Lance-Sergeant Alfred Clarence Searson
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3324/127
Name: 6403917 L/Sgt. Searson, Alfred Clarence.
Unit: No.2 Commando, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Captured: St. Nazaire, 28th March 1942.
Escaped: Wossvolda, 21st October 1943.
Left: Switzerland, 17th October 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 4th November 1944.
Date of Birth: 23rd February 1916.
Army Service: Since March 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Commercial traveller.
Private Address: 89 Oban Drive, Glasgow, N.W.
1. CAPTURE.
I was captured at ST NAZAIRE on 28 Mar 42.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
Hospital at RENNES (FRANCE) 28 Mar - Apr 42.
MARLAG UND MILAG NORD Apr - 26 Jun 42.
STALAG VIII B (LAMSDORF) (GERMANY, 1:100,000, Sheet 117, 6703). 26 Jun 42.
Working parties attached to STALAG VIII B:-
FREIHEIT JOHANNESBERG (Sheet 85, 8733) Jun - Jul 43.
TEPLITZ SCHÖNAU (near DRESDEN) (Sheet 114, 1612) Aug 42.
GORLITZ (Sheet 102, 0068) Sep - Oct 42.
BUNZLAU (Sheet 91, 4081) Oct 42.
STERNBERG Oct 42 - Mar 43.
WOSSVOLDA (Sheet 118, 6680) Aug - Oct 43.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES.
(a) First and Second Attempt.
The story of my first two attempts to escape are as related by Pte. BROWN (S/P.G.(G)2646). After the second attempt we were sent back to STALAG VIII B where I remained for four weeks.
In Nov 42 I volunteered for work at a working camp, which I believe was at a place called STERNBERG, with the intention of obtaining money and clothing and also to try to organise escapes. I was successful in helping Sgt. RANDALL and Pte. HONEY, both of No.2 Commando to get out of the camp. We were working in the barrack factory and stole a key which fitted the main door of the barrack in which we were sleeping. We also made a ladder for the purposes of scaling the barbed wire and stole some overalls. These two men made a successful getaway in Mar 43. They were caught a week later in CZECHOSLOVAKIA having walked across the border, and were sent back to STALAG VIII B.
While I was at STERNBERG I sold my personal clothing and possessions to Czech civilians in exchange for German currency and civilian clothes. Sgt. BRADLEY, Berkshire Regt, was at STERNBERG at the same time as myself, and also exchanged his possessions for currency. In Jun 43 we both decided that we had collected sufficient money and clothing and refused to do any more work. We were sent back to STALAG VIII B. We spent a short time here and then were sent to a working camp at FREIHEIT - JOHANNESBERG.
(b) Third attempted escape.
On 13 Jul 43 BRADLEY and I escaped once again from FREIHEIT - JOHANNESBERG. We left the factory without being seen and made our way by train to ENGEN (Sheet 152A, 8516) with the intention of getting to SWITZERLAND. We were caught just as we were nearing the Swiss border. We were sent back to Stalag VIII B and given seven weeks in the cells. From here we were sent back to WOSSVOLDA in Sep 43. While we were here we again met Sgt. BROWN.
4. ESCAPE.
By Oct 43 BROWN, BRADLEY and I had collected sufficient clothing and money to make another attempt at escape. We escaped on 21 Oct by forcing the lock on the main door of the camp with a bent nail while the guards were having a meal. We then walked down the road to the station. From here we caught a train to OPPELN (Sheet 117, 9615) and BRESLAU (Sheet 104, 3264) via GORLITZ (Sheet 102, 0068). We went thence to DRESDEN (Sheet 101, 1259), PLAUEN (0954), NUREMBERG (Sheet 133, 3380), ULM (Sheet 144, 2799) and TUTTLINGEN (Sheet 152A, 8516). We travelled on slow trains and had no trouble over our papers as there were no controls on the train. From here we walked to ENGEN (8401) and then along the main road to within half a mile of SINGEN (8991). At this point we left the road and made our way across country keeping parallel to the SINGEN - GOTTMADIGEN road. We passed the first line of German frontier guards who patrol the road leading from the GOTTMADIGEN - SINGEN road to HILZINGEN (8047). We crossed the road at night into the woods on the other side. We went through the woods to within 200 yards of the GOTTMADIGEN (Sheet 152B, 8085) football ground. We remained hiding in the woods for the day and that evening (25 Oct) we crossed the SINGEN - GOTTMADIGEN railway line and made straight for the lights of RAMSEN (8685). We crossed over into SWITZERLAND at a point due North of HOFENACKER (8585) where there is no wiring. To our left were German sentries and wire along the whole of the frontier. We then gave ourselves up to the Swiss Frontier guards. I remained in SWITZERLAND until 17 Oct 44.
