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Oflag 7B Prisoner of War Camp
22nd Jul 1941 Parcels
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Want to know more about Oflag 7B Prisoner of War Camp? There are:1 items tagged Oflag 7B Prisoner of War Camp available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Padre Tony Antrobus Father Anthony Antrobus was the Catholic Army chaplain at Oflag VIIB
and after the war returned to his native Liverpool and life as a parish
priest. He was great friends with my father.
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Lt. John Henry Terry Ford Reconnaissance Corps I am trying to peice together some information about my grandfather John Ford who passed away in 1991. I know he volunteered to go to Finland and is listed as being in Group Sisu. I know from a book written by Jerome Caminada entitled "My Purpose Holds" that he helped Giles Romilly attempt to escape from Wulzberg some time prior to April 1942, he is referred to as Jack Ford. From the same book I understand that by April 1942 he was in Tost bei Gleiwitz when he, Charles Averill and Jerome Caminada tried to escape. In September 1942 he and Charles Averill assisted Jerome Caminada in a successful escape. The book follows the escape of Caminada and my grandfather's story goes cold. From information on the Ancestry website on British Prisoners of War a J H Ford is listed as being a prisoner in Oflag V11-B, Eichstatt. I am assuming this is my grandfather although there is not a date to state what period he was held prisoner here.
Would anyone be able to assist me with any further information or does any one remember him?
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Lt. Ernest Francis Kinsey Army Education Corps My father Ernest Francis Kinsey was captured in Crete on the 1st of June 1941 and after spells in Oflag XC and Oflag VIB was transferred to Oflag VIIB in Eichstaett on 8th September 1942 and spent the rest of the war there. (The dates are all from his German 'Personalkarte I' which I still have). His POW no. was 3443.
At the start of the war my father was a regular soldier stationed in Egypt.
From there he went to Greece and then Crete. At the time of his capture he
was a Lieutenant (I think) in the Army Education Corps (A.E.C) probably
seconded to the Intelligence Corps. He was a ciphers officer (probably the
chief ciphers officer) on Crete.
My father was on the march from Oflag VIIB to Moosburg which was strafed by
American fighters. He never talked much about this and I only found out the
full horrific details a few years ago from internet searches. His only story about the strafing, recounted many times, was how his friend
Brian Porter had apologised profusely for having broken their biscuits after they dived into a ditch to take cover.
Oflag VIIB was close to the town of Eichstaett, site of the Benedictine Abbey
of St. Walburga. The tomb of St. Walburga is in the abbey and at regular
intervals oil produced by liquefaction used to flow from the tomb. Towards the end of the war my father was allowed to accompany the camp's
Catholic army chaplain Padre Tony Antrobus on a visit to the abbey. They
also met the abbess who presented my father with a vial of oil from the
tomb. The vial was kept in a finely embroidered container which my father
afterwards kept pinned to his vest. He had it on the march. After the camp
was liberated my father was flown back to England from Landshut. The plane
in front of the plane carrying my father crashed on take off from Landshut
killing all on board. You may or may not believe in miracles. I think my
father probably did. My sister is named Walburga.
The second story relates to the camp commandant, an old Prussian officer
name Blatter (I think) nicknamed 'Heldentodt'. Sometime during the war
period a German guard on night duty at the camp panicked when hearing
suspicious noises in the latrines and threw a grenade into the latrine
building. The details are not clear but someone was killed and after the war the commandant was accused of war crimes as a result of this incident. Padre Tony Antrobus gave evidence in his favour and 'Heldentodt' was cleared. As a sign of gratitude the ex-commandant presented Tony Antrobus with a large pen drawing of Eichstaett market square. Tony gave it to my father and we still have it today. The inscription on the back of the drawing confirms the story.
Father Anthony Antrobus was the Catholic Army chaplain at Oflag VIIB
and after the war returned to his native Liverpool and life as a parish
priest. He was great friends with my father.
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Capt. Denys G Meakin Staffordshire Yeomanry My uncle, Capt. Denys Meakin of the Staffordshire Yeomanry, was captured in the Peloponnese in 1941 and ended up in Oflag VIIB. I have several postcards and letters from him there to his brother (my father). They seem to have corresponded every two months. Apparently he was well treated by the Germans, and they were allowed to do "pretty much anything". He also mentioned several times that beer was available. However, his mental health deteriorated in captivity, and he was repatriated on medical grounds around the beginning of 1945; he was never able to work again.
