Prisoners of war photos

[thedawnpatrol]

I have an album holding lots of original photos of mostly RFC PoW’s i thought i would share some of these images, if anyone wants close ups please shout, ill add a few at a time…..

 

[thedawnpatrol]

[Kath]

1st. photo:

Thanks to FMPast https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FICRC%2FR%2F071140

Philip Aubrey Cornish.

His son, Vernon Charles, RAF, lost 21-07-1944.

Edited 4 January , 2023 by Kath

[PRC]

It looks to me like the pictures labelled “Holzminden R.F.C. P.O.W Group” and “Guests at Holzminden W.W.1 P.O.W’s” is of the same group of 11 individuals taken at the same location and almost certainly on the same day.

Hope you don’t mind but I’ve cropped and numbered and done a side by side comparison.

(No new IP was created in producing the above and all image rights remain with the current owner).

If I’ve understood the labelling of the first picture correctly that would mean:-

1. 2nd Lt. Errol S.C. Pilot 70 Squadron – no ICRC or AIR79, but when I checked the British Army long papers records in the National Archive there is a 2/Lieutenant Erroll Suvo Chunder Sen, Royal Flying Corps – is the SEN what has been scribbled through or affected by the framing?
2 x ICRC cards as Lieutenant Eroll Sen, (with variations), 70 Squadron, captured 14.9.17 Menin. Born Calcutta, next of kin lives Surbiton. https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/370929/3/2/
Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erroll_Chunder_Sen

It includes an image captioned “Erroll Sen, seated on ground, in Holzminden prisoner-of-war camp, c.1918.” I would have struggled to spot the resemblance to the man in the group picture.

Image courtesy Wikipedia. Others present are stated to be Lt Norman A. Birks, Royal Flying Corps; Lt George C. Haldane, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders; Lt Brian Manning, Irish Guards. Seated: Capt F. Griffith, Lancashire Fusiliers; Lt Aubrey de Sélincourt, Royal Flying Corps. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erroll_Chunder_Sen#/media/File:Holzminden_mess_1918.jpg

Apparently he was one of the 29 Officers that dug their way out of Holzminden and escaped in July 1918. https://www.facebook.com/TheRealGreatEscape

2. Unidentified.
3. Unidentified.
4. Self (unidentified) wearing scarf.
5. Lt Manners Smith, J.A. 59 Squadron. P.O.W 21/8/17. 3 x ICRC cards for Lieutenant John Alexander Manners-Smith, (with name variations), captured 21st August 1917 at Le Pave. Machine serial number A3535. Born Suffolk, next of kin living at Haslemere, Surrey. https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/252330/3/2/
Apparently he submitted a patent for a device in 1910 that vwas the forerunner of the “Teasmade”. https://www.teasmade.uk/john-alexander-manners-smith/
6. 2nd Lieutenant Gold, D.S. 3 Squadron. ICRC Card for a Lieutenant David Gold, 3 Squadron, captured 6.4.18 at Lamotte. Born Bishops Stortford, next of kin at Stanstead, Essex. https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/844305/3/2/
No AIR79 or officers long papers in the National Archive catalogue.
7. Unidentified.
8. Unidentified.
9. Unidentified.
10. 2nd Lt Muir, Archie, 10 Squadron. ICRC card for Lieutenant Archie Muir, 10 Squadron, who was captured near Menin 24th October 1917. He was born Scotland, next of kin lives in Canada. https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/5072057/698/17333/
11. Unidentified.

Cheers,
Peter

[thedawnpatrol]

thanks Peter, that's really useful info............

[PRC]

The caption to Photo number 20 has been manually amended – my best guess is that it should read “Group of three British Officers. Left to right, seated  ARTHUR A. BUERLEIM, RF.A. / R.F.C. (his signature), standing unidentified 2^nd Lt., seated , 2Lt CLIFTON RICE, R.F.C., PILOT (Signature).”

