Lewis Edwards
Does anyone have any further information on my father, Lewis (Lew) Seccombe Farmar Edwards?He was born in 1914 in Bromley, Kent and died in 1993 in Chertsey, Surrey.
He served in 'B' Company, 1st Bn Queen Victoria's Rifles (also known in 1937 as Kings Royal Rifle Corp). His army number was 6142398. Click here to find out more about him.
His first marriage was to Mrs F A Edwards and they lived at 16 Albany Road, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Dad's father's name was John Lionel Edwards and his mother's maiden name was Emma Grim.
One of dad's brothers, John L. Edwards, served in the First World War and he was very close to his brother George who was younger than him.
Dad was camp tailor (he also made costumes for the theatre productions) and played violin.
November 2008
Barbara Horner wrote to me saying:-
"Hi. After watching all the things on the telly about the war it got me thinking about my own dads diary that he wrote whilst a POW at Stalag XXA.Only been on the computer for 10mins when I came across the name Lewis Edwards & knew I reconised it from somewhere.Your fathers name & address is in my dads diary only its down as 66 Albany road & not 16 but it has to be the same Lewis don't you think? Also at the back is written room 11 block 4 Lew Edwards.Another entry March 20th 1945 reads 'meet Lew Edwards at Warlow stay resting. No grub.Bad place.Passing through Liidwiglust.Had been bombed' Another entry previously dated March 25th 1944 'Lew Edwards went back to Stalag today'".
Barbara also wrote:-
"My fathers name was Arthur Stapleton, I'm afraid I do not have his diary in electronic form but I do have some more info on your dad. Went in my mums again today & asked her if she had heard my dad talk of a Lew Edwards, yes she said he was the leader of the band in the camp. I then found some old pics & lo & behold there is one of your dad which he had given to my dad. On the back he had written 'To Arthur Best wishes Your old pal Lew' isn't that amazing!!
I also have pics of a play they did called 'Broadway through a keyhole' & your dad is playing the violin.Plus an xmas show programme of Robin Hood, my dad played Lady Alice & your dad did the story & prodution with someone called H.S Glover & also the musical direction.
hope to hear from you soon it would be great if you had some info on my dad as he died in 1974 when I was 10 & I never heard him talk about the war."
Barbara has kindly sent me some more photos of my father and further information which is shown below:-
Albert Elliott
Ron would be interested to hear from any person who knew his brother, Albert Elliott, a Canadian, when he was in Stalag XXA, Thorn, Poland. He was captured during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, and was released in April or May of 1945. While he was in the camp a buddy tattooed a sketch of a maple leaf on his forearm.If anyone help Ron with this, please contact him directly.
George Edwards
Jeff is looking for information on his grandfarther, George Edwards, who was in the paratroopers in the Second World War. He has subsequently died but Jeff would really love to find out as much information as he can so is dad has something to keep. George Edwards was in the 6 Airbourne Division, 3rd Battalion. His Army Number was 1763162. Jeff believes he was in Palestine around 1945.If anyone can help, please email Jeff
William Edward Lee Elble
Nancy's father, William Edward Lee Elble, was a PoW, Army, captured in 1944 at the age of 23 and spent 9 months in Stalag IIA He earned 7 medals, including the Bronze Star. He, along with Nancy's mother, a WWII WAC, (she sadly has Alzheimers) presently reside at the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown, Ohio.William's discharge papers show him as a Corporal, Company M, 330th. Infantry. 83rd. Division. His military occupational specialty was Truck Driver-Light #345, Combat Infantryman Badge. Battles and campaigns were Normandy, Northern France.
Here is Williams PoW file that Nancy found online:
| Field Title | Value | Meaning |
| SERIAL NUMBER | 35664855 35664855 | |
| NAME | ELBLE, WILLIAM E. | |
| GRADE | ALPHA PFC | Private First Class |
| GRADE CODE | 7 | Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide or Private First Class or Ensign or Second Class, Seaman |
| SERVICE CODE | 1 | ARMY |
| ARM OR SERVICE | INF | Infantry |
| ARM OR SERVICE CODE | 10 INF | Infantry |
| DATE REPORT | 26th October 1944 | |
| TYPE OF ORGANISATION | 740 | Branch Immaterial/Infantry Division Band/Dental Corps/Medical Department |
| PARENT UNIT NUMBER | 0330 | |
| AREA | 72 | European Theatre: Germany |
| LATEST REPORT DATE | 14th June 1945 | |
| STATUS | 8 | Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated |
| DETAINING POWER | 1 | Germany |
| CAMP | 002 | Stalag 2A Neubrandenburg Mecklenberg 53-13 |
Nancy would like to locate some other PoWs that spent the same time as her father did in this camp. He may even have a fellow camp IIA living in this home as well! He remembers being captured along with a fellow comrade, Dale B. Crawford, who might have been from Canton, Ohio. Dale's serial number was 15324862.
