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Brian Rigby Altham . British Army Lancashire Fusiliers My mother, brother and myself lived on the Isle of Man at Peel for nine months around 1942/3 as my father was stationed there. I think that he was with the Lancashire Fusiliers, but I have no idea why he was there. Does anyone remember him? He was in London towards the end of the war, driving officers around. He was last heard of in Middlesex.
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Wing Cmdr. Otto Reginald Altmann DSO, DFC.. Royal Air Force 31 Sqn. from Warrington Lancs.
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Pte. Floyd Alton . Canadian Army Black Watch of Canada I'm working on a exhibition which highlights items in our museum, The Peterborough Centennial Museum & Archives. One
such collection is that of a POW from Peterborough Ontario Canada. His
name was Pte Floyd Alton who apparently served with the Black Watch on
July 25th 1944. He was taken prisoner shortly after. I'm trying to find any information on Stalag 4b and 4g.
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RSM. Owen James Alton . British Army 9th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment from Birmingham Owen Alton served with the 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
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Sgt.Mjr, Thomas Alton . Home Guard 18th (West Hartlepool) Battalion, Elwick Platoon Durham from Elwick
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Pte. Saini Alufandika . British Army 2nd Btn. King's African Rifles (d.11th October 1943) Private Alufandika was buried in the Lubudi African Cemetery in the Congo, Grave 11.
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Pte. Saini Alufandika . King's African Rifles 2nd Btn. (d.11th October 1943) Private Alufandika was buried in the Lubudi African Cemetery in the Congo, Grave 11.
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Sgt. Raymond Henry Alvey . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 144 Sqdn. from Nottingham (d.22nd Nov 1942) Raymond Alvey was my mother's younger brother. He was in the RAF Volunteer Reserve and was called up in September 1939. He served in Coastal Command with 120, 489 and 144 squadrons as a wireless operator/air gunner. He was on an operation over the Norwegian coast in a Handley Page Hampden, when he was shot down and reported 'missing believed killed in action'. Raymond's father (my grandfather) George Alvey spent a lot of time trying to find out the details but to no avail. Later research suggests that his body was probably recovered by the Germans and buried at sea, although this is not confirmed.
Raymond's fellow crew members were Sqn Ldr John Richard Darbyshire Hird, Sgt Davidson William Hepplewhite and Sgt Robert John Coles.
Raymond wrote detailed diaries of his three years of service. I also have his father's correspondence with the Air Ministry and Red Cross when he was trying to find out what had happened and where Raymond and the other crew members might have been buried. (It seems likely that they were buried at sea by the Germans). There is a commemorative plaque near the site of the crash and the crew are also commemorated at Runnymede.
I am intending to write a biography of my uncle, based on the above sources, operations record books etc, and would be pleased to receive any information that might be relevant. I would particularly like to hear from descendants of the other crew members, and from those who might have served in 144 squadron at RAF Leuchars in November 1942, or in 489 squadron earlier that year.
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Sgt. Raymond Henry "Bill" Alvey . Royal Air Force 144 Squadron from Chilwell, Notts (d.22nd Nov 1942) Raymond Alvey was my mother's brother. He served in Coastal Command, firstly with 120 Sqn, then with 489 Sqn and finally (and very briefly) with 144 Sqn. His final flight, on 22 November 1942, left RAF Wick for a nuisance bombing raid over the coast of Norway north of Stavanger. Their Hampden was shot down on Karmoy Island. All four crew were killed.
- The pilot was Sqn Ldr John Hird,
- the navigator/bomb aimer was Sgt Davidson Hepplewhite,
- and the wireless operator/air gunners were Sgt Robert Coles and my uncle.
Raymond Alvey wrote detailed diaries of his three years of service. I also have his father's correspondence with the Air Ministry and Red Cross when he was trying to find out what had happened and where Raymond and the other crew members might have been buried. (It seems likely that they were buried at sea by the Germans). There is a commemorative plaque near the site of the crash and the crew are also commemorated at Runnymede.
I am intending to write a biography of my uncle, based on the above sources, operations record books etc, and would be pleased to receive any information that might be relevant. I would particularly like to hear from descendants of the other crew members, and from those who might have served in 144 squadron at RAF Leuchars in November 1942, or in 489 squadron earlier that year.
