246008 Sgt. Harry Randall MBE.British Army Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) from:Sheffield My father, Sergeant Harry Randall was moved from Stalag 18A (Wolfsberg) after attempting to escape. He had commandeered a bogey wagon high on a hill top with two other prisoners, one an Australian. They careered through Wolfsberg railway station, unable to stop, watched by a platform of German soldiers! This was the third escape attempt. The first being in Salonika Greece also unsuccessful. The second at Selzthal in Feb 1942. Whilst in Stalag 383 he again attempted to escape and attempted tunnelling but was discovered before completion. Whilst in Stalag 383 he received a certificate from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce London. stating:
Harry Randall Stalag 383 'This Certificate of Second Class in German. Commercial Examinations Intermediate Stage' My father told me that he was learning German to aid any escape. His military records confirm acts of sabotage, transferring labels from one railway wagon to another, loosening of screws affixing lines to sleepers.A giant of a man, who finally left the army in 1962 with a MBE.
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