Page 31 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

Colditz story only evolved in the 1955 John Mills film, so dad’s completion of
the POW form pre-dated this by ten years.

According to Dad’s note in the records, he had a duodenal ulcer (27 August
1944 – release), acute appendicitis (20 November 1944) and a severed vein
in his right forearm, following an accident with a wagon.

These were the embarrassed disclosures, long held secrets of a dying man,
who had no kudos to be gained and from all he said in those last months, it
would have been the last thing he wanted.

Figure 12 Dads POW Form completed April 1945

Dad was awarded the Africa Star and 1st Army clasp. Auth A.C.1,169/43. He
was also awarded the War Medal (LE/11). I don’t know what happened to
these medals.

Figure 13 Dad's War Medals

Dad was a resilient character, who had come through all the suffering that
World War threw at him. Despite never having enough money to call
themselves comfortable, this never dampened his cutting sense of humour
and determination to live life his way, however restricted he may have been Page31
by his lack of formal education or professional career.