Sgt. Albert Charlton MID
British Army 4th Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment
from:Felling, Gateshead
My father Albert Charlton was captured at Gazala on 31st of May 1942. He was imprisoned at Campo 54 Fara Nel Sabina, Italy.
After the armistice this camp was taken over by the senior British officer and the prisoners of war were organised into small parties which took to the hills. My dad was captured after 18 days at liberty. After eight days he was imprisoned at camp Avezzano. He was put on a train for Germany and jumped from the train about ten miles west of Avezzano and made his way south meeting allied troops at Piedimonte. His story to his family was that he thought that if he didn't escape he feared that he would not see us again.
My father passed away in 1974 aged 59 years. I believe it was some of his wartime experiences that contributed to his early death.