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T/Sgt. Joseph Amana . USAAF 339th Squadron 96th Bomb Group from Bronx, New York (d.7th May 1944) T/Sgt Joseph Amanna was assigned to the 96th Bomb Group, 339th Squadron, and, when a staff sergeant, was the right waist gunner on B-17F Rikki Tikki Tavi #42-3324, coded QJ-H, flying from Station 138, Snetterton Heath Airbase near Attleborough, England.
He was promoted to Tech Sergeant after completing a number of missions, and on the May 7th mission when he was killed, he was the radio operator of the Fortress. The pilot's name was Lt. Neil H. Behrens. The complete crew who flew with my uncle on the fateful day was as follows:
- Pilot 2/Lt Neil H. Behrens. PoW
- Co Pilot 2/Lt Gordon N Spring. Killed
- Navigator 2/Lt Robert A. Dulaney. Killed
- Bombardier 2/Lt Thomas J. McRae. Killed
- Radio T/Sgt Joseph J. Amanna. Killed
- Eng. T/sgt Carrol W. Taylor. PoW
- Ball Turret S/Sgt Joseph R. Neuhuettler. Killed
- Waist Gunner S/Sgt Dinno Armanini. Killed
- Waist Gunner S/Sgt Willis A. Bryant. Killed
- Tail Gunner S/Sgt Charles E. Douglas. Killed
The Missing Air Crew Report #4565, and the accounts of the pilot, Lt. Behrens, and the engineer, T/Sgt Taylor, provide the following account of the mission:
7th of May 1944 had brought a milestone in combat for the 8th. For the first time the significant figure of 1,000 bombers (B-17s and B-24s) was dispatched for missions. The main target for this mission was a day attack on Berlin. Despite problems with the valves of the Tokio tank, which had frozen, the Rikki Tikki Tavi had completed its' mission and successfully released its bombs over Berlin. On returning from the target, the pilot reduced the altitude in an attempt to defrost the hydraulic fluid, which operates the valves to the Tokio Tanks, which had frozen up making it impossible for the crew to obtain the fuel in the tokio tanks. The official army accident reports states that three of the engines failed. Basically, the plane ran out of gas just after it left the target, because of the hydraulics failure. Lt. Neil Behrens, the pilot, crawled back to the bomb bay area to try to adjust it. He was unable to open the valve. After getting to lower altitude, the pilot gave orders to bail out. The navigator and Sgt Taylor were the first out. Lt. Neil Behrens, the pilot, jumped separately and by his account was thrown out of the bomb bay doors from the extreme G forces. After their jumps the plane sustained a direct hit by flak, exploded and crashed. Only Lt. Behrens and Sgt Taylor survived.
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Ralph Amato . British Army Cameronian Highlanders My uncle, Ralph Amato, was a POW in Stalag XXB. His POW number was 18035. He served with the Cameron Highlanders (51st Division) and was captured at St Valery. After he was liberated he was shipped back to England and stationed at a YMCA in Chelsea until his discharge. I know (from some things that my family have said about him) that he was a great artist and played the classical guitar. I'm hoping to hear from anybody who knew him or heard of him. Sadly, he is now dead. He never spoke much to his family and friends about his experiences in the war. I'm looking for any information.
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Pte. P. Amaya . North Caribbean Force North Caribbean Force (d.3rd March 1944) Private Amaya is buried in the Belize City Cemetery, Belize
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Roland Ambiel . French Army Stalag 9C also had a section for French prisoners of war. My father Roland Ambiel spend time in the place. He was made prisoner in the North of France in May/June 1940, and walked on foot to the North Sea with many other nationalities, English included. It was his first encounter with English soldiers prisoners of war.
I know for certain of Stalag IX C, as all personal documents or photos of prisoners had to be stamped in the famous purple ink with the name of the camp. I have today photos of my family taken in the 30's, stamped with the camp' - ( copies available ). I am aware that he walked from France to an unknown Holland sea port to arrive by boat near/or at Hamburg, where he was send to this camp. He was freed in 1945 by the Russian Army but had to wait for the American Army to arrive in East Prussia /Thuringen when they were placed in trains and transported back to Paris.
