Pte. Nelson Robert Owen
British Army 7th Btn. Royal Norfolk Regiment
from:Heacham
My father, Nelson Robert Owen, was born in Heacham, Norfolk on the 4th of November 1918. He served with the 7th Royal Norfolk Regiment during the 2nd World War. He was captured at St.Valery on the 12/06/1940. His prisoner of war number was 15877. He was held in Stalag XXA in Poland.
Due to my father dying in 1971 at the age of 52 (I was only 13 years old) I didn't ever really get to hear anything much about his time as a prisoner of war etc. But one thing I do remember is him telling me about his friend (who later became a close family friend) John Hagen, who since the war lived near Melton Constable, Norfolk. He had one Christmas Eve when it was bitterly cold and snowing, picked up his banjo and played 'Silent Night'. Afterwards everyone was completely quiet and silence remained for quite some time, as obviously everyone was feeling very homesick and thinking of family back home. John Hagen had also told me how he had worked in the kitchen and also in the brewery at the camp, where they would prepare the food for the German's, and would regularly urinate in the soup! If anyone can remember anything about my father, please add to this message.