If anyone knew William, Dale or were at Stalag IIA, please email Nancy
UPDATE FROM NANCY (21 February 2007)
Just wanted to update you that my father, William E. Elble, passed away February 12, 2007. He was laid to rest in Tate Township Cemetery, Bethel, Ohio, with full military honors. The enlisted came from Fort Knox, Tenn., courtesy of Mr. Frank Morrow, Batavia Ohio Veterans Services Office. My Dad, last year, did a commercial for the Veterans Services and it is televised on cable TV.
I have Dad's full P.O.W. experience in print and am hoping to get it to the military museum in Ohio. My Dad was also, the most decorated World War II veteran in Clermont County, Ohio. He received 8 medals, which included two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars. He was honored in a ceremony attended by Rob Portman.
UPDATE FROM NANCY (12 April 2007)
MY GRANDPA (Eulogy)
By Apryl Oelker
A strong man that survived being a POW for nine months in World War II. A man determined to come home. This man is my Grandpa and his name is William Edward Elble. He was drafted into the Army infantry at the age of 19. He had wanted to go into the service, but not under these conditions.
During his time in the service he had been involved with the sixth fleet to invade France. The infantry was being bombed several times. During one incident, Grandpa had hid in a fox hole. After the bombing was over, he crawled out. There were bodies everywhere. One man, whose leg had been cut off, Grandpa tied a turniquite around it to stop the bleeding. He then crawled back into the hole and got the medics.
One afternoon he was driving a jeep, along with ten other men, taking ammunition to the front line. Meanwhile, the Germans had been on scouting patrol on the back of the German lines. My Grandpa's group was almost back when the Germans attacked them. They had asked seven of the men if they were wounded. When their reply was affirmative they were shot and killed on the spot. Grandpa was shot in the lower stomach, but said he was not wounded. The three surviving men were then taken to be interrogated. After being interrogated my Grandpa told a German officer he was shot. He was then taken immediately to the German medics.
The POW's were kept in the barracks in the woods. They slept on straw mattresses. The Germans had taken away their clothing and gave them an overcoat from the Jew's that had been burned. The POW's were given one blanket. The temperature would drop to below zero. My Grandpa cut the end of his blanket to make a hat and a pair of gloves. They received two meals a day, which consisted of turnip soup without the turnips, one cup of coffee that tasted like chicory, (fake coffee) and one slice of hard bread. A lot of men died of starvation. When Grandpa would wake up the man lying beside him would be dead.
My Grandpa had escaped three times for about two or three days. He would sleep during the day and walk at night, but the civilian people turned him in. He was then tied down and tortured for trying to escape.
When the Americans would bomb the Germans, they came close to bombing the POW barracks. When the British bombed them one city block away, it had knocked the men out of their bunks. The next morning when they had to do their chores, they walked to the railroad that had been blown to pieces. The hole was so big that you could fit five houses in it. One chore consisted of chopping big trees down and digging up the stump. Sometimes the stump hole was over their heads.
After nine long and horrible months, a German officer falsified my Grandpa's papers along with a few other Americans and marched them back to American lines. There the German officer gave himself up to the Americans. My Grandpa then had to prove, with his papers, he was an American.
The men were then put in to a hospital for three weeks. Their clothes were burnt and heads shaved because of the lice. One man stopped at a Red Cross stand and because he was so hungry ate six dozen doughnuts. He then died immediately. All Red Cross stands were shut down. Grandpa was then sent to Camp Adaberry in Indiana. It was a recuperation center where he spent one week. He finally came home for two weeks. After his stay at home, he was sent to Miami Beach, Florida for more recuperation. From Florida, he was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky and became a tank instructor for six months. He was supplied with his own car, license plates, and could leave to come home at anytime. One weekend when he was home he was called back to Kentucky to be discharged. For all of his sufferings, he received two purple hearts. A man who has been through a lot, but is still the most caring person today, my Grandpa.
Reginald Everson
Vince is looking for information on his father-in-law, Sergeant Reginald Everson MM Royal Co of Signals, who was involved in the capture of a General Creipe on Crete. He has kindly been sent a book by a gentleman he met over the Internet entitled "Hide and Seek" by Xan Feilding where Reginald is mentioned.Reginald is originally from Great Yarmouth and after the War he settled in Wales.
If anyone can help with information on the activities in Crete or remembers Reginald, please email Vince.
HMS Eagle
Gary is interested in any information he can get regarding HMS Eagle. He believes his uncle went down with her in 1942. His name was Stanley Morris and he was a stoker on board, but cannot find out if this is true.Any information, please email Gary.