>
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L/Cpl. Henry Robert "Son" Martin Royal Engineers My grandfather, Henry Martin enlisted in 1936, kind of rebelling by joining and caught in the war that was facing us.
He was left behind at Dunkirk evading capture for 9 months was held right the way through till his camp was liberated on 13th of 1945.
I have learnt he was in Oflag V11b
He was a Lance Corporal with the Royal Engineers not sure of the unit. I have lots of pictures and letters he wrote from his camp to loved ones and would like to find out more.
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Pte. William Leopold Newman MM. D Coy. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders William Newman received the Military Medal for his actions at Dieppe on 19th of August 1942.
He was captured three weeks after the Dieppe raid and was in at least three prison camps, including Oflag 7B, before being moved to Stalag 2D. He was held in this camp from sometime in 1944 until February of 1945.
|
Lt. Arthur L. Breithaupt Calgary Tanks My father Art Breithaupt was taken prisoner at the raid at Dieppe on 19th of August 1942.
He had been in charge of several tanks in the Calgary Tanks Division. He referred to his tank as Betty.
He said very little to his family and friends about his imprisonment at Oflag VII B in Eichstatt, Bavaria. However, he did return to Canada in 1945 post war with a wonderful needlepoint that he had done at the camp. It is a scene of Oflag VII B.
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Arthur Barradell-Smith Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Arthur Barradell-Smith was captured on the way to Dunkirk in 1940.
He was taken to Eichstatt in Bavaria and saw out the war there.
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Capt. Alan Noel Latimer "Tim" Munby King's Royal Rifle Corps Alan Munmby was a famous bibliographer and fellow of King's College Cambridge. He was captured at Calais in 1940. He contributed ghost stories to the camp magazine "Touchstone," among other camp (Oflag VIIB) activities. A good source for his life is the introduction to "The Alabaster Hand and Other Ghost Stories" (Ash-Tree Press 1995).
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Lt. Peter MacDonald Border Rgt. My father, Lt Peter MacDonald, was caught at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in the above camp. He was in the Border Regiment. I am trying to learn of his experiences and would like to hear of anyone who was in this camp or relatives of men who were interned.
|
Cpl. Edward John Almond East Surrey Regiment My father, Ted Almond was a POW at Oflag V111-B from 1940 then Oflag 3c 1943 until the end and freedom.
|
Capt. Ian Kenneth Cockburn "Hobbers" Hobkirk MC, MVO. 4th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders My grandfather, Captain Ian Kenneth Cockburn Hobkirk, MC MVO, was educated at Eton College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was awarded his MC (Military Cross) for valour whilst commanding A Company, 4th Seaforth Highlanders at Saint Valery during the Battle of France in June 1940. He was captured and interned as a prisoner of war in Germany (1940 to 1945) at Oflag VIIB at Eichstatt, Bavaria.
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Capitaine-Commandant. Jacques Jean Charles Becquet CdeG.     My grandfather Jacques Becquet was born in Brussels 5th August 1894. He joined the Belgian Army as a front line infantry man on 4th April 1911, joining the first Line Regiment. Promoted to Corporal 1st June 1911, to Platoon Sergeant 20th April 1913, to Company Sergeant 5th July 1914, to Sergeant Major 22nd August 1914 and to Colour Sergeant 19th February 1915. Finishing the great War as a Lieutenant in the 21st Line Regiment.
He had two citations for the Great War:
"For the Courage and devotion which he showed during his long period at the front" and
"An Officer of a calm and cool gallantry, a leader of the highest order, at the front from the beginning of hostilities and outstanding for his imperturbable sangfroid. On 30th September 1918 after a most difficult approach march across soaking, and in some cases flooded, ground and under sustained machine gun fire and artillery fire, he rallied his men and with a superb dash, with himself at their head. rushed an enemy trench; Thus showing the greatest contempt of danger."
He did once recall that he was once buried alive by a shell burst and was most impressed that his men actually came back to dig him out - he reckoned that not too many officers would have been so lucky!!
When Germany invaded Belgium on 10th May 1940 he was called up to defend his country. When Leopold surrendered in an act of capitulation on 28th May 1940, my grandfather refused to capitulate and carried on fighting as part of the Underground Belgian Army hoping to give the BEF more to time to evacuate (Dunkirk 26th May 1940 to 4th June 1940).
He managed to destroy two German tanks before being captured by the Germans on 19th June 1940. Branded a trouble maker he was immediately sent to Colditz Castle POW camp. As Colditz filled up with other nationalities the Belgians were moved to Oflag VII B at Eichstatt, and then to Oflag XD at Hamburg.
