Private Daniel Lincoln Conley
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3328
Name: A.21841 Pte. Conley, Daniel Lincoln.
Unit: Essex Scottish Regiment, 2nd Canadian Division.
Captured: Dieppe, 19th August 1942.
Liberated: 31st January 1945.
Left: Odessa, 7th March 1945.
Arrived: U.K., 29th March 1945.
Date of Birth: 12th February 1915.
Date of Enlistment: 16th September 1939
Peacetime Profession: Student.
Private Address: Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
1. CAPTURE.
Captured during the DIEPPE raid 19 Aug 42.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
Stalag VIII B (LAMSDORF) - 1 Sep 42 - 27 Jan 43.
Stalag II D (STARGARD) - 1 Feb 43 - 1 Jan 45.
Stalag III C (KUSTRIN) - 1 Jan 45 - 28 Jan 45.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES.
(a) During Sep 43 I switched identity with a British soldier, Pte. Ronald DUCK from the British Black Watch. We were working on a Working Commando E 701 at LABAND (GERMANY, 1:250,000, Sheet O.51, Y 38), near GLEIWITZ.
My intention was to make an escape into HUNGARY. I had received maps from the escape committee and traded a compass for a loaf of bread from a German guard. I also had food stored up from Red Cross parcels. I made my escape in uniform.
There were four of us who intended to escape but our plans were different for which reason we split up at once after getting out of the camp. I do not remember the names of the other escapees.
On the evening of 19 Sep 43 at about 1930 hrs, just before checking in shoes and working clothes, the Dolmetscher kept the guard in conversation whilst four of us clipped the barbed wire and escaped. We split up at once and went in different directions.
I walked throughout the whole night, passing through GLEIWITZ (GERMANY, 1:250,000, Sheet O.51, Y 37) unmolested.
For the next seven nights I kept on in a Southerly direction, arriving on the last night in JABLUNKOV (Sheet O.50, X 65). I passed through this town and when marching towards MOSTY (X 55) I was stopped by a road patrol of two military policemen and asked for my identity papers. As I was unable to produce them I was arrested. I was taken to the police cells in JABLUNKOV where I remained for a week until 28 Sep. During that time I was very well treated.
I was returned to STALAG VIII B where I was not punished as I had already done eight days in a civilian jail.
(b) During 1944 I was working in Working Commando 1188 near ARNSWALDE (Sheet O.54, E 13) attached to STALAG II D.
We were five months preparing a tunnel through which we intended to make an escape. The only time we were able to work on this tunnel was during Sunday Sports Parades.
On 1st Aug 44 the tunnel, about 12 feet in length and 5 feet below the surface, was ready. It led outside the wall of the camp.
Six of us, all Canadian Army personnel, intended to escape. Amongst us were Ptes. ROFF and THIEPIN, both from the Essex Scottish Regt.; the names of the others are unknown to me.
It was our intention to get to POLAND and there make contact with the Russians who were near WARSAW. We were quite sure of being successful.
We had maps and a store of Red Cross food made available to us.
I was No.1 on the escape and got out through the tunnel safely, with Pte. THIEPIN following as No.2. When we were helping No.3, Pte. ROFF, through the tunnel the guard heard the noise and challenged us. We were discovered and taken back to the camp.
The Feldwebel in charge of the camp took it upon himself to punish us by having me stand without pants from 0100 hrs to 0600 hrs in the street, and later with pants for the rest of the day. It was raining very heavily.
We made representations to the Swiss through the Man of Confidence and the Feldwebel was removed and seemingly punished.