Lance Corporal Harry James (Jim) Bounden

From: Jim Bounden 
Date: 15 November 2015 
Subject: POW Harry James Bounden

Unit: Royal Corps of Signals.

Served: France, North Africa (captured).

Army No.: 2574985

POW No.: 222091

Camps: P.G. 52, 73, Stalags IVB, VIIIB / 344, XIIIC

 My father Harry James Bounden (known by his middle name Jim) grew up in Chiswick and enlisted into Royal Corps of Signals – Territorial Army in March 1938. A B.E.F. and Dunkirk veteran, he was captured in the North African desert, south of Tobruk in May 1942. Initially held in Italian camps 52 then 73, he was transferred to Germany in July 1943 via Stalag IVB (Muhlberg) to Stalag VIIIB / 344 (Lamsdorf) on the 12th of August 1943. 

Whilst on the Long March, he spent a short time at Stalag XIIIC (Hammelburg) but on the 18th of April 1945, he and several others who were sick and knew that they could march no further, rolled themselves into a ditch during a period of rest and waited for the column to leave them behind. They hid in a farm building for several days, being discovered by American troops on the 24th of April. 

Repatriated by Dakota to Brussels and Lancaster to Wing he ended up in Ashford Hospital having contracted T.B. Nursed by my subsequent mother he was moved to Harefield, an isolation hospital which was trialling streptomycin (an early antibiotic) and survived. Never in best of health he died of cancer on the 22nd of February 1980 (ironically at Harefield) aged just 60. 

Photo below taken at Lamsdorf. Harry James Bounden is second row down, 5 in from the right. 

(Quote from the diary of Harry Bounden)

A veteran of Dunkirk, Lance-Corporal Bounden was captured at Tobruk in April 1942 and was held in P.G. 52 and 73 in Italy before arriving at Stalag VIIIB on the 12th of August 1943. It seems that he and others did not start the March with most of the other POWs because of illness, and they were evacuated later by train, in cattle trucks. Later still it seems that they too were made to walk. On the 18th of April 1945, he and several others who were sick and knew that they could march no further, rolled themselves into a ditch during a period of rest and waited for the column to leave them behind. They hid in a farm building or pigsty for several days, being discovered by American troops on the 24th of April. Repatriated to the UK, Bounden was hospitalised with TB but recovered in spite of his badly damaged lungs.

He made just eleven entries in his diary.

21/1/45 “Never in the field of human conquest, did so few, know so little, about so much” (Theme for POW’s left behind at Stalag 344).

28/2/45. After 9 days – 41 sick men in a cattle truck. The German Commandant rationed water to each man in the truck. We’ve had 1 1/4 loaves, margarine and about an ounce of pork sausage. We’ve been locked in for 23 3/4 hours per day. At one period no water was issued for 48 hrs.

18/4/45. escaped at 3pm. Hid in pigsty 3.10 P.M. 8 caught, told village full of Fliegers, and our officer and guards searching for us. Slept in pigsty and watered Sarah Jane below at regular intervals.

19/4/45. Our troops 10 miles off, heard Art fire. Discovered by two children, farmer’s wife brought soup, changed hid out to top loft of barn, already occupied by 3 Scots, 1 Brum, 1 Londoner.

20/4/45. Very tricky day. Jerry troops moved in on floor below, fortunately we had the ladder pulled up, and they were too tired to look around.

21/4 /45. After nerve racking night not moving, or coughing, Jerries moved out at 8pm.

22/4/45. Feeling hungry. Farmer’s wife bringing us a few cooked spuds. Our planes straffed a small ……? 200 yards away and set it on fire. Heavy Art. fire on both ridges. Seems to be moving along our flanks. Started to dig a small dugout after dark.

23/4/45. Changed our quarters to chicken run. Nerve racking, SS troops moving around the village and woods.

24/4/45. Guns on flanks quiet, rumours from German Frau’s. Yanks are moving through. 6 P M. They’re here. Nearly shot by 1st Man of Patrol, who mistook me for a Gerry. No wonder 8 days growth of beard, no wash etc. 24/4 cont. Moved into German house in village.

25/4/45. At 5.30 P.M. hopped a lift from R.A.S.C. who took us to Milt Govn. at Roth (?) Spent night there, very well treated.

26/4/45. Particulars taken at Schwat..back (?) meet two British officers who escaped also. They pushed hard and got us to an airfield at Hertzoganbach (?) just too late for the plane. Slept overnight had roast chicken. 1st time for nearly 4 years.