He retired as a Capitaine Commandant of Reserve (equivalent of a Major in the British Army)
|
Padre Tony Antrobus Father Anthony Antrobus was the Catholic Army chaplain at Oflag VIIB
and after the war returned to his native Liverpool and life as a parish
priest. He was great friends with my father.
|
Lt. John Henry Terry Ford Reconnaissance Corps I am trying to peice together some information about my grandfather John Ford who passed away in 1991. I know he volunteered to go to Finland and is listed as being in Group Sisu. I know from a book written by Jerome Caminada entitled "My Purpose Holds" that he helped Giles Romilly attempt to escape from Wulzberg some time prior to April 1942, he is referred to as Jack Ford. From the same book I understand that by April 1942 he was in Tost bei Gleiwitz when he, Charles Averill and Jerome Caminada tried to escape. In September 1942 he and Charles Averill assisted Jerome Caminada in a successful escape. The book follows the escape of Caminada and my grandfather's story goes cold. From information on the Ancestry website on British Prisoners of War a J H Ford is listed as being a prisoner in Oflag V11-B, Eichstatt. I am assuming this is my grandfather although there is not a date to state what period he was held prisoner here.
Would anyone be able to assist me with any further information or does any one remember him?
|
Lt. Ernest Francis Kinsey Army Education Corps My father Ernest Francis Kinsey was captured in Crete on the 1st of June 1941 and after spells in Oflag XC and Oflag VIB was transferred to Oflag VIIB in Eichstaett on 8th September 1942 and spent the rest of the war there. (The dates are all from his German 'Personalkarte I' which I still have). His POW no. was 3443.
At the start of the war my father was a regular soldier stationed in Egypt.
From there he went to Greece and then Crete. At the time of his capture he
was a Lieutenant (I think) in the Army Education Corps (A.E.C) probably
seconded to the Intelligence Corps. He was a ciphers officer (probably the
chief ciphers officer) on Crete.
My father was on the march from Oflag VIIB to Moosburg which was strafed by
American fighters. He never talked much about this and I only found out the
full horrific details a few years ago from internet searches. His only story about the strafing, recounted many times, was how his friend
Brian Porter had apologised profusely for having broken their biscuits after they dived into a ditch to take cover.
Oflag VIIB was close to the town of Eichstaett, site of the Benedictine Abbey
of St. Walburga. The tomb of St. Walburga is in the abbey and at regular
intervals oil produced by liquefaction used to flow from the tomb. Towards the end of the war my father was allowed to accompany the camp's
Catholic army chaplain Padre Tony Antrobus on a visit to the abbey. They
also met the abbess who presented my father with a vial of oil from the
tomb. The vial was kept in a finely embroidered container which my father
afterwards kept pinned to his vest. He had it on the march. After the camp
was liberated my father was flown back to England from Landshut. The plane
in front of the plane carrying my father crashed on take off from Landshut
killing all on board. You may or may not believe in miracles. I think my
father probably did. My sister is named Walburga.
The second story relates to the camp commandant, an old Prussian officer
name Blatter (I think) nicknamed 'Heldentodt'. Sometime during the war
period a German guard on night duty at the camp panicked when hearing
suspicious noises in the latrines and threw a grenade into the latrine
building. The details are not clear but someone was killed and after the war the commandant was accused of war crimes as a result of this incident. Padre Tony Antrobus gave evidence in his favour and 'Heldentodt' was cleared. As a sign of gratitude the ex-commandant presented Tony Antrobus with a large pen drawing of Eichstaett market square. Tony gave it to my father and we still have it today. The inscription on the back of the drawing confirms the story.
Father Anthony Antrobus was the Catholic Army chaplain at Oflag VIIB
and after the war returned to his native Liverpool and life as a parish
priest. He was great friends with my father.
|
Capt. Denys G Meakin Staffordshire Yeomanry My uncle, Capt. Denys Meakin of the Staffordshire Yeomanry, was captured in the Peloponnese in 1941 and ended up in Oflag VIIB. I have several postcards and letters from him there to his brother (my father). They seem to have corresponded every two months. Apparently he was well treated by the Germans, and they were allowed to do "pretty much anything". He also mentioned several times that beer was available. However, his mental health deteriorated in captivity, and he was repatriated on medical grounds around the beginning of 1945; he was never able to work again.
>
|
L/Cpl. Henry Robert "Son" Martin Royal Engineers My grandfather, Henry Martin enlisted in 1936, kind of rebelling by joining and caught in the war that was facing us.
