Corporal Thomas Binderman
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/44
Name: 4798849 Cpl. Binderman, Thomas.
Unit: "D" Company, 4th Battalion The Lincolnshire Regiment.
Captured: Verdal (Norway), May 1940.
Escaped: Trondheim, 1st September 1940.
Left: Stockholm, 17th December 1944.
Arrived: Leuchars, 17th December 1944.
Date of Birth: 25th February 1910.
Army Service: Since 6th March 1928. Recalled in the Reserve.
Peacetime Profession: Tax Officer Inland Revenue.
Private Address: 7 Floyd Road, Charlton, S.E.7.
1. CAPTURE:
I was with the 4th Bn. Lincs Regt. and was captured between STEINKJER and LEVANGER on the West Coast of NORWAY in May 40, probably near the village of VERDAL. I was taken with three others of my section by a German patrol, while trying to regain our lines through some woods.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED:
May - Jun 40. Temporary Camp at HELL (20 miles E. of TRONDHEIM).
Jun - Sep 40. Castle Camp at TRONDHEIM.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES:
Nil.
4. ESCAPE:
After my capture in May 40, I was taken with about 40 other Ps/W to an airfield at HELL about 20 miles East of TRONDHEIM. We were imprisoned in the Norwegian Barracks and were employed in constructing a runway on the airfield.
In mid-Jun 40, I was taken to TRONDHEIM and imprisoned in the Castle. There were 150 military Ps/W and 35 members of the mercantile marine. There were no officers in the camp.
We were lodged in outhouses near the entrance to the fort and were outside the battlements in a temporary compound made from barbed wire. The compound was about 75 yards by 40 yards and had two watch towers at the corners manned by machine gunners. The gate into the compound was also guarded by a sentry.
I had noticed that the sentries were inclined to be slack and decided to attempt to escape. I was employed on carpentering and stole some wire cutters. I also collected a compass and a black raincoat from some others Ps/W and saved some biscuits from my ration. The opportunity for escaping was curtailed by the fact that during August there were only about three hours of darkness.
During the night of 31 Aug I noticed that the sentries had left the watch towers and were patrolling the barbed wire on foot. At about 0200 hrs on 1 Sep I managed to cut the wire behind the outhouses - while the sentries were out of sight. There was no alarm wire and I got away unchallenged. I was wearing my uniform with the civilian raincoat over it.
I skirted TRONDHEIM and made for the woods to the South of the town. I walked by compass avoiding roads and slept in the woods. On 2 Sep I stopped at a farm and obtained some food. On 3 Sep I reached the village of SELBU about 20 miles S.E. of TRONDHEIM. I passed the village and again stopped at a farm and obtained food and some old civilian clothes. I did not obtain the names or addresses of my helpers.
From SELBU I followed the river NEA to the frontier, which I reached in the vicinity of HELAGSFJALLET on 11 Sep. I saw the Swedish Tourist Station in the valley, and made my way to it. I was taken into custody by the Swedish Frontier guard on 11 Sep. I was then taken to the village on FUNASDALEN (about 30 miles East of the Norwegian town of ROROS) where I lived for nine weeks with the village School teacher and in mid Nov I was sent money by the Military Attache and told to report to STOCKHOLM.
In STOCKHOLM I lived in a boarding House as there was no means at that time of returning to the U.K. In Dec 40 I began to work in the British Legation at STOCKHOLM where I am still employed. I left by air for the U.K. on 17 Dec 44 on 14 days' leave.