deptfordboy

It's possible that Thorpe-Woods spent the early part of the war elsewhere, as his letters from Oflag VIIB which I have only start in 1942.

There are too many of these to post here, and they are obviously censored (you can see the thick pencil scrubbing out various sentences), but here's a summary of the 'highlights':

His first letter home is in October 1942. He mentions that his ankle is still weak, which got me all excited about war wounds, until he revelas in a later letter that he bust it playing soccer!

In his letter of November 1943 he says that, after a year, handcuffing has ceased. Handcuffing is something that is also referred to in the Red Cross report on the (excellent) site I just posted a link to - apparently this was in 'retaliation' for Canadians handcuffing German POW's on their way back to the UK.

In his letter of February 1944, he gives a few insights into camp life: apparently, he is the cook at camp, it has been very cold and they have been grateful to be allowed cinema visits into the nearby town and to collect pine cones for their stoves , and he has busted his ankle again skating on their home-made ice rink! He says that the cinema in particular is a great way to forget the last 3 and a half years of captivity, tieing in with the Dunkirk theory.

Our man was interned for at least part of the war in Oflag VIIB, near Eichstatt, which I believe is in Southern Germany, and a quick google search revealed the following picture of him: http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/frames.htm

Presumably, Thorpe-Woods was in the Territorials pre-war, but I have no confirmation as yet. The trail also goes a bit cold after he visits Bromley:

I know that he was captured in mid 1940, and I also know that the 5th was heavily involved in the retreat to Dunkirk at that time, facing German armour and experiencing numerous casualties and prisoners (from my copy of the regimental history by H.D. Chaplin).

All sounds sexy so far, taken POW in retreat to Dunkirk, but the same regimental history shows no trace of our man. But captured he undoubtedly was, as he spent the rest of the war in German POW camps.

PS - more to come Ed, hang on!

Unnamed? Do you have solid evidence thst it is his, and not Montgomery's?

Sorry Ed, the point is that the medal isn't the point! I was about to post the interesting stuff, his documents, then the baby woke up and my wife is on a business trip to the States (she's so selfish!).

Ok, here goes: Terence Thorpe-Woods was called up 1st September 1939 as an officer in 'A' Company, 5th Battalion the RWK's, at Bromley drill hall to be precise (this building is probably still standing, I will investigate)...

Evening Gents,

I recently picked up a humble WW2 star, here it is: but much, much more interesting to me is the story behind it, namely the WW2 experiences of Captain Thorpe-Woods of the Queen's Own. Royal west Kent Regiment (hereafter the RWK's). Here we go, in roughly chronological order:

Thanks for the input guys. Yes, that is intersting Christian - so under your theory Red Stars issued in this way are a precedent to the issue of OGPW 1985 versions to survivors 40 years later?

Gilbert

Final doc - Thanks!

Citation reverse - writing at the bottom in a different hand - is this period?

Citation front - I don't know what the pencil scribble signifies - any ideas?

reverse

More paperwork...

Hi Gents,

Here is the latest bit of research which I have committed to the scanner. It's for a Red Star awarded in august 1945. Beyond that it's a bit of a mystery to me - I will definitely pay for translation WITH my research in future until I have got my head around the challenge of Russian script!

He seems to have got one other medal, unnumbered, some commemorative medal? Any help would, as ever, be most gratefully received.

Cheers

Gilbert

Looks great Dave, fantastic work! Please count me in for a copy too.

Cheers

Gilbert

Very nice, particularly the shield! Was all of this booty purchased, or was some of it the product of battlefield rambles?

Gilbert

Thanks Guys for all the great help on this! It does indeed seem that our man was under suspicion after his encirclement (whether he went home or not) and was only rehabilitated towards the end of the war. Who knows what else he might have been awarded had things turned out differently, as he seems to have been a brave chap.

Cheers

Gilbert

Wow - many thanks for the the help guys - he indeed has a more interesting history than I hoped! Well that does explain why he was in the Red Army from 1939 but didn't receive any awards until later '44.

I had a few pm's asking why I don't commission a professional translation for all this research and supplying details of people who can do this. I think this makes sense and will investigate getting this done. In the meantime, I apprecate the time members have spent here on unravelling the mystery!

Cheers

Gilbert

Thanks Gerd, if anyone else can help it would be much appreciated.

Gilbert

reverse - final scan

front

reverse

front

reverse (another happy snap)

front

reverse

front with mugshot (doesn't look very happy does he!)