Smith, W J

,

William James (Bill) Smith

Family/Last name:
Smith
Forename(s) and initial(s):
William James (Bill)
Military Unit:
British Army, Welsh Guards
Place of capture:
Crete
POW number:
22672
Camp
Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf / Stalag 344
Data sources
Other Sources (Relative's report)
View a commemorative certificate for this prisoner

I am Researching my Grandfather, William James Smith (Bill).

I found out that he was taken POW during the relief of Crete. He served with the Welsh Guards.

He was based at Cardiff Castle, and originates from Cowbridge South Wales. When he went to war he was living in a small Hamlet Called Offchurch near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

I have been left 2 medals from the War along with a POW Dog Tag. He was on the Long March from the POW Camp and he told me that he woke up one morning in Cologne Germany to find all the guards gone and he and his fellow comrades were free.

I would appreciate if you could add his name to the names list. I will try to find out more information about his time in the war and in the camp. As a young boy he related a few stories to me. My grandmother said I was very lucky as he didn’t talk about it to anyone else.

Mark Hodges

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