: Moulder
7. Private Address: 324 Hertford Road, Enfield Highway, Enfield, Middlesex

8. Place of Capture: Wisted, Germany
Date of Capture: 20 May 1945

9. Were you Wounded when Captured:
No

10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
Camp No. Location From & To
Dulag

11. Were you in a Working Camp?
No
Location From & To Nature of Work
-

12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
No
Nature of Illness Cause Duration
-

Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
-


PART II

2. Lectures before Capture
(State where, when and by whom)
(a) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave in the event of capture?:
No
(b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
No

3. Interrogation after Capture
(State where, when and methods employed by enemy)
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?:

4. Escapes attempted.
Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
No
(Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when captured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to our companions?)
-

5. Sabotage.
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc., when employed on working-parties or during escape?
No
(Give details, places and dates).
-

6. Collaboration with enemy.
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy against other Allied PoWS?
No
(Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
-

7. War Crimes.
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of “Form Q” on which to make your statement.
-

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
No

SECURITY UNDERTAKING.
I fully realised that all information relating to the matters covered by the questions in PART II are of a highly secret and official nature.
I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.


Date of Signature: 30 May 1945

 

Army Number: 2724272
Rank: Guardsman
Name: Douglas Stanley BELL
Unit: Irish Guards
Theatre: North West Europe
POW Number:
Date of Capture: 20/04/1945
Place of Capture: Wistedt, Germany
Camp:

 

3 Irish Guards, captured 21/04/1945, NWE, WO 417

 

See also:

• War Diary: 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan, Feb, April, 1945
• 21 April 1945
• A strong counter-attack, which was subsequently proved to have been made by the 2 Battalions of 104 Panzer Grenadier Regiment (15 Panzer Grenadier Division), was launched, supporte by Artillery, Mortars, and Self-Propelled guns, on to the area ELSDORF-WISTEDT shortly after first light. The situation was serious for a time, as a Platoon and Troop occupying WISTEDT were surrounded and cut off from the main body. Only one tank with the Tank Commander and Platoon Commander with 4 men managed to get back to the Company area. Elsewhere in spite of bitter fighting and heavy shelling on our forward areas, the enemy attack had been beaten off by midday. Another Coy/ Squadron Group moved to FRANKENBOSTEL and Battalion HQ to RUSPEL. At about dusk 16 bombs were dropped on ELSDORF fortunately causing very few casualties. The firing of Verey lights from the ground seemed to be co-ordinated in the tactical picture, but it was not followed by any counter-attack.