I am aware that he encountered some English inmates. He never learnt English, but had a good grasp of the local dialect, as he was forced into working groups in local farms. After a while, transportation to the farms and back to camp was taking so much time out of the day that it was decided that he would have to stay with the farmers, which he did. He recalled the night raids with incendiary bomb drops.
My father was born near Paris in 1913, signed on for the war in late 1939, taken by the Wermart late spring 1940, arrived in Germany early summer 1940. He was with other prisoners in the fields planting potatoes for the next harvest when he saw the tanks of the Red Amy. He was told to stay put until further orders.
I miss my father, he was a good man, he suffered stoically. We talked about his period in Germany. I was young and information technology was just a glimmer in someone's brain. I heard so much and saw the consequences of the war as I was born in 1946, went to school with some of the escaped children of the war from a displaced persons camp which was established in the ancient park of the Convent des Oblats in Saint Ouen, where I lived. I want to know more about my father's time in Germany.
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Roland Ambiel . French Army Stalag 9C also had a section for French prisoners of war. My father Roland Ambiel spent time there. He was taken prisoner in the north of France in May/June 1940, and walked on foot to the North Sea with many other nationalities, English included. It was his first encounter with English soldier prisoners of war.
I know for certain it was Stalag IX C, as all personal documents or photos of prisoners had to be stamped in the famous purple ink with the name of the camp. I have today photos of my family taken in the 30's, stamped with the camp' - ( copies available ). I am aware that he walked from France to an unknown Holland sea port to arrive by boat near/or at Hamburg, where he was send to this camp. He was freed in 1945 by the Russian Army but had to wait for the American Army to arrive in East Prussia /Thuringen when they were placed in trains and transported back to Paris.
I am aware that he encountered some English inmates. He never learnt English, but had a good grasp of the local dialect, as he was forced into working groups in local farms. After a while, transportation to the farms and back to camp was taking so much time out of the day that it was decided that he would have to stay with the farmers, which he did. He recalled the night raids with incendiary bomb drops.
My father was born near Paris in 1913, signed on for the war in late 1939, taken by the Wermart late spring 1940, arrived in Germany early summer 1940. He was with other prisoners in the fields planting potatoes for the next harvest when he saw the tanks of the Red Amy. He was told to stay put until further orders.
I miss my father, he was a good man, he suffered stoically. We talked about his period in Germany. I was young and information technology was just a glimmer in someone's brain. I heard so much and saw the consequences of the war as I was born in 1946, went to school with some of the escaped children of the war from a displaced persons camp which was established in the ancient park of the Convent des Oblats in Saint Ouen, where I lived. I want to know more about my father's time in Germany.
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L/Sgt. Arthur William Ambler . British Army Royal Horse Artillery from Folkestone, Kent I know that my father, Arthur Ambler was posted to Egypt from India at the outbreak of the war and took part in the early actions against the Italian forces in a unit attached to the Australian forces. He subsequently took part in the general retreat when then the Africa Korps arrived and forced the British back to Egypt.
He was captured in 1941 when an attempted ambush of German troops was itself ambushed, and sent to Italy to the Italian POW camp PG53. When the Italians surrendered he was taken by the Germans to Stalag 357 at Thorn in Poland. Late in 1944 he was moved with part of 357 to Stalag XIB and from there to Stalag XIA where he was repatriated by the Americans after the Russian troops moved through the area.
He never told me anything about his experiences in either Italy or Germany until just before his death in 2000, but it was obvious from his withdrawn state that he suffered a serious level of psychological trauma from his experiences - and I do know that he expressed a bitter resentment of Churchill's order that they did not attempt to escape from the camps in Italy after the capitulation.
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R Ambler . British Army Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry R Ambler served with the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Sig. Andrew Ambrose . South African Army 2nd Div. South African Corps of Signals from Durban, South Africa In 1942, Signaller Andrew Ambrose was taken prisoner at Tobruk by the Italians. He was wounded at Tobruk, and so was shipped to a hospital at Caserta in Italy. After he recovered, he was sent to a POW camp near Florence, and soon thereafter to a camp in Sardinia (his POW number was 223281). He was then moved to Stalag 4C, Wistritz, where he worked underground in the coal mines.