The handwritten note in blue ink has a 2^nd Lieutenant A. A. BURLEIM. R.F.A. AND R.F.C.. But other notes round it refer to BAERLEIN, 16 Squadron, shot done Oppy-Gavrelle 28^th April 1917 in a BE2c.

Could be me, but seems to bear a more than passing resemblance to one of those present in photo number 8 – a motley group in P.E. gear. The man I see a resemblance to is in the middle of those sitting cross-legged.

And if I’m reading the note under the picture correctly, then that is Arthur A. Baerlin, stated to have been later court-martialled with Robinson for ‘attempted bribery.’

The comparison below shows the Arthur A. Baerlin from photo 8 in the centre, with the man captioned as Arthur Burleim\ Baerlin from photo 20 on the left, and the unknown 2Lt on the right.
(Note – the unknown 2Lt could possibly be wearing one of the unofficial Observers Wings, and the signature on the picture is so positioned that it could relate to either man.).

(No new IP was created in producing the above and all image rights remain with the current owner).

An extract from the Worcestershire Regiment website piece on Leefe Robinson VC, which seems to start late summer 1917. (My highlights)

“Fresh plans were being laid by the dedicated group of would be escapers. After the failure of the tunnel, Robinson and Second Lieutenant Baerlin of 16 Squadron attempted to bribe a guard. The man accepted the offer, but again the attempt failed. The authorities heard of the arrangements, and Robinson and Baerlin were arrested and a date was set for a formal court martial.

 With almost incredible cheek Robinson promptly attempted to escape again. The door to a courtyard was opened, washing was hung on lines to conceal movements of the would be escapers, and one locked door stood between the prisoners and freedom. At the last minute Robinson's orderly, a one time locksmith, whose task it was to pick the lock, refused to risk being caught aiding his officers to escape, and would not make the short trip across the courtyard to the outer door. The third plan, so simple in concept but so brilliant, had failed. The inner door was shut, and the Germans knew nothing of the attempt.

A fourth plan was formed within twenty-four hours of the third plan being abandoned. A wood shed was used as cover, and access to a staircase which led into an adjoining church was found, again by digging. A group of officers gathered in the church, a window was opened, and one by one the men dropped down into the street below. The streets of Freiburg had become familiar to the prisoners during their day time excursions. They quickly made their way out of town and split up. Robinson, Baerlin and another officer made their way together towards the Swiss frontier. They travelled at night, and eventually arrived at the border. Four miles outside Stohlingen, and four miles from freedom, they were arrested.

After four attempts in as many months, Robinson's reputation as a troublesome charge was growing. In October came the court martial, at which he was sentenced to a month solitary confinement. Baerlin was sentenced to three months. They were sent to the underground fortress of Zorndorf.” http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/vc_w_l_robinson_page8

Two ICRC Cards here as BAERLEIN https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/157734/3/2/
And a third here as BAERLEIN https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/3203392/3/2/
2^nd Lieutenant, 16^th Squadron, captured 28/04/1917, at Arras. Born Manchester,  28/11/1896, next of kin resident The Grange, Willington, Manchester.

 A correction appeared in the London Gazette of 5 February, 1915, to show the correct spelling of the surname as BAERLEIN. Second Lieutenant (on probation) Arthur A. Baerlein was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29060/page/1218/data.pdf

Lieutenant A.A. BAERLEIN, Royal Air Force, was transferred to the Umemployed List on the 1^st March 1919. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31315/page/5345/data.pdf

The National Archive holds a recommendation for the award of the US Medal of Freedom, Bronze Palm, to a Lieutenant Colonel Arthur A. BAERLIN, dated 14^th November 1947. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7402012

An OBE was gazetted to Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Adolph BAERLEIN for public service in Uganda, 13^th June 1959. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41727/supplement/3720/data.pdf

AIR76 record in the National Archive Catalogue as A.A. BAERLEIN. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8188316

Arny Officer record as 2/Lieutenant Arthur Adolph BAERLEIN, Royal Field Artillery in the National Archive Catalogue. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1105964

Cheers,
Peter