4192026 L?Cpl Leonard Brooks

[judyrhq]

I have been asked by Leonard's son to send a birthday card from RWF for his 100th birthday which is tomorrow. This I have done.

In addition son, Ken, is looking for info about his fathers service as he wont talk in detail.

Details given are: 4192026 2nd Bn RWF 1933 - 1946. He talks about BEF and a MiD but does not know where or when, also as a PoW in Poland. Can anyone help?

JG

[Baconwallah]

Judy, the MID was gazetted 27 November 1945, London Gazette Issue number 37368, page 5791. You'll have to look that up yourself as for some reason my computer refuses to show the LG pdf files.

I can't check the whereabouts of the 2nd Bn just now, but I'm sure you'll find it in That Astonishing Infantry.

John

[ap1]

Regarding his POW phase:


<tbody>
L Brooks


Rank:
Fusilier


Army Number:
4192026


Regiment:
Royal Welsh Fusiliers


POW Number:
6966


Camp Type:
Stalag


Camp Number:
XX-A


Camp Location:
Torun, Poland

</tbody>

I think he must have been 1st Bn with the BEF and probably captured at Dunkirk in 1940. The 2nd Bn's war service was in the far east at Madagascar, Burma and India.

Some info on Leonard's POW camp: http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/pow/stalag20a.html

[ap1]

Regarding his MID citation:

He was a LCpl with B Company 1st Bn. So as I suggested a Dunkirk Vet who was captured in 1940. The family (or RHQ!!) can pay a small fee on the link below and download his citation details from the National Archive. Judy, if you do go ahead, could re-post the details on here please. We do like to recognise their service and bravery.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7376068

[ivor43]

hi all.
Reading the bit re the MID. my memory kicked in,(unusual). I think in may 1940 B co 1st(???) was holding Robecq.( the St Venant thread) so the details of the MID may be able to shed some light on the situation there. As you may recall on or about the 26th B Co was wiped out, either KIA or Captured.


ivor

[ap1]

That also crossed my mind Ivor, however it could also be as a result of actions whilst a POW.

[ivor43]

hi.
thanks Al. i had not thought of that. as a teenager i read the usual books about Colditz Castle and the Stalag's but that possibility comes as a bit of a surprise.
thanks


ivor

[ap1]

From a camp survivor:

STALAG XXA
TORUN (THORN), POLAND, 1940When we arrived at Thorn, we were registered as prisoners of war, and after being fingerprinted, and photographed holding a piece of slate with our POW number on it, we were issued with a small metal tag, which was perforated in the middle. The camp number, and our POW number were stamped on both halves. This was so that, should we die, one piece went with the body for burial, whilst the other half was sent home.The camp itself covered a wide area, and the accommodation included several Prussian forts, constructed under the command of the Polish Marshall Pilsudski. They included a moat, drawbridge, and portcullis. Conditions inside them were terrible, with dank corridors, and water dripping continuously from the roof and down the walls. Low wattage bulbs were the only lighting. Our accommodation was a vault- like room with straw spread on the floor, and the only light came from a small window.Apart from the forts and a balloon hangar, the prisoners were housed in large tents around the hangar; again they slept on straw spread on the ground. I was held here for only a short period, perhaps four to five weeks, which was more than enough for me, as I was very weak with dysentery and general malnutrition, although I did not see a doctor, as there were men in far worse condition than me. I was keen to get out on a work party, as I understood that you stood a better chance of getting food outside. I also feared that if I stayed in the fort I would die.The food was grim, a ladle of thin potato soup at noon, and a loaf of black bread between four or six men, with a little spot of ersatz margarine. The only things plentiful at Thorn were lice. We spent most of our time trying to kill them and pick out the eggs from the seams of our shirts, or burn them with matches (if you could scrounge any).

[Baconwallah]

the details of the MID may be able to shed some light on the situation there

Don't expect too much, Ivor. There were no citations for MiDs, and the source, a General's despatch, would normally just give a list of names with some general remarks on bravery or summarise the reasons as "services rendered."

