Oakes, T G

,

Private Thomas G Oakes

Family/Last name:
Oakes
Forename(s) and initial(s):
Thomas G
Nationality:
British
Service number:
5183817
Military Unit:
British Army, Gloucestershire Regiment
Rank when captured:
Private
POW number:
3551
Camp
Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf / Stalag 344
Working Party
BAB 21 Blechhammer / Kedzierzyn-Kozle (later renamed E793)
Data sources
The National Archives (UK)Other Sources (Relative's report)
View a commemorative certificate for this prisoner

We are just going through some of my fathers memories. He is 99 in July .  We have a few photographs and some information of where he was a prisoner and when he was on the long march that will be interesting to someone may be. My father is fourth on the right at the very back, Thomas Oakes.

We are sorry to say dad fell on the eve of the 20th of Feb , broke his hip and passed away early hours of the 23rd Feb. We have his funeral on the 12th March.
It would of been exciting to tell him we had made contact with you. We do have a few more photos and a little information also about this awful time. Dad’s number I believe is 5183817.
This is a sad time for us dad was so special in our life and only over the last few years talked about being a prisoner of war.  We will in a few weeks collate the little information we have and send it to you.
Thank you for getting back to me.

Dad was captured in the first few months of joining up and was then a prisoner for 5 or 6 years.

From what he told us in later years and a few things my mother found out dad actually worked on the railway lines into camp, what an awful job, poor men had no choice.

They left the camp eventually on the long march and thankfully survived. It looks by a map we have that they marched nearly to Munich and from there a plane to Hampton Heath. Then a train journey to Paddington and safety. Although this is a little vague.

I am sending a few photos. We know dad said he did boxing, not sure if the other photos are from when he was captured but probably are. I have also put a recent photograph which was taken on February 14th this year that would be nice to put on Facebook as you suggested, with this message please.

‘Your life was a blessing 

Your memory a treasure 

You are loved beyond words

And missed beyond measure.’

Carole Lake

Something I forgot to add was Thomas Oakes my fathers date of birth, 6/7/1920.

 

Name: Thomas G OAKES
Nationality: British
Rank: Private
Army Number: 5183817
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
POW Number: 3551
Camp Type: Stalag
Camp Number: VIIIB
Camp Location: Lambinowice, Poland
Notes: Captured in France in 1940

Appears on WO392/1

Detachment E793 Stalag 344 (formerly Bau und Arbeits Battalion 21). BAB 21 Blechhammer / Kedzierzyn-Kozle (later renamed E793)

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