234461 Charles Redrup British Army Here is a transcibed account of my Father in Law's
diary of the forced march from Stalag XXa to
Germany from January to April 1945. Charlie died in 2002 and his diary only
came to light shortly before his death. Like so many he never spoke of his
experiences as a prisoner of war but was heartened to rediscover his diary.
A Diary of Charles Redrup from 1st Jan 1945 to Repatriation on 22nd April 1945.
- MONDAY 1ST JAN 1945. Spent most of the day in bed reading. Wrote letters to mum and Joan.
- TUESDAY 2ND JAN Had a hair cut today.
- WEDNESDAY 3RD JAN Saw the doctor, must go back again.
- THURSDAY 4TH JAN The boys for repatriation went on their way to England today. Lucky devils! Red Cross wp. 1 Canadian 30 yrs.
- FRIDAY 5TH JAN Done my washing today.
- SATURDAY 6TH JAN Lazing about.
- SUNDAY 7th JAN Had a bath. Wrote card to Mr Turner.
- MONDAY 8TH JAN Washed the collars of my two tuniques.
- TUESDAY 9TH JAN Saw the doctor again today. Got another week of indoor work.
- WEDNESDAY 10TH JAN Met Emrys Williams again today after three years. He is in our room.
- THURSDAY 11TH JAN Done nothing but laze about.
- FRIDAY 12TH JAN Its been snowing all day and very bad under foot.
- SATURDAY 13TH JAN Ginger started to have his teeth out today and had to go in dark.
- SUNDAY 14TH JAN Had a bath this morning. Wrote letter to mum.
- MONDAY 15TH JAN Done my washing.
- TUESDAY 16TH JAN Saw the doctor this morning and got light work. Must go back friday night.
- WEDNESDAY 17TH JAN Got stung for a small job this morning.
- THURSDAY 18TH JAN Had to go out on a working party today. All workers were recalled at dinner time except Stallag workers. All confined to camp. Issue of 25 figs . are under 1 hours notice to move.
- FRIDAY 19TH JAN Still confined to camp. Air raids all day. Bulk issue red cross.
- SATURDAY 20TH JAN Up at 3 am and started to evacuate. Marching all day, and spent all night in an open field. It was too cold to sleep. We were building fires all night to keep warm. No sleep. 3/4 loaf.
- SUNDAY 21ST JAN On our way again at 6.00am. We came through Bromburg and spent the night in an old factory. We managed to get a good sleep tonight.
- MONDAY 22ND JAN On the move again, all aches and pains. We slept the night in a farm, so I started to milk the cows. Immerheim .
- TUESDAY 23RD JAN On waking up this morning all our guards were gone and the Russians are here. We moved into an empty house so I'm now OK! The Germans recaptured us again at 4.00pm. Started to march again. Vandsburger .
- WEDNESDAY 24TH JAN Stopped one day then moved to Vandeburger .
- THURSDAY 25th JAN Moved off this morning and stopped at Flatow . 1/3 of a loaf.
- FRIDAY 26TH JAN Left Flatow at 1000pm and moved all night.
- SATURDAY 27TH JAN We are now resting in a church at Jacov . Moved out at 3.00 pm on the way for Bankenbrugge and stopped in a farm.
- SUNDAY 28TH JAN Stopped all day in the farm at about half way to Bankenbrugge.
- MONDAY 29TH JAN On our way again at 8.00 am. and stopped over night in an officers camp at Bankenbrugge. 3/4 of a loaf.
- TUESDAY 30TH JAN On our way at 7.30am. and landed at a big German Barracks in Grosse Varn Linde. More food than we could eat! Bags of spuds and 2 loaves a man.
- WEDNESDAY 31ST JAN We moved out at 5.00 am and stopped overnight at Bon Walde. We moved into Bon Walde and then had to go 5 kilometers back for billets.
- THURSDAY 1ST FEB On our way again at 8.30 am and stopped once more in a farm near Bad Polgin.
- FRIDAY 2ND FEB We are still at the same farm. Stopped here all day.
- SATURDAY 3RD FEB Marched to within 6 kilometers of Schivelbein. Stopped overnight in a farm. We have to carry our packs now as it is too wet for sledges to go any more.
- SUNDAY 4TH FEB On the move again. Had 1/2 a loaf of bread at Schivelbein. Stopped at a farm at Sturgardt . 1/2 a loaf.
