The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War



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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

140263

Pte. Alfred Edward Coles

British Army Kings Royal Rifle Corps

from:Hanwell, London

My Dad, Alfred Coles, was a regular soldier before WW2 and served in Ireland. He was on Reserve when WW2 broke out, and he went off to France in 1940 with BEF I believe. He was wounded at Calais as his Batallion fought in the rear guard action whilst the majority of the BEF escaped from Dunkirk. I understand he was driving in a Scout car when it hit a land mine. He went to a German hospital, and then spent the rest of the war in a POW camp somewhere near Danzig (Gdansk). Whilst in the POW camp I think he worked in a brick factory. His war ended when the camp gates were opened by the Germans in 1945 and the whole camp, guards included marched towards the west, trying to avoid the advancing Russians from the east. They marched hundreds of miles, living off the land. Eventually they met up with Americans and my Dad was repatriated home. When he returned home, he weighed just over 6 st. He later became a member of the Dunkirk Veteran Association. If anyone can fill in more details, I would be very grateful as I would like to pass this on to his great-grandchildren




Additional Information:

I am doing the Coles family tree, I have and Alfred Edward in the tree and I was wondering if you could let me know if it is the same Albert? The family I am researching are from Alverstoke, Hampshire. If so then I may be able forward you lots of info on the family in general.

katie smyth



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