The Fusiliers Mont-Royal at Dieppe

Hi,

Thanks for the info, I double checked and you're right about his number, I've updated it. I sadly don't have much info to give you. He was taken POW but he's not in the list I have for the one that were released.

Would you happen to have any document or picture of him? That you will be willing to share, of course. If you haven't seen his military file, I can check around if I can find it, would you happen to have a ''proof of death''?

We can exhange in PM or email if you like.

Thanks again! Really happy to talk to a relative!

 

Hi there, I’m not sure if this page is still Active, but my grandfather was PTE André Sarrazin and I actually have a photo I could share of a large swath of the FMR either sometime in 1940, so I believe it would have been in Great Britain (possibly Iceland). Happy to try to coordinate getting a digital file for the website that is being constructed. The full picture is too large for the site to allow the upload but here is a snippet of it with my grandfather.

 

Hi, always happy to hear from the family of a Dieppe vet, you can reach me at fusiliersdieppe@gmail.com, I think google accept larger file, if not I can provide a place for you to upload it.

Thanks for reaching out!

 

I've look around and only found that he was still a pow in September 1942. Do you have more information on him release?

 

Hi. My father was D62895 CPL (A) Manis Manuel POW. I am hoping that someone can help me with a bit of a mystery. My father told me that he traded papers with an Australian and went through the Suez Canal and parts of North Africa before he returned to Canada after the war. I am confused as one of my relatives has a clipping that he was released on March 12, 1945 and returned to Canada in May, 1945. I looked up the return of the Australians and the dates do not match. Any suggestions to figuring this out would be welcome.

 

Nancy,

Some Australians didn't get home until late 1946 - 7.

In the case of your dad and his Aussie mate, they came through Odessa, Ukraine. Attached article refers.

From the Ukraine, those ex-POWs liberated by the Russians would go by UK ship to Naples, Italy and then flown back to the UK.

Regards,

Dave

Montreal Gazette March 17 1945



Sydney Sun March 3 1945

 

Thank you so much Dave. This is what confuses me. I don't know what he was doing in Stalag 20a and then why were there only 2 Canadians? I did read that Australian POW's left England in August of 45 on the Odin, and I also read that the Germans were trying to take the POWs in 20a on a march back to Germany. Unfortunately my Dad didn't say much - as I was a girl. I forgot to mention that he only spoke French as a POW - although he also spoke Yiddish and Russian.

 

I don't have much on my end and a search throughout the FMR and French Canadian Newspaper doesn't give much. But I can help you order his service file if you want, I'll pay the fee. I would just need some information, you can contact me at fusiliersdieppe@gmail.com

I've found that there's some letters and photos from him at the Jewish War Museum in London. I'll try to contact them.

 

Ok, I did find some stuff. His name is just spelled wrong all the time, haha. It's mostly the same news as Alieyes posted. Was liberated by the Russian around March 17, and reached England by April 8. He seems to have follow Jacques Nadeau's path, as both name are mentionned together in some article. I'll check with his son if Jacques even mentionned Manuel.

 

HI. Can you please wait for my e-mail before you contact them. I do have more information for you. Thx. Nancy

 

Martin Sugarman, the historian from AJEX is a member here and can likely assist.

 

Less than 100 Canadian ex-POWs came out through Odessa.

An RCAF Squadron Leader was sent from Ottawa to Odessa via Moscow to ensure all Canadians made it on the boat.

The late member here, Richard "Tricky Dicky" Carter and I spent months going through various records pertaining to Odessa.

I remember that some 20 Australians married Polish girls they met on their run through Poland and wanted to take them back to Oz which gave the Russians fits.

I've attached Mr Manis' obituary here as it would be needed for any request for his service file.

Regards,

Dave

 

Hello Nancy Lee Manis.

Your family name, my memory of seeing said name. I guess you will have this already, but for others who do not, and just incase you are unaware of it Nancy Lee, I highly recommend this book (I have a copy somewhere amongst the thousands, I will try and find it out over the coming days as I'm almost certain I have read Manny's name in it, amongst others, sometime within the last few years).

Given the hour here in the UK now I've taken the easy route and found the book cover via the internet for now (can't be lugging book boxes before daylight - I would get a right royal telling off!)

Good luck with all your searching Nancy Lee. You are amongst good company here, Dave (alieneyes) has and will set a good path for you.

Kind regards, always remember, never forget,

Jim.



EDIT 10:31hrs 28/08/2025: Should you wish to contact the author Nancy Lee;

Home - Ellin Bessner

Screenshot.

 

Hello again Nancy Lee.

To go along with what you already have should you not have seen it before.

From 1944 "prisoners of war held in imperial Germany" list. Full page and close up.







You will see that your dad, at this time, is listed as being incarcerated in Stalag 2D.

If this is something new to you Nancy Lee I would very much suggest, but only if you wanted to of course, applying for the POW records of your dad held by The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

There are only a few specific dates throughout the year to do this, and the limited number of requests that are accepted each time are very quickly taken up. All the information regarding how and when to apply to The ICRC can be seen here:

Requests for information about people held during Spanish Civil War or Second World War: Quarterly limit reached

Next time requests may be attempted is but a couple of weeks away on 15th September this year.

As for Stalag 2D (aka Stalag IID) Nancy Lee, the wiki page will give you a start. Please be aware that it will give you a small insight into the hardship that your dad and his fellow POWs endured.

Stalag II-D - Wikipedia

I very much hope this will help you find more of your dad's service and World War Two story that is unknown to you.

Kind regards, good luck with all, always,

Jim.

 

Hi Jim, I am a bit embarrassed to be writing on this board as I know so little. He did tell me about the handcuffs and I think that I saw something that said he was in 3 different stalags. I got started on this by trying to figure out how he got home from WWII as I may (DNA pending) have a sibling in England who would have been conceived in late July of 45. It doesn't make sense with the Gazette clipping. I can be contacted at mgenter@ica.net.

I would like to thank everyone in here for being so helpful. It is so appreciated and I will keep you updated!

 

Dear Nancy Lee,

Please do not be embarrassed, ever. It is often those closest to us that we know least well.

Keep plugging away, as long as you wish to of course, and any progress that you make and are willing to share will be welcome here.

Good luck, bonne chance, toujors,

Jim.

 

And Nancy Lee, if you don't have them already:

Your dad's service records should be very precise date and movement wise. They could answer questions for you and dispel doubts.

They will need an "ATIP" request, but for you will be very worthwhile I'm sure.

See here for how to go about it:

Personnel records of the Second World War - Canada.ca

You'll need to scroll down said webpage a little to find the WWII section (see screenshot below)



Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Nancy,

To follow up from Jim's advice, you will want to apply for your dad's records through the Privacy Act, not ATIP.

What you need to make a request - Access to Information and Personal Information Online Request Service - Canada.ca

Regards,

Dave

 

Hello Dave,

I thought Manny died in 2015?

If only ten years ago an "ATIP" request surely? As per the wbsite instructions?



Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Aaah Dave,

Where I was coming from "ATIP" wise.

Originally I clicked through the "radio" button choices from the "ATIP" starting point, and after a few questions came to the point I did not go beyond! (see screenshots below). I did not go any further with the process (as I'm not applying for Manny's records).

Just did the same process again with same result. It does indeed get to the "privacy" part as you say, but via the online application system it starts with (and down) the "ATIP" route.

Most importantly, entirely Nancy Lee's choice as to if she wishes apply.

To quote Johnny Mathis, "It's not for me to say".

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

The point I started from.online:




And via a few "radio button" choices, and clicks, it brings the would be applicant to this.