Private James Brown
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3324/175
Name: 2988948 Pte. Brown, James.
Unit: No.5 Commando (Ex Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).
Captured: St. Nazaire, 28th March 1942.
Escaped: 21st October 1943.
Left: France, 12th October 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 12th October 1944.
Date of Birth: 13th March 1921.
Army Service: Since 13th June 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Tax Officer.
Private Address: 11 Berridale Avenue, Glasgow, S.4.
1. Capture:
I was captured at ST. NAZAIRE on 28 Mar 42.
2. Camp in which imprisoned:
RENNES (FRANCE): Mar/Apr 42. 1 week.
MARLAG UND MILAG NORD: Apr 42 - 26 Jun 42.
STALAG VIII B (LAMSDORF): 26 Jun 42.
(GERMANY 1:100,000, Sheet 117, 6703).
Also at working parties at:-
TEPLITZ SCHONAU, near DRESDEN (Sheet 114, 1612) Aug 42.
GORLITZ (Sheet 102, 0068) Sep - Oct 42.
BUNZLAU (Sheet 91, 4081) Oct 42.
GREIFFENBERG, SILESIA (Sheet 103, 2755) Nov 42.
FREIHEIT JOHANNISBERG (Sheet 85, 8733) Jun - Aug 43.
WOSSVOLDA, near BEUTHEN (Sheet 118, 6680) Sep - Oct 43.
3. Attempted Escapes:
(a) On 17 Aug 42 Sgt. SEARSON, Alfred (No. 2 Commando); L/Cpl. McPHERSON, Alistair (?), and I filed through the window bars and got out through the wire round the camp. We had been working on a forestry job with a working party from Stalag VIII B and had stolen a file and other tools from the workmen. We also had a small map stolen from a railway carriage. We reached REICHENBERG (GERMANY 1:100,000, Sheet 102, 0426), but were caught there on 21 Aug 42 by two policemen who found us asleep in a wood. We were put into a P/W camp at TEPLITZ SCHONAU (Sheet 114, 1612) near DRESDEN, and then sent back to Stalag VIII B, where we were given eight days' solitary confinement.
(b) On the night of 4-5 Oct 42 Sgt. SEARSON and I escaped again. We were working at GORLITZ (Sheet 102, 0068) and had procured overalls, old caps and rucksacks, and posed as civilian workmen. We hoped to jump a train, and were making for SWITZERLAND, as before. We were caught on 5 Oct 42 when about 22 kms. from GORLITZ, and were put into cells at the GORLITZ aerodrome for four days. We were then sent to a stone quarry near BUNZLAU (Sheet 91, 4081) as punishment, but we refused to work and were given nine days' cells. We were then sent back to Stalag VIII B. At this time everyone there was chained, except the sick, and Red Cross parcels were stopped. We were bound with coarse twine which was very painful, particularly in the cold weather. In mid-November, I was sent to a stone quarry at GREIFFENBERG (Sheet 103, 2755) where I worked as little as possible, meanwhile preparing for my next escape. I dyed my trousers and greatcoat and procured a hat. I sold some Red Cross food and personal possessions to the guards for German money. I had forged identity papers as a Dutch worker.
(c) On 13 Mar 43 I escaped and reached GORLITZ (Sheet 102, 0068), but was picked up at the station by a policeman who noticed that the dye from my home-dyed overcoat was coming off on my face and neck. I was sent to Stalag VIII A for eight days and thence to Stalag VIII B, where I was given 14 days' cells. I remained in the main camp until Jun 43, when Sgt. SEARSON returned from his stay in various camps in the SUDETENLAND. He was brought back on a charge of having tried to arrange escapes, and of attempting to escape himself. Later Sgt. BRADLEY, Richard (No. 2 Commando) SEARSON and I were sent out on a working party to a cigarette-paper factory at FREIHEIT-JOHANNISBERG (Sheet 85, 8733). This suited us admirably, as we were able to steal civilian clothing from the work people. We dyed our trousers, and traded blankets and shoes with the guards in exchange for money. We had two complete outfits for Sgt. SEARSON and Sgt. BRADLEY, and they made their escape on 13 Jul 43, heading for SWITZERLAND. I was to follow as soon as I had procured a civilian jacket.
