Holzminden POW Prison

[Guest Tullis]

I am researching Holzminden POW Prison.

Do any members of this forum know if the original buildings described as Kaserne A & B.

I have a copy of 'The Tunnellers of Holzminden' which shows a general plan of the camp

with a reference to 'Road to Holzminden'

I also have a copy of the personal journal of my cousin John Keil Tullis who successfully

escaped from the prison.

[PhilB]

This may be of interest:-

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...p;hl=holzminden

[RDG01]

Brian

I have some information on the Holzminden POW Prison, including photos. My grandfather was a prisoner there. When you get to 5 posts please PM me and I will see if there is anything that I could help you with.

Ron

[Doug Johnson]

Brian,

Your cousin provided a report on his escape which unfortunately does not seem to have survived. Does his journal describe his escape after he got through the tunnel? If it does then it would be an important account.

Of those that escaped the main reports are in the two published books and the WO161/FO383 reports.

The following escaped;

Bennet

Cecil W Blain (killed in 1919)

Bousfield

Campbell Martin (FO383/381)

David B Gray

Casper Kennard

Edward Wilmer Leggatt (FO383/381; WO161/96/114)

S S Beattie Purves

C E H Rathbone (WO161/96/118)

John Keil Tullis

Doug

[Guest Michael Gough]

Brian

I have also been researching Holzminden where my Grandfather was interned in 1918. I have just discovered the following website which includes many excellent modern photos of the buildings.

http://holzminden-camp.com/pageID_8575302.html

Hope that's helpful

Michael

[rossjthomas@bigpond.com]

Greetings Brian,

I am also researching Holzminden POW camp and the famous escape of July 1918. I would be very keen to learn more about your cousin and his involvement in his escape. Would very much like a copy of his journal that you referred to and some information about him before and after the Great War. For your information, I have a copy of a lecture Jock Tullis gave on 23 March, 1921. Kindest regards, Ross Thomas rossjthomas@bigpond.com

I am researching Holzminden POW Prison.

Do any members of this forum know if the original buildings described as Kaserne A & B.

I have a copy of 'The Tunnellers of Holzminden' which shows a general plan of the camp

with a reference to 'Road to Holzminden'

I also have a copy of the personal journal of my cousin John Keil Tullis who successfully

escaped from the prison.

[SFayers]

I don't know if you folks have come across this yet, but being Holzminden-focused I would think Neil Hanson's book Escape from Germany would probably be of interest to you. (I'm currently reading this at the moment, and can thoroughly recommend it.)

All the best

Steve

[pearsonica]

It's Interesting to read these posts on the Escape from Holzminden.

My Grandfathers Brother Lt Leonard Pearson RE & RFC was the POW who got stuck in the Tunnel. Leonard was made a POW by being Shot down nr the Soame

I found this extract from an Osprey Aircraft of the Aces.73 Book called Early German Aces of World War 1 by Greg Van Wyngarden

" On 5th February a flight of four BE2C's from No13 Squadron were on a reconnaissance mission which flew directly over Bertincourt Aerodrome of FFA32 (Gustav Leffer's Unit) at around 10:00hrs The three fighters of FFA32 scrambled to intercept them but were too late because of tardy warning. However, the information did reach chateau Vaux, further south, in a timely manner due to the AOK Warning System and Berthold quickly went aloft and gained sufficient height. He attacked BE2C 4091 of 2nd Lts L. J. Pearson and E. H. Alexander, which was flying escort for the others. Berthold's accurate bursts shot both of the aircraft's Lewis Guns right off their mountings,as well as blowing two cylinders off the engine. Alexander was wounded and Pearson landed the stricken two seater between Grevillors and Irles, where both RFC Airmen were taken into captivity."

It doesn't say it but I beleive Obit Rudolf Berthold was flying a Fokker Eindecker which had a single machine gun firing through the Prop.

This was the Great escape of WW1. 29 escaped and then the tunnel collapsed on Leonard. This is the extract of why the Tunnel Collapsed at Holzminden.

In the Book "Beyond the Tumult"by H G Durnford It quotes:-

"Casper Kennard was later told that the tunnel had been blocked by a man with a cumbersome bundle tied round his body. This man had been unable to swim and had therefore fashioned some rather bulky water-wings out of old oil skins as a support for his pack and himself when he attempted to ford the Wesser. Durnford's reference to the stones rolling down to the lowest point only partially explains the hold-up. There is no doubt that the displacement of earth by the scurrying tunellers contributed to it: but the main responsibility for the blockage would seem to devolve upon the man referred to by Kennard, but whos name he did not know."

Group Captain Nixon (Then a young Lt Nixon) also named the man whose "water wings" put paid to the chances of the others. It was Lt Leonard J Pearson, now deceased, who later became Group Captain brother in Law. - Group Captain Nixon I found out did not escape but was part of the escaping Prisoners behind Leonard.

The person who saved Leonard's life that day was a New Zealand officer called Lieutenant Edgar H. Garland. It is said that he was about as strong physically as any other two officers in the camp, and he possessed the bicepts of a Hercules.

6 officers were stuck in the tunnel. It was 01:10 that the first hitch was reported that the Tunnel had caved in about 5/6 up at the bottom of a slope to the final exit. The last two dazed officers were retrieved at about 07:00 just two hours before Appel. Unfortunately these two walked straight into Niemeyer out for an inopportune early morning stroll. while their salvage party had gone the proper way back to their block.

I always thought that he got stuck because he was wearing his uniform under his Escape cloths. Leonard was not the only one who who had extra equipment. However they were spotted and asked to unload and reduce their escape packs.

Now I have finally found out the truth I shall enjoy reading the books on the Escape. It looks as if it would make a good escape film. shame it was never done.

[isanders]

Free ebook copy of The tunnellers of Holzminden here.

http://www.archive.org/details/tunnellersofholz00durn

[Moonraker]

Interestingly unusual document for sale from a dealer about a shot being fired at a British officer at Holzminden:

catalogue entry

Moonraker