251097 Albert Sidney Standen British Army Royal Sussex Regiment from:Hastings, Kent Bert Standen told a few stories in his later years of his capture at Dunkirk after being shot in the ankle whilst they attempted to hold back the German advance at the Canals in Dunkirk.
He was a PoW at Stalag XXID and we have a few family photographs which were sent to him via the Red Cross stamped on the rear with Stalag XXID.
Bert escaped with a friend as they were being moved as the Red Army advanced on the camp. Whilst marching through the harsh winter they were sent to a nearby farm to scavenge food for the guards and prisoners. They decided to escape and not return to the marching column but instead hid and hoped they would not be pursued by the guards.
Slowly they walked overland to Odessa where they met Allied troops and were to go by troop ship which would eventually go back to the UK. This journey would take months and would be dangerous. Bert decided he would make his own way overland not being a great sailor. His friend decided he would await a ship.
Bert travelled overland back to France via the underground resistance network, unfortunately we have little detail of this part of his trip. He eventually arrived back in the UK after meeting Allied troops again in France. After debriefing he was told he couldn't be demobbed as the war still continued but he could have a choice of where he wished to serve. Bert asked "Is there anywhere with no rationing?" After a few weeks leave he ended up seeing out the remainder of the war stationed on the Isle of Man.
After the war Bert lived a quiet life as a self-employed builder and grave digger in Headcorn, Kent. He had 5 children and died in Maidstone hospital in 1994. RIP Bert.
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