Finlayson, Kenneth Murdoch

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Private Kenneth Murdoch Finlayson

Family/Last name:
Finlayson
Forename(s) and initial(s):
Kenneth Murdoch
Place of birth:
Aberdeen, Scotland
Date of birth:
7/10/1920
Service number:
7356317
Military Unit:
British Army, Royal Army Medical Corps
Rank when captured:
Private
Place of capture:
Hazebrouck, France
Date of capture:
28/5/1940
POW number:
12299
Camp
Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf / Stalag 344, Stalag XXID Posen
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 Catt and Brian Cooper)
View a commemorative certificate for this prisoner

From James Wignall. 23/01/2025

After the war, my uncle Kenneth was Secretary of E.K.R.A. for many years, writing their newsletters and arranging visits to various POW camps for ex prisoners.

He also was involved in POW Camp concerts, of which I have photos. and when he passed I inherited many POW items. including a trumpet with his initials on the case. Quite how he acquired the trumpet is not known.

He wrote a brief account of being taken prisoner. (attached)

From Jim Wignall – nephew of Kenneth Murdoch Finlayson. 09/02/2025

I have inherited the effects of my late Uncle, the above person. As the family historian I try to preserve as much history as I can, though I know little about my Uncle as he lived in London most of his life

I am aware he was a POW in Poland and that he organised many tours to visit various War Memorials for POW as well as being involved in a POW magazine called OFLAG 64.

Looking through the many photos and effects I have been able to gather are his POW tags, marked STALAG V111B, 12299, his combined fork and spoon, his armband with a red cross on it (he was in the RAMC) and two small aluminum rings about 25mm diameter in the shape of a buckle and marked with the name LAMSDORF (no idea what these were for).

Amongst photos there is one of his Grandad and mother with the same POW ref no. 12299 but marked STALAG XX1D, a different camp. There are also quite a few photos of shows put on by the POW and some programmes of the shows. A copy of the illustrated programme for ‘S. S. Merry Go Round’, complete with cast signatures, is attached as a pdf.

SS Merry Go Round

SS Merry Go Round

What a family treasure trove I have been fortunate to find. If only I knew more about my Uncle so I could appreciate the hardship, and camaraderie of POW.

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