Having first been transported by cattle trucks from Italy to Germany beginning in July 1943, most probably from camps PG 82 and PG 54, many of the British POWs listed below in the 220000-222000 number range below were sent from Stalag 4B via Stalag 8B (later redesignated Stalag 344) to Camp E 715, which was part of the same slave labour industrial complex as the Auschwitz concentration camp. Seven of these men testified in person the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials in 1947, with a further 12 supplying affidavits sworn in the UK. Several others have since been the subjects of books and these details are included below where known. The definitive account of the British POWs at E 715 is this excellent article by Joseph Robert White: http://www.csub.edu/~mbaker2/white.pdf (2023 dead link)
|
|
The Norbert Wollheim Memorial website has a photograph of the seven E 715 British POWs who testified at Nuremberg and a listing (in the references at the bottom) which includes those who supplied written evidence, on this page.
|
|
The senior British NCO and ‘Man of Confidence’ at E 715 from December 1943 was Battery Sergeant Major Charles Coward (POW Number 25801, Army Number 2043391), who was taken POW in France in May 1940. He was later the subject of the 1954 John Castle book The Password is Courage and the 1961 film of the same title. I have reviewed the book in detail here.
|
|
Also Auschwitz survivor Pierre Berg gives a fascinating account of his dealings with the British POWs there in this Youtube interview.
|
|
The listing below still has gaps. Any and all further information gratefully received.
|
|
220001 344 Collins, Gnr E J H, 923774, RA
|
220002 344 Powley, Dvr R B, 192457, RASC
|
220003 344 Clelland, Cpl J 2069537, RE
|
220004 344 Sissons, Tpr J J, 4620704, RAC
|
220005 4B Walker, Pte W J, 2928873, Cam H
|
220006 344 Adcock, Pte W G, 6149269, E Surr
|
220007 8B Cooke, Tpr J H, 320779, RAC
|
|
220009 3A Johnson, Gnr M P, 940890, RA
|
220010 344 Pidgeon, Rfn S W, 6914924, R Bde
|
220011 344 Waters, Gnr A W, 815119, RA
|
220012 344 Wood, L/Bdr R J, 943564, RA
|
220013 344 Dilkes, Pte W, 4130365, Ches
|
220014 344 Rowe, Pte F, 5127886, Leic
|
220015 344 Parry, Cpl H J, 66027, RASC
|
220016 344 Geeson, L/Cpl V C, 7888195, RAC
|
220017 344 Cowan, Pte F, 5780060, AAC
|
220018 4B Davies, Pte J, 3961806, AAC
|
220019 344 Doyle, Fus R V, 7047770, R Ir F
|
220020 344 Gardiner, Pte C W H, 5505777, Hamp
|
220021 344 Osborne, Pte A J, 6014017, Essex
|
220022 344 Robertson, Pte W T, 3055828, R Scots
|
|
220024 8B Cosnett, Pte C H, 5127881, Leic
|
220025 344, Ault, Dvr B T, 2344346, R Sigs
|
220026 344 Fairbridge, Fus A F H, 3452795, Lanc Fus
|
220027 344 Wolton, Cpl A E B, 7888251, RAC
|
220028 344 Taylor, L/Cpl W E, 5505898, Hamp
|
220029 344 Jones, Gnr J W, 1577999, RA
|
220030 344 Hathericco, Dvr C P, 2597806, R Sigs
|
220031 8B Richardson, Pte R G, 13048488, Hamp
|
220032, 344 Jackson, Fus P T, 3450893, Lan F
|
220033 Peters, L/Cpl A W, 13048451, Hamp
|
220034 344 Costen, Pte James, 6290470, Buffs, At Monowitz E 715 in 1943-45. Mentioned in the 2001 edition of the book Spectator in Hell.
|
|
220036 344 Wright, L/Cpl E H, 420014, RAC
|
220037 344 West, Dvr S G, 189826, RASC
|
220038 344 Bright, Sgm J D, 2329951, R Sigs
|
220039 344 Reed, Pte F, 6395970, Hamp
|
|
220041 344 Pretty, Cpl C, 6094806, AAC
|
220042 344 Patrick, Gnr H T, 6213802, RA
|
220043 344 Bailey, Spr V W, 1859760, RE
|
220044 344 Donald, Cpl E A, 857331, Hamp
|
220045 344 Sharp, Dvr K, 2345490, R Sigs
|
220046 344 Young, Sgm R J, 2580827, R Sigs
|
|