At the end of the war, the Russian forces came upon them in the now unguarded camp. The Russians left them unattended for a short while during which time the Americans shipped the prisoners out to safety. Apparently, the Russians wanted to swap British POWs for Russians. The French forces then moved them to Britain to be "fattened up" before being demobilised.
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Emory Burris Ambrose . US Army 1st Armoured Div. I am looking for information about my grandfather, Emory Burris Ambrose, US Army, 1st Armoured Div. He was a POW from December 1942 until May 1945.
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John Robert Ambrose . British Army Royal Army Medical Corps I would be grateful if I hear from anyone who knew Jack Ambrose from India when he was in a POW camp somewhere around Burma. He was in the RAMC and was taken POW somewhere in Burma and moved around. My aunt said he was missing for three years but we never found out details such as dates, etc. He did not talk much about his experience there and once in a fit of anger at the way the army discharged him, threw away his medals. He passed away in 1982, but as his family we would like to have any information about him.
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Ldg.Sea. Thomas Clint Ambrose . Royal Navy HMS Dunvegan Castle from Sheerness, Kent (d.28th October 1940) Leading Seaman Thomas Ambrose was the Son of Patrick and Jane Ambrose, husband of Ethel May Ambrose of Sheerness, Kent.
He was 29 when he drowned and is buried in Chapel Strand Cemetery, Arranmore Island, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
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Leslie Amelang . United States Army Air Corps 454th Bomb Group from Louisville, KY Les has told his story in front of church groups and on local TV. His daughter-in-law helped him start a web-site with some of his memories on it. He was born June 5, 1920, to the late Lewis Amelang and Mary Davis in Ottumwa, IA. He was a graduate of Louisville (Nebraska) High School, and from the University of Louisville (KY) School of Business in 1950.
He worked 36 years as an accountant and data processor at the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times, retiring in 1986.
He was a member of Douglass Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where he had been a deacon, elder, and elder emeritus. He served in World War II in the Army Air Corps and was an original member of the 454th Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force based in Italy. His plane was shot down over Budapest, Hungary, and he was held as a Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft III POW camp, Sagan (now Poland), and in Stalag VIIA, Moosburg, Germany, where he was liberated on April 29, 1945.
In 1970, inspired by his own experience as a prisoner of war, Les founded and served as president of POWER, Inc., "Prisoners of War, Early Release," a regional organization to aid families of prisoners and war and missing-in-action servicemen of the Vietnam conflict.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Mary Margaret Swift, of Winchester, KY; and his brothers, Maurice, Max, Merle, and Laurence.
He died in 2011 without getting his story in print as a book as he had desired and attempted to do. I wanted to let you know as he was a great man and a good friend of mine.
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HWL Amerton . British Army HWL Amerton served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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E Amery . British Army E Amery served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pte. Geoffrey Richard Amery . British Army Rifle Brigade from London Geoffrey Amery was captured at Calais in May 1940 and held as POW at Lamsdorf 344, along with his brother Lionel Amery.
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Pte. Lionel Frederick Amery . British Army Rifle Brigade from London Lionel Amery was captured at Calais May 1940 and held as a POW at Lamsdorf in Stalag 344.
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Able Sea Cyril Arthur "Tuddles" Ames . Royal Navy HMS Pembroke from Fordham, Cambs.
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F/Lt. K. R. Ames DFC. Royal Air Force 630 Sqdn. Since the award of the D.F.C., Flt Lt. Ames has completed a large number of operational sorties, including seven of the recent attacks on Berlin. He is an outstanding captain of aircraft and, by his skill as a pilot and his courage and determination, has set an excellent example to other captains. As a deputy flight commander he has displayed efficiency and has taken a keen interest in training new crews.
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Flt.Sgt. F. W. Amey DFM.. Royal Air Force 50 Squadron
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LAC. Edsel Edward Amlin . Royal Canadian Air Force 419 Sqd. from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. (d.3rd May 1945)
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