Gunner Cecil Cowley

Family/Last name:
Cowley
Forename(s) and initial(s):
Cecil
Place of birth:
Robertson South Africa
Date of birth:
25/4/1915
Nationality:
Service number:
111123
Rank when captured:
Place of capture:
Tobruk
POW number:
80621
Camp
Data sources
The National Archives (UK)Other Sources (WO416 records transcribed by and held at the UK National Archives. Data processed and prepared by Rick + Relative's report Catt and Brian Cooper)

Cecil Henry Cowley was serving in the South African Army as a gunner, with his younger brother Captain Reginald Kitchener Cowley (Service Number 26263; POW Number 28484). Both were captured at Tobruk, and were initially held in different Italian POW camps before transfer to Germany. Reg went to Oflag VA; and Cecil – eventually – to Stalag 344.

Cecil was involved in the Long March, and the events of this and his time as a captive did affect him. My mother did briefly tell me stories about this when I was younger – such as Cecil and the POW’s being housed over night in a Barn without sanitation, and the German troops being on the upper floor also without sanitation……

The undernoted letter from Gert Delport, another POW, was sent to Cecil’s sister on 3rd February 1945

Letter From G Delport Re Cecil H Cowley

Cecil died on 7 March 1986.

Geoff Kernan

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