Archivist searches for former Prisoner of War

[Mark McMullen]

Hi David,

I'm a producer at BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire who is making a short film for the 'Inside Out' series that will look at archivist John Reid's attempt to find those who helped producer the Yorkshire Post Kriegie edition in 1944.

I'm keen to hear from anyone who might be able to shed more light on the remarkable story of the Kriegie.

I'm hoping to complete filming with John before 4th January 2010 ... so time is, very much against me!

Best,

Mark McMullen

[NickFenton]

Mark,

I have just seen your comments. If there is anything l can help with, please let me know.

Regards,

Nick

[Mark McMullen]

Thanks for the swift response, Nick.

I'm at the very beginning of this road so any leads would be well received!

I am particularly interested on anybody connected to the production of the newspaper - both in the the prison camp and also here in Leeds.  I'm also keen to contact anybody who knew Richard Pape during his time in the region.

Tall order then!

Best,

Mark

[D.S. Drijver]

Whitley Z9280 crashed near the village of Driesum / The Netherlands. For more information go to the website www.luchtoorlogfriesland.nl

Through this website you can get in touch with the "Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation".

Kind regards, D.S. Drijver.

[Arepo]

I am replying to David Lane’s posting on 20/6/09 at 21:36 re: archivist searches for former prisoners of war, about the Stirling crew (7 Sqn) that crashed at Oostakker, with amongst the crew my father Bliss EJ.

I am a novice on this site. Please forgive my ignorance.
I would like to verify the record which says that Bliss and Bloomfield went to POW camps L1/L6/357, because my father told me L3/L6/357.  Unfortunately my dad passed away 2 years ago and I'm unable to talk to him about it!

How do I go about verifying the record?
Thanking you in anticipation!

[type2go]

You're in for a long and exciting journey.  David Layne is a great contact for a start.  So is Nick Fenton.  Both had Dads in the PoW camp that your Dad was in.  I would recommend you google all the bits of info that you have - if like me you'll find lots of nice surprises.  Looking up your Dad in my trusty 'Footprints on the Sands of Time' by Oliver Clutton-Brock, I see the following in the massive PoW index:

Bliss, EJ, Sgt, 7 Sqdrn, Aircraft N3716, Stirling, Shot down 19 May '42, Mannheim, PoW camps L1 (Barth) L6 (Heydekrug) and 357 (Fallingbostel), PoW number 796

These little snippets will keep you occupied researching ... so many avenues await you.

Good luck and wait to hear of your progress.  By the way, my Dad was Flt Sgt R C S Hancock (later Warrant Officer).  And he was at L6 and 357, after a stint at L3 before they made it an Oflag, when he went off to Lithuania with the NCO fraternity in autumn of '43.

Pat

[NickFenton]

Thanks Pat, l can feel another trip to Kew coming on.

Give me a little while and l will get the POW Liberation Questionaire's for you. These give details of Squadron, where lost, camps, escape attempts, injuries, etc.

Regards,

Nick

[type2go]

Thanks Nick.  Waiting to hear ref 8 Sept idea.

Pat