Morris, J

Warrant Officer John Morris

Family/Last name:
Morris
Forename(s) and initial(s):
John
Service number:
657790
Military Unit:
Royal Air Force
Rank when captured:
Warrant Officer
Place of capture:
Holland
Date of capture:
3/1943
POW number:
27729
Camp
Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf / Stalag 344
Data sources
Other Sources (Relative's report)
View a commemorative certificate for this prisoner

From: Chris Payne
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015

Here are some details related to my grandfather and his comrades at 344 Lamsdorf.

My grandfather John Morris was a navigator assigned to RCAF Squadron 420, flying Wellingtons. He was on a bombing raid over Essen on 12/13 March 1943 but was hit by flak on the return and crash landed in Holland.

A420 Squadron Wellington

A420 Squadron Wellington

The AG was killed by the flak and the remaining crew captured. Three were sent to Lamsdorf and the fourth sent to Stalag Luft 3, then 6, then Camp 357.

On the 22 January 1945, my grandfather along with his friend and comrade, Mercer, were marched out of Lamsdorf. I have no details about his route, but according to various records, on or about 14 April 1945 my grandfather, Mercer, another POW named Reed (details below) along with 4 or 5 others escaped from the column some 20km east of Halberstadt. They were picked up the next day by American forces and very quickly repatriated back to the UK. My grandfather’s report is dated 20 April 1945.

From National Archives “General Questionnaire for British/American Ex-Prisoners of War” forms:

John Morris, Navigator (RAF)
Rank: WO
Service number: 657790
Interned: Camp 344, Lamsdorf
POW number: 27729

Ronald Guy Mercer, Bomb Aimer (RAF)
Rank: WO
Service number: 657972
Interned: Camp 344, Lamsdorf
POW number: 27728

George Henry Cooke, Pilot (RCAF)
Rank: WO
Service number: R-122227
Interned: Camps VIIIB/344, Lamsdorf
POW number: 27707

Kenneth Emmison Reed (RAF)
Rank: WO1
Service number: 1186448
Interned: Camp VIIIB/344, Lamsdorf
POW number: 24965

 

 

 

 

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