McGinn, J H
Craftsman James Henry McGinn
My uncle James Henry McGinn was imprisoned at Lamsdorf during the second world war but escaped, joined the Polish revolutionary army (AK) but was then shot by the Germans.
Name: McGINN, James
Branch at death: Other Corps, Etc
Regiment, Corps etc.: Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Branch at 01/09/39:
Regiment, Corps etc.:
Surname: Mcginn
Forename(s): James
Initials: J H
Birthplace: Bury
Residence: Liverpool
Rank: Craftsman
Number: 7623481
Date died: 31 July 1944
Theatre of war: Middle East
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I have a letter from the Polish resistance transcribed below:
Dear Sir,
We hereby beg to inform you about some details of the last days of your noble son among us. On the first days of July 1943 he has escaped from the prison of war in Osingian (Auschwitz) together with his comrade Richard Marrin. After the (escape) they have undertaken the very dangerous journey to Cracow in purpose to contact themselves with Polish Secret organisation to act against the Germans cruelty which they have experienced in the prison.
After several days we have found them hidden in a haystack. We have taken them to our private flat & they had been with us about 3 weeks after that time when the occasion has come to smuggle them to the forest we have done what they wanted so — with Polish Imperial of AK (The Nationalist Army) there your noble son has been an instructor of physical education of our boys. We have received very often an honourable reports about there two noble and brave lions boys.
These two foreign boys, English boys fighting on our territory for our mutual aim. When I have mentioned (–) to James, shall I try to connect by the special way to take them to the country he has forbidden me to do it preferring to do his duty with us so long to these days when his sacred country Poland will be saved from the dreadful –vokes of her enemies, these two boys became our hearty brothers and has come this cruel day when the bad news came “Our dear James is dead he has died doing his duty.”
We have soothed our grief in the church during the morning mass. Our chaplain is praying for his soul and we love him & remember him as our native hero. The grave is nearby Kracow in the (cemetery) of Kracow. If you want to know more of your son, write to us we shall be very obliged to you.
Joseph Gaworek
Manheim – Almenhof
4200 Labor Service Com
1273 Labor Superv Corp
A.P.O 168 U.S. Army Germany
Stanislaw Lkystak
Krakow, Bronowice
Ftmaforre 48
Poland
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I attach the postcards from Stalag VIIIB together with a letter from Richard Marrin to my uncle’s mother:
Frank McGinn
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