(d) On 12 Aug 43 I had everything ready, but I was caught just as I was leaving the factory. I had a nervous breakdown and went into hospital at Stalag VIII B. At the end of Aug 43, SEARSON and BRADLEY returned to the camp. They had been caught in the RAMSEN sector, (Sheet 152B, 8685) and had spent seven weeks in the cells. We began to make plans for our next attempt, and by Oct 43 we had collected civilian clothing, money, and forged identity papers as Dutch civilian workmen.
4. Escape:
We were working at WOSSVOLDA near BEUTHEN (Sheet 118, 6680) and escaped on 21 Oct 43, making our way by train via OPPELN (Sheet 117, 9615), BRESLAU (Sheet 104, 3264), DRESDEN (Sheet 101, 1259), PLAUEN (Sheet 101, 0954), NUREMBERG (Sheet 133, 3380), ULM (Sheet 144, 2799) to TUTTLINGEN (Sheet 152A, 8516). We travelled chiefly on slow trains, and had no trouble over papers, as there were no controls on the train. We walked to ENGEN (Sheet 152A, 8401) and SINGEN (8991) and crossed the SWISS border at RAMDEN (Sheet 152B, 8685) at 2130 hrs on 25 Oct 43. We gave ourselves up to the SWISS frontier guards, and remained in SWITZERLAND until Oct 44. We came back to the U.K. with Lt.-Col. Desmond YOUNG, D.S.O., I.A. travelling by air from LYONS on 12 Oct 44.
Lance-Sergeant Richard Bradley
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/2
Name: 5344190 L/Sgt. Bradley, Richard.
Unit: No.2 Commando, Royal Berkshire Regiment.
Captured: St. Nazaire, 28th March 1942.
Escaped: Wossvolde, 21st October 1943.
Left: Switzerland, 4th October 1944.
Arrived: In U.K., 2 5th October 1944.
Date of Birth: 6th January 1915.
Army Service: Since 13th June 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Pork & Beef Butcher.
Private Address: 31 Uplands Road, East Barnett, Hertfordshire.
1. Capture:
I was captured at ST. NAZAIRE on 28 Mar 42.
2. Camps in which imprisoned:
FRONTSTALAG 133 (RENNES) Mar - end May 42.
MARLAG UND MILAG NORD May - 21 Sep 42.
STALAG VIIIB (LAMSDORF Sep 42 - 21 Oct 43.
(GERMANY 1:100,000, Sheet 117, 6703)
Working parties attached to STALAG VIIIB:-
E 361 (STERNBERG) Nov 42 - Mar 43.
FREIHEIT JOHANNESBERG (Sheet 85,
8733)
Jun - 13 Jul 43.
VOSSWALDE (Near GROSS ZEIDAL) (Sheet 118, 2714) Sep - Oct 43.
3. Attempted Escapes:
On 13 Jul 43 I escaped from a cigarette paper factory at FREIHEIT JOHANNESBERG with L/Sgt. SEARSON (S/P.G.(G) 2709), having volunteered to go to this working party with the intention of doing so. In preparation for this we sold several of our personal possessions, including my watch, signet ring, fountain pen and certain articles of clothing, for German marks, until we had finally collected over 120 marks each. We dyed our trousers brown and stole civilian jackets from the German canteen, while Polish and Czech labourers provided us with hats. The only food that we took with us was chocolate and biscuits sufficient to last for several days.
The day we decided to put our plan into action, we put on civilian clothing under our uniform, and left towards the evening while several of our friends kept the guard in conversation. We decided to pose as Dutch workmen and had with us false identity cards describing us as such.
We waded across the river and removed of uniform, which we hid in the bushes on the far bank. We then walked to the station at FREIHEIT JOHANNESBERG and took a train to GORLITZ (Sheet 102, 0068). We spent that night in the open and went on next day to HOF (Sheet 135, 2981) via DRESDEN (Sheet 101, 1259). After another night spent in the open, we caught a train to TUTTLINGEN (Sheet 152A, 8516) from where we walked about 40 miles to a point just South of SINGEN (8991). At a small village between IMENDINGEN (7911) and SINGEN we were stopped by a farmer who took us to the Mayor of the town. After having our papers examined we were allowed to go on our way.
We were picked up in the early hours of the morning by the frontier guards near the Swiss border and were sent back to STALAG VIIIB after serving 37 days in prison.
4. Final Escape:
I escaped from VOSSWALDE, near GROSS ZEIDEL, on 21 Oct 43 with L/Sgt. SEARSON and Pte. BROWN (S/P.G.(G) 2646). I was with them throughout the whole of my journey and the story of my experiences is contained in their reports.
We reached SWITZERLAND on 25 Oct 43. I remained there until 4 Oct 44, when I left for the U.K. via MARSEILLES and ALGIERS.