Good evening I am fairly advanced, now, in writing up my father's War. He was Hugh (aka Freddy) Grimes DoB 31-Aug-19 (Prisoner 12022) Hugh was a private in 4 QORWK. He was captured at the foret de Nieppe on 28-May-40, fighting in the 132 Div rear-guard action and on his way out to Dunkirk. He was held at Trier (Stalag XIID) for a few days, then Thorn (XXA) until late 1941, then Marienburg (XXB). I have identified a number of AKs in which he worked, but would be delighted to hear about XXA AK24 and XXB AK 170 and 717 Hugh was in the Long March and was liberated on 8-May-45 by Americans at Schwerin I am making the best of very limited personal evidence; I have no pictures I should be delighted to hear from anyone who (or whose father or other forebears) had any association with these events - and particularly if there are any relevant photographs out there Regards, Tim
Tim, Maybe a silly question bearing in mind the good research you have already done but do you have his POW Liberation Questionnaire and any names of the guys that were prisoners with him. I am in a very similar position to you but it is amazing what other POW's wrote about their experiences to give you some idea what your Father went through. If l can help, please let me know. Regards, Nick KenFentonsWar.com
Hi Tim Are you aware of the murders that took place when your father was captured? http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/18410-british-soldiers-murdered-at-forêt-de-nieppe-nieppe-forest-1940/?hl=%2Bforet+%2Bnieppe#entry215227 Just a slight correction for you. He would have been in 44 Div. 131 was one of the three Brigades within the Division.
4th West Kents in 132 Bde in 44th Div. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/44th_%28Home_Counties%29_Division#Second_World_War http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/UK-NWE-Flanders-I.html 44TH (HOME COUNTIES) DIVISION 132nd Brigade—Brigadier J. S. Steele 1st, 4th and 5th Battalions The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Hi Tim, just seen this post and was wondering if you found what you were looking regarding your father? My grandfather followed a similar path, captured a week before your father in Northern France, and sent to XXB at Marienburg. I have identified a number of smaller AKs but he doesn't seem to have been in the two you have mentioned, but will be happy to compare notes if you want? The Long March also took my grandfather as far as Schwerin, though his liberation came a few days earlier.
