Siddall, H J
Stoker 2nd class Harold John Siddall
http://www.naval-history.net/WW2MemoirAndSo00.htm
From: Barbara Roche
Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2015
Subject: The March – Harold John Siddall, RN, POW
My father was moved there in October 1943 from Stalag VIIA and in late December 1944 took part in the march. Before he died in 1997, he wrote his memoirs, which my late brother and I published on the web. Chapter 11 covers his experiences of the march and Chapter 12 his freeing by US forces and his repatriation – it seems that he was one of the first POWs to be repatriated, judging from his description of the way the staff at Paddington Station treated him. You may wish to put a link to his description of the march on the relevant web page. His memoirs can be found here: http://www.naval-history.net/WW2MemoirAndSo00.htm
Harold John Siddall RN
Harold left with his friend Bob Andrews
Howard Siddall was captured in May 1941 when Crete fell. He was a member of the crew of Motor Launch 1030. After his capture he had to make the long journey to Germany and spent time in Stalag VIIA near Munich, then moved to Arbeitlager 2780A in Munich. He was moved to Stalag VIIIB in October 1943.
During the battle of Crete, the Royal Navy had suffered so many losses from air attacks that Admiral Cunningham signalled his superiors that daylight operations could no longer continue. More than 50 British and Australian warships were caught up in the maelstrom of Crete. The following ships all lost men during the battle. Left: Howard Siddall in naval uniform
Battleships
Warspite (damaged) — 19 dead, 24 missing, 69 wounded.
Barham (damaged) — 7 dead, 6 wounded.
Carriers
Formidable (damaged) — 12 dead, 10 wounded.
Cruisers
Gloucester (sunk) — 725 dead.
Fiji (sunk) — 5 dead, 271 missing, 24 xwounded.
Orion (damaged) — 116 dead, 5 missing, 77 xwounded.
Ajax (damaged) — 11 dead, 38 wounded.
Perth (damaged) — 4 dead, 3 wounded.
Dido (damaged) — 27 dead, 10 wounded.
Naiad (damaged) — 7 dead, 31 missing.
Coventry (damaged) — 2 dead, 7 wounded.
Calcutta (sunk) — 9 dead, 108 missing, 40 xwounded.
Carlisle (damaged) — 14 dead, 25 wounded.
Destroyers
Kingston (damaged) — 1dead, 2 wounded.
Kashmir (sunk) — 82 missing, 14 wounded.
Kipling (damaged) – 5 dead, 1 wounded.
Kelvin (damaged) — 1 dead, 4 wounded.
Kelly (sunk) — 3 dead, 127 missing, 17 w xwounded.
Jervis (damaged) — 4 wounded.
Juno (sunk) — 12 dead, 116 missing, 21 xwounded.
Jaguar (damaged) — 2 wounded.
Nubian (damaged) — 15 dead, 6 wounded.
Imperial (sunk) — 1 wounded.
Hereward (sunk) — 5 dead, 165 missing.
Havelock (damaged) — 15 dead, 10 wounded.
Griffin (damaged) — 1 wounded.
Greyhound (sunk) — 1 dead, 83 missing, 23 xwounded.
Decoy (damaged) — 1 dead, 8 wounded.
Diamond (sunk) — 155 missing, 1 wounded.
Wryneck (sunk) — 108 missing, 5 wounded
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