From: Proud Family
tom.proud@btinternet.com
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2012 1:07 AM
To: lamsdorf@hotmail.com
Subject: Prisoner of War in Stalag 344
I wish to inform you that my father was a prisoner of war in Stalag 344. His name was
Walter John Pemberton. Prisoner of War no 220398. He was captured January 1942 by a
German Panzer Division and then handed over to the Italians. He was transferred to a German
Prisoner of War Camp July 1943 until April 1945.
I have recently discovered some old family photographs showing him as a prisoner of war in Stalag
344. I would be happy to attach one of the photographs which shows my father sitting with a group of
prisoners. He has named all in the photograph with him.
Kind regards
Shirley Proud (Mrs)
From: Proud Family
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 9:24 PM
To: Lamsdorf
Subject: Re: Prisoner of War in Stalag 344
Dear Philip,
I’m amazed I received a reply so quickly considering all the emails you must have to answer on the
subject of Stalag 344. I am very pleased to have contact with the relatives of prisoners of war at
Stalag 344. I have the army service record of my father from Historic Disclosures. The rest I know
from stories my father told me when I was growing up. I was born after he returned from the war.
The names in the group photograph are as follows,
back row, left to right.
Ken Morgan, Ron Pople, Bill Bowen, Jock Barbour, Angus Grimshaw, Charlie Challiner, Harry
Edge, Arthur Street, Tanky Hetherington, Charlie Howard, Gus Morley, Charlie Corbett, Ray
Raybould.
Front row left to right.
Cyril Morgan, Darky Clifford, Ernie Cowes, Ernie James, Sgt Northolt, Jack Pemberton(my
father), Ernie Canning, Chippy, Frank Grice.
My father was always known as Jack Pemberton, although christened Walter John Pemberton. When
he was called up he was transferred to The Kings Royal Rifle Corp as a Rifleman.
I have also attached the back side of the group photograph which shows the names my father had
written, he was very good at documenting some of his time as a prisoner. I attached the photograph
of my father and his friend Ernie Cowes being liberated by the American Air force after the long
march. Ernie Cowes is in the front row kneeling, second on the left. My father Jack Pemberton
second row, first on the left, looking very happy.The other photograph at Stalag 344 shows my father
Jack Pemberton front row kneeling, on the left.
I remember little things, he said they used to grind up acorns and use for tea, he was always hungry,
when a red cross parcel arrived it would be shared amongst a great deal of other prisoners. They had
lice most of the time so would have to shave their hair off. He told me he went to work in a factory and
that they would often try to sabotage the factory when they were there. He was part of the long march,
he said they were freezing cold and starving. The men would steal veg they could find in the fields
along the way. One night in a barn someone killed a chicken and my father ate part of the raw liver as
he was starving hungry, it upsets me sometimes when I think what he went though. On that march he
must of thought he would never make it home alive not only were they starving but were not dressed
in appropriate clothing to keep warm.
The camps my father stayed in were named as follows, Stalag 4B, 8B,13B. I don’t what difference
there would have been in each camp. Perhaps you may have the answer.
Hope to hear from you at some time.
Kind regards
Shirley Proud
back row, left to right
Ken Morgan, Ron Pople, Bill Bowen, Jock Barbour, Angus Grimshaw, Charlie Challiner, Harry Edge,
Arthur Street, Tanky Hetherington, Charlie Howard, Gus Morley, Charlie Corbett, Ray Raybould
Front row left to right
Cyril Morgan, Darky Clifford, Ernie Cowes, Ernie James, Sgt Northolt, Jack Pemberton(my father),
Ernie Canning, Chippy, Frank Grice