Berry, Father John
John Berry
Father John Berry is mentioned in the Clarion, Stalag VIIIB’s POW-produced magazine, number 2, page 12.
The following information was contributed by Mrs Midge Hennessy:
Her husband Pat died in August 2000. He was a POW for four years (captured in Greece).
Pat brought back this photo of Father John Berry who was the much-loved RC Chaplain. Pat said he was a wonderful, charismatic man and an inspiration to so many of them.
From the memories of RAF Warrant Officer Joseph Fusniak, BEM :
http://www.buckdenpike.co.uk/lamsdorfmarch.html
“A Catholic Jesuit priest named John Berry helped ailing POW’s. He was like a guardian angel, and was allowed to invite POW’s to go along with him without harassment from the guards. We once went to an RAF comrade’s funeral at which a Polish family was present. They gave me a welcome meal and a few items of food, which I managed to eat during my gruelling journey. I kept contact with John after the war and I was dismayed to learn some years later that he had drowned trying to save someone in the sea.”
note: Father John Berry wasn’t a Jesuit, he belonged to the Redemptorist Fathers.
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