- MONDAY 5TH FEB On our way once more and stopped at a farm 6 kilometers past Plame .
- TUESDAY 6TH FEB We are now resting in the same farm.
- WEDNESDAY 7TH FEB On our way again. We have done about 15 kilometeres.
- THURSDAY 8TH FEB Done about 25 kilometers and stopped 6 km before Wolbin. A big air raid during the night. Our bed was rocking.
- FRIDAY 9TH FEB We stopped tonight at a marine barracks at Misroy. We got a pea soup here. We were in sight of the sun today.
- SATURDAY 10TH FEB We crossed the river in a ferry at Swinermunde.
- SUNDAY 11TH FEB Stopped today at a farm near Usedone after 25 km.
- MONDAY 12TH FEB We are having a badly needed rest today. The boys are in a very bad state.
- TUESDAY 13th FEB 18 km today
- WEDNESDAY 14TH FEB We stopped tonight near Jarmin after 18 km.
- THURSDAY 15TH FEB We stopped at a farm near Pemmin where we had an issue of a few spuds.
- FRIDAY 16TH FEB We arrived at a small village, Wagum . We have noe been promised a good rest.
- SATURDAY 17TH FEB We are now resting. We got a cup full of soup and a loaf between 10 men. Issue of spuds.
- SUNDAY 18TH FEB Still resting. Soup and spuds. 2 loaves between 5 men. We finished the last of our tea today. Am beginning to feel a bit weak.
- MONDAY 19th FEB Still here.
- TUESDAY 20TH FEB We have now been here four days. We have received half a loaf, 4 cups of soup, and a few pig spuds. Haven't had a smoke for two weeks.
- WEDNESDAY 21ST FEB On our way again. Done 15 kilometers and stopped 6k from the town of Malchin
- THURSDAY 22ND FEB 18k today, through the town of Tetenow, stopping just outside it.
- FRIDAY 23RD FEB Moved on again and stopped just outside the town of Gustnow. 20k.
- SATURDAY 24th FEB Resting here today.
- SUNDAY 25TH FEB 18 km today.
- MONDAY 26TH FEB Done 28k today and stopped at a farm 6k past Steinburg.
- TUESDAY 27th FEB Resting today. Now two days without rations.
- WEDNESDAY 28TH FEB 20k today to the village of Cambes, County of Schwerin. Had a jolly good soup today.
- THURSDAY 29th FEB ??? 25 km to the village of Walsmahle, running all day.
- FRIDAY 1st MARCH 25k again today to a farm 6k past Wittenburg. Very strong wind.
- SATURDAY 2nd MARCH Resting today. Found my first louse again today.
- SUNDAY 3rd MARCH Still resting.
- MONDAY 4th MARCH Only 6 km today.
- TUESDAY 5th MARCH Still resting, but then done another 20 km to the village of Grusse. We are now living on 2 slices of bread and a drop of watery soup.
- WEDNESDAY 6th MARCH/THURSDAY 7th MARCH/FRIDAY 8th MARCH At Grusse.
- SATURDAY 9th MARCH We are now stopping in the village of Grusse. I went for a job today chopping wood for a bit of extra food.
- SUNDAY 10th MARCH Still here. Worked half a day.
- MONDAY 11th MARCH Same as yesterday. We got red cross today. 1 parcel -100 American cigs between 3 men.
- TUESDAY 12th MARCH/WEDNESDAY 13th MARCH Ditto
- THURSDAY 14th MARCH No work today so I did some hair cutting for a few smokes.
- FRIDAY 15th MARCH Work again making a farthing in the woods. We got spuds just for dinner. I got some jolly good soup of some.............. that were there.
- SATURDAY 16th MARCH Chopping wood again on the old job.
- SUNDAY 17th MARCH No work
- MONDAY 18th MARCH We are on our way once more. Done 30 km to the town of Neu Haus. One of our boys got a 3 kilo loaf of bread.
- TUESDAY 19th MARCH 26 km to a farm 6 km from the town of Domitx.
- WEDNESDAY 20th MARCH Done 30 km passing over the river and on through the town of Dannenburg .
- THURSDAY 21st MARCH We are now resting after having done 85 km in the last three days.
- FRIDAY 22nd MARCH On our way again. 18km to the village of Borg County of Valgen.
