207911 Pte. Charles Edwood Haythorne British Army King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry from:Denaby My great grandfather, Charles Edwood Haythorne, otherwise known as Ted, served in the K.O.Y.L.I Regiment. He was part of the British Expeditionary Force which was captured at Ypres where he was part of the rear guard for Dunkirk. I have found a photograph on this site of prisoners in Stalag XXB, which one of them, I believe, is my great grandfather. From my relatives I believe he was taken from Stalag XXB and put to work in a labour camp. He informed the Germans he was a farmhand instead of telling them the truth, that he was a miner because he would have been put in the mines, which he knew would have led to his death in a matter of months, weeks or even days. I know some time in the early 1980’s he was offered a medal for his services at Dunkirk which he refused to send for as he said quote “If its took all these years to say I deserved a medal for what I did, I don’t want it.” My great grandfather didn’t agree with the length of time that it took the British Government to decide that all those that suffered, served and many that gave their lives in protecting Dunkirk needed a medal. Which could have, quite rightly, been issued many years before. He thought it was a disgrace how many of those who served had passed away after the war with no recognition for what they did. If anyone can help me in finding out information on my great grandfather and how to retrieve his service medals (and Dunkirk medal) please can you email me with any information at all; it would be really appreciated.
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