He was left behind at Dunkirk evading capture for 9 months was held right the way through till his camp was liberated on 13th of 1945.
I have learnt he was in Oflag V11b
He was a Lance Corporal with the Royal Engineers not sure of the unit. I have lots of pictures and letters he wrote from his camp to loved ones and would like to find out more.
|
Pte. William Leopold Newman MM. D Coy. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders William Newman received the Military Medal for his actions at Dieppe on 19th of August 1942.
He was captured three weeks after the Dieppe raid and was in at least three prison camps, including Oflag 7B, before being moved to Stalag 2D. He was held in this camp from sometime in 1944 until February of 1945.
|
Lt. Arthur L. Breithaupt Calgary Tanks My father Art Breithaupt was taken prisoner at the raid at Dieppe on 19th of August 1942.
He had been in charge of several tanks in the Calgary Tanks Division. He referred to his tank as Betty.
He said very little to his family and friends about his imprisonment at Oflag VII B in Eichstatt, Bavaria. However, he did return to Canada in 1945 post war with a wonderful needlepoint that he had done at the camp. It is a scene of Oflag VII B.
|
Arthur Barradell-Smith Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Arthur Barradell-Smith was captured on the way to Dunkirk in 1940.
He was taken to Eichstatt in Bavaria and saw out the war there.
|
Capt. Alan Noel Latimer "Tim" Munby King's Royal Rifle Corps Alan Munmby was a famous bibliographer and fellow of King's College Cambridge. He was captured at Calais in 1940. He contributed ghost stories to the camp magazine "Touchstone," among other camp (Oflag VIIB) activities. A good source for his life is the introduction to "The Alabaster Hand and Other Ghost Stories" (Ash-Tree Press 1995).
|
Lt. Peter MacDonald Border Rgt. My father, Lt Peter MacDonald, was caught at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in the above camp. He was in the Border Regiment. I am trying to learn of his experiences and would like to hear of anyone who was in this camp or relatives of men who were interned.
|
Cpl. Edward John Almond East Surrey Regiment My father, Ted Almond was a POW at Oflag V111-B from 1940 then Oflag 3c 1943 until the end and freedom.
|
Capt. Ian Kenneth Cockburn "Hobbers" Hobkirk MC, MVO. 4th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders My grandfather, Captain Ian Kenneth Cockburn Hobkirk, MC MVO, was educated at Eton College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was awarded his MC (Military Cross) for valour whilst commanding A Company, 4th Seaforth Highlanders at Saint Valery during the Battle of France in June 1940. He was captured and interned as a prisoner of war in Germany (1940 to 1945) at Oflag VIIB at Eichstatt, Bavaria.
|
Capitaine-Commandant. Jacques Jean Charles Becquet CdeG. My grandfather Jacques Becquet was born in Brussels 5th August 1894. He joined the Belgian Army as a front line infantry man on 4th April 1911, joining the first Line Regiment. Promoted to Corporal 1st June 1911, to Platoon Sergeant 20th April 1913, to Company Sergeant 5th July 1914, to Sergeant Major 22nd August 1914 and to Colour Sergeant 19th February 1915. Finishing the great War as a Lieutenant in the 21st Line Regiment.
He had two citations for the Great War:
"For the Courage and devotion which he showed during his long period at the front" and
"An Officer of a calm and cool gallantry, a leader of the highest order, at the front from the beginning of hostilities and outstanding for his imperturbable sangfroid. On 30th September 1918 after a most difficult approach march across soaking, and in some cases flooded, ground and under sustained machine gun fire and artillery fire, he rallied his men and with a superb dash, with himself at their head. rushed an enemy trench; Thus showing the greatest contempt of danger."
He did once recall that he was once buried alive by a shell burst and was most impressed that his men actually came back to dig him out - he reckoned that not too many officers would have been so lucky!!
When Germany invaded Belgium on 10th May 1940 he was called up to defend his country. When Leopold surrendered in an act of capitulation on 28th May 1940, my grandfather refused to capitulate and carried on fighting as part of the Underground Belgian Army hoping to give the BEF more to time to evacuate (Dunkirk 26th May 1940 to 4th June 1940).
He managed to destroy two German tanks before being captured by the Germans on 19th June 1940. Branded a trouble maker he was immediately sent to Colditz Castle POW camp. As Colditz filled up with other nationalities the Belgians were moved to Oflag VII B at Eichstatt, and then to Oflag XD at Hamburg.
He retired as a Capitaine Commandant of Reserve (equivalent of a Major in the British Army)
|
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