229096 Pte. William Arthur Ford Volunteer Union Defence Force Botha Regiment from:South Africa My father, W.A. Ford served in the Volunteer Unit of Union Defence Force and was captured at Battle of Sidi Razech in Libya on November 1940. They were taken to Pian di Correglia -Chiavari Italy and was placed in Camp 52. He was moved to Stalag VIIIB in January 1943 and was there until the end of the war.
According to his military record he served time in Arbeidskommando's E727 Mechtal Beuthen and E579 Newka.
I would like to learn more about these places and the route that they would have marched as well as when and where they were liberated.
My Father never spoke about the War, he would get very tearfull and always promised that we would never ever go hungry as long as he was alive.
He mentioned that when they marched for (cannot remember the total miles) he would wash his socks at night and tie them around his waist to dry even though it meant that he was incredibly cold during the night. He would have a clean pair to wear every day. He never suffered any blisters.
I was only born in 1961, years after the war and was very young. Now that I am an adult I cannot believe the hell that my father survived. I am very proud of him and all the old soldiers. I salute you!
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