Huitson, T

,

Rifleman Thomas Huitson

Family/Last name:
Huitson
Forename(s) and initial(s):
Thomas
Place of birth:
Hetton Le Hall, Durham
Date of birth:
22/2/1908
Nationality:
British
Service number:
6911680
Military Unit:
British Army, Rifle Brigade
Rank when captured:
Rifleman
Place of capture:
Calais
Date of capture:
25/5/1940
POW number:
9853
Camp
Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf / Stalag 344
Data sources
The National Archives (UK)Other Sources (Relative's Report)
View a commemorative certificate for this prisoner

From: James Huitson

Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 


My father 6911680 Thomas HUITSON, The Rifle Brigade, b. 22.02.1908, then a Rifleman, was in Stalag VIIIB

He was captured at Calais on 25.05.1940, before being transferred to Lamsdorf, where he worked both down one of the coal mines and in railway maintenance. He found working down the mine somewhat ironic, as this had been his previous job. I have a couple of photos of him working on the railway and some group photos.

He was one of the lucky ones, repatriated in October 1943 via Sassnitz (Germany), Trelleborg & Goteborg (Sweden) and Leith (Scotland), a journey which took 10 days. He was eligible to apply for repatriation because of his training as a stretcher bearer, and he therefore qualified as medical personnel. I have a copy of the form signed by his regiment in 1942 confirming the necessary. Apparently when the relative list of names of those prisoners to be repatriated went up in the camp, his name was right at the bottom.

After his repatriation he was not allowed to take part in any further fighting, and worked as a medical orderly in France and Germany from October 1944.

Whilst he was loth to speak about his time at Lamsdorf, he did tell me that overall he was well treated, considering the circumstances. This was with the exception of one particularly nasty and brutal guard, whom he said was nicknamed “Bollock Chops”. After the end of hostilities when my father was serving in Germany, he and some other ex POWs tried to find this gentleman, but were unsuccessful. This was probably just as well, because had they done so they would have killed him.

 

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