- SATURDAY 23rd MARCH 20 km today to within 6 km of Valgen . A Cut in the bread today to 6 in a loaf.
- SUNDAY 24th MARCH 20 km today into the County of Celle .
- MONDAY 25th MARCH Restday. Had a wash and a shave.
- TUESDAY 26th MARCH 18 km today. 5 km from the town of Celle. RAF in good form.
- WEDNESDAY 27th MARCH Big surprise. After doing 5 km we are now waiting in a cattle truck for the train at 6 pm.
- THURSDAY 28th MARCH Arrived at the town of Emmenthal , after passing through the town of Hamelin which was in ruins.
- FRIDAY 29th MARCH We are now waiting in a farm until we are deloused, and then going to live in a sugar factory. 2 slices of bread and half a bowl of watery soup. Had some pig meal.
- SATURDAY 30th MARCH Still waiting to go to the ...billetts. An American bomber came down near here yesterday. The crew taken prisoner.
- SUNDAY 31st MARCH Much activity in the village making road blocks. Olly, Jack, Alf, and me have decided to spend our next Easter together.
- MONDAY 1st APRIL Spent nearly all day in bed. Very very hungry.
- TUESDAY 2nd APRIL Up at 4am. Went to Hamelin for a delouse. The town was bombed before all the boys got back.
- WEDNESDAY 3rd APRIL A big party went to the town of Hamelin to help clean up after the bombing. When the party got back we all got made to pack. We marched all night.
- THURSDAY 4th APRIL Arrived at the town of Kaffenburgen at 4am. We then managed to get a bit of sleep. We have now had no food for two days.
- FRIDAY 5th APRIL Done 20 km today. We were given some 8 spuds. 6 km from Bodenburg.
- SATURDAY 6th APRIL 25 km today to the village of Badenstein. No food all day. We have been promised soup in three hours time.
- SUNDAY 7th APRIL Done 25 km today. The Yanks are supposed to be 60 km behind us.
- MONDAY 8th APRIL Another 20 km today.
- TUESDAY 9th APRIL 25 km today. One of our boys died today!
- WEDNESDAY 10th APRIL We heard Yankie tanks in the distance today. The guards are all scared. 81 days on the road. About 690 miles all told.
- THURSDAY 11th APRIL Magdeburg Ummendorf 30 km. As soon as the tanks came through they threw us out cigs and eats. We are now having a most wonderful time! The greatest day of my life. The guards left in the night and at 11 am the Americans came through and released us. [The American 9th and 2nd armed division]. We are now eating and smoking like lords.
- FRIDAY 12th APRIL Have been out in the village today getting eggs and other things. 96 eggs and 8 lbs of butter all told.
- SATURDAY 13th APRIL Went out and got myself a new pair of shoes. Transport came at 2 pm and took us back to a collecting camp. I got a photo taken today.
- SUNDAY 14th APRIL Got registered today and passed the doctor after dinner. Now waiting for the planes. Sitting in the picture hall.
- MONDAY 15th APRIL Names were called for the planes but mine was not there. Perhaps tomorrow. Wrote letter to mum and dad. Took some more photos.
- TUESDAY 16th APRIL Have been listening to names all day, but still no luck. Jack Hales, one of our mates was lucky.
- WEDNESDAY 17th APRIL Still no luck but we are now put into groups, so stand a good chance tomorrow.
- THURSDAY 18th APRIL No planes came today at all. I went and saw a film show.
- FRIDAY 19th APRIL We have just been told to stand by for a plane. It has not turned up.
- SATURDAY 20th APRIL It has been raining all day and still no planes have turned up. Went out this evening and got two rabbits for dinner tomorrow. Wrote to mum and Joan.
- SUNDAY 21st APRIL We have just had rabbit spuds and gravy. It was grand.
6 pm. I am now on the plane on my way home. Landed at 10 pm. Have just had a bath and am writing this in bed.
Names and Adresses of Charly's friends on this trek:
- Malcolm McIntyre. Dunoon, Scotland
- Michael Flynn. Belfast Northern Ireland.
- George Lewis. Wrexham Wales
- Alex Missen 2 London SE1
- W Evans Middlesex
- Fred Brewster Kentish Town London NW5
- Alfred Olsen North Shields Durham
- Jack Hales Berkhampstead Herts
- Frederick Edwards High Wycombe Bucks.
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