William Elvin
Janette's son, Aaron, is working on a project on WW2 and was interested in the battle of St Valery-on-Caux as both his great grandfather, Albert Lake, and his great uncle, William Elvin were taken PoWs there on surrender to the 7th Panzer Division.Both men were in the1st Division of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders.
Albert had been billeted at Landes before the battle and Janette thinks he stayed in a PoW camp in France. Billy was certainly taken to Germany but she doesn't know where.
Janette has an old photo that she thinks her grandmother must have been sent by her grandfather and on the back it says STALIG XXA Gepruft 49.
If you can help with any information, please contact Janette and Aaron
Richard Evans
John and Brenda are looking for an uncle, Richard Evans.The photo was addresed to John's mother who was his sister. Richard was married to Alice and came from Tilley near Wem in Shropshire.
Richard died some years ago but his daughter lives near Cheltenham (John's cousin).
Richard was in Stalag 306.
If you can help with any information, please contact John and Brenda
Sydney Francis Emanuel
Greg is looking for any information about the following two soldiers (second was his fathr):-Major Sydney Francis Emanuel - was in Welsh Guards 1939 - 1945; mostly involved in training with Guards Armoured Division. Born in Perth WA; attended Cambridge University.
Pte. Frank Lodge - 1st Battalion Welsh Guards; at Dunkirk and then servant to the above for the duration.
If you can help with any information, please contact Greg
Richard (Dickie) Elliott
Received the following email from an unknown sender:"My uncle Dickie Elliott was in the Tyneside Scottish and was captured at Arras. He went through the same experiences as your dad and was liberated by the Russians. I have a photo sent to my mother from Dickie and three other prisoners while they were captive. When he got back to Gateshead and working again in Clarke Chapmans he could speak perfect German and translated at meeting with German industrialists."
Morgan Vincent (Vince) Evans
Received the following email from John:"My cousin Morgan Vincent (Vince) Evans, L/Cpl, Kings Royal Rifle Corp (KRRC) was captured during the defence of Calais 1940 and spent the next five years at Stalag XXB at Marlbork Poland. I would be greatful for any information anyone may have about him or the experiences of POW's at that camp during those years.
At the time he was Lance Corporal 6844433 Evans of the King Royal Rifle Brigade. I know he spent most of the war in Stalag XXB at Marlbork and his POW number was 8494.
After the war he stayed in the army, with, I understand the Royal Marines and served as a bandsman on board the Royal Yachts.
He died in Surrey aged 77 in 1992, please find attached a photo Vince taken I believe in the late 1930's."
G.H. Edlin
Received the following email from George:"Sherwood Foresters. Can you please help my aunt is trying to find out how her father died and did he die in the prison of war camp. He was in Stalag Lambinowice, Poland his name was G.H. Edlin - camp number 344, Army number 4987096. He died in 1944 aged 26 years old."
J. W. P. Ellingford
Received the following email from Rick:"Hi, I am trying to find a POW Registration Card for a lost relative. I am hoping that the card may have his photograph attached.
Name: J. W. P. Ellingford
Rank: Sapper
Army Number: 2090929
Regiment: Royal Engineers
POW Number: 19766
Camp Number: Stalag XX-B
Camp Location: Malbork, Poland
Record Office: Royal Engineers Record Office, Ditchling Road, Brighton, Sussex Record Office Number: 9"
If you can help please email Rick.
Jim Eary
Received the following email from Joe:"I am 78 years of age.I was born in Malta where the Royal West Kent Regiment was posted when WWII started. My family lived just minutes away from where the regiment was stationed. This regiment earned much admiration from the local residents and my family was no exception. In fact it was my family that started to invite several soldiers at a time to dine with us. Our neighbours did not need much encouragement to follow our way of expressing appreciation. Since the war's end I have not stopped searching for one particular soldier by the name of JIM EARY As I could never recall his service number I was never able to achieve any success. However, I keep being asked to never give up. So now I thought that perhaps there is someone who would kindly pass on this message to the Military Veterans Personnel Association. What I am hoping for is to learn whether Jim Eary survived WWII or if not I wish to contact any family survivor in the UK. I have no idea where in England did Jim Eary originate from. I would be happy to email or perhaps write directly or even telephone any of the Eary family wherever they live. I am truly indebted to this link and I regret I am unable to lodge an official inquiry with the related veterans association due to lack of funds. A reply will be very much appreciated."
If you can help please email Joe
Richard John Evans
Received the following email from Darryn:"I am searching for any information on my Uncle CPL RICHARD JOHN EVANS from Treorchy, Rhondda South Wales. Don''t have much info, just that he spent most of the war in POW camp. We do have a picture post card that was sent to his mother from Lager-Bexeichung M-Stammlager 383. Not sure what regiment he was serving in."
If you can help please email Darryn
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