John

[ivor43]

morning all.
Thanks for the info John, and i am not expecting any divine guidance at the moment.
However.
This info does raise some interesting possibilities.
If it could be established that he was captured at Robecq, and i think it is very likely. Then what are the possibilities that others from the St Venant action also ended up there.I am thinking of other RWF men also RSM Goddard and the 2DLI men and the Royal Berks.

Ivor

[Baconwallah]

RSM Goddard was held in Stalag XXIB.

John

[ivor43]

Hi John.
Thanks.
Sadly i have my Investigation head on again.
Stalag XXA THORN was actually only about 45 miles from Stalag XX1B which was at SZUBIN both were close to the Town of BYDGOSZCZ.
Stalag XX1B was a camp for Officers. apparently situated in, what had been a Boys School.
Would i be right in assuming that a RSM would have been considered an Officer.
Also it appears that some 4,500 PoW's from Dunkirk were housed here. so my theory may still hold some merit.


ivor

[ap1]

Without wanting to swing this thread away from Leonard Brooks, some of the guys from the 1st Bn captured were also held at Larmsdorf. Including RSM Sherriff RWF, who was the senior British commander in that camp. He later received an MBE for his efforts.

[ivor43]

Al.
I agree. what i have been trying to assess is if there is any point in linking this to the St Venant thread for Tony and Jim. I know it is not directly relevant to the thread, but i know Jim is researching 2 DLI in much more detail and this just might have some relevance. .

Ivor

[ivor43]

Hi Al.
Looking up Lamsdorf Stalag V111B it would appear to have been a Transit Camp as well as it is recorded that 100,000 men passed through it. Could this have been a stop on the march and RSM delegated as SBO. doe's not sound a very nice place.
I have put a post on the St Venant thread to Jim and Tony and hopefully this aspect of things will be transferred there.

ivor

[Verrieres]

Hello Ivor, I picked up your link thanks. In relation to L/Cpl Brooks his MiD was awarded for ... recognition of
gallant and distinguished services in the field.....at this time the following RWF were also listed as awarded MiD`s

Maj. (actg.) O. T. M. RAYMONT (47192) (died of
wounds).
Capt. A. J. LEWIS (52655) (killed in action).
Capt. (temp.) J. E. T. WILLES (62609).
Lt. (Qr.-Mr.) A. G. BENT, M.B.E., M.M. (63856).
2nd Lt. F. M. EDWARDS (74637)
4192026 Lee.-Cpl. L. BROOKS.
4159851 Fus.-. E. W. FIDDLER.

In relation to MiD citations John is perfectly correct in what he stated about citations, however there are exceptions such as when a recommendations for higher awards are downgraded say from a Military Medal to a MiD then the original MM recommendation (if it survived) is retained as a MiD citation.(Hope that makes sense)

Best

Jim

[ap1]

Cheers Jim, very interesting. Regarding the QM Lt Bent, he was evacuated from the beach, as evidenced in the link below and never went into captivity:

http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/showthread.php?6932-1st-Bn-RWF-St-Venant-to-Dunkirk-1940&highlight=bent

I suppose its possible that some of the recommendations had to wait until the observers of individual actions were released in 1945 and able to put recommendations forward? Just a theory.

[ivor43]

hi Al.
After seeing Jim's list, i think it safe to say that the MID would have been from ROBECQ.
From what i know from the St Venant thread this man has my

Total Respect.


ivor

[ivor43]

Hi all.
While looking at the St Venant thread. Jungle emailed me several pages of the RWF Book.( The Red Dragon ?) On page 30 will be found the part that 2Lt F.M.Edwards played in the attempted withdrawal from Robecq.
The MID was Gazetted on 25.11.1945.

ivor.

[Aled Roberts]

Leonard brooks enlisted on te 6th September 1933 and left the Regiment on 2nd November 1945.