My grandfather, L/Cpl Winston Massey (a.k.a. Ray), 6084900 , POW No. 3036 was with the Queens Royal Regiment (West Surrey) serving in Shanghai [Jan 1934 - Nov 1934], Hindustan and Afghanistan. He had 14 years service abroad, and returned to England with two weeks R&R before engaging in WWII.
My Grandfather was captured in France performing rear guard action for the evacuation of the 1st BEF, and was a very early POW from 1940-1945, reported missing on the 20th May 1940, and reported as POW 31st May 1940.
Ray served on the Maginot line. As a Prisoner of the Germans, he faced his most trying time and survived through his resourcefulness. "We were taken to Danzig in Poland and a German SS man asked me what my trade was and I said I was a farmer, even though I had never been on a farm in my life" Ray said.
In the final days of the war Ray was rounded up with other prisoners of
war and forced to face the tough march from Poland back to Germany. "I lost a lot of my friends on that march. We didn't have any food," he
said.
One of the brightest moments in Ray's military history was when American
planes flew over Berlin at the end of the war, signalling to prisoners their imminent release from the camp. The light soon faded for Ray though, as he was so ill he blacked out and could remember no more until he awoke in a military hospital in England" [Blacktown Advocate Extracts]. In later recollections he mentioned that upon liberation by the Americans, they had nothing to feed the prisoners, except rotten potato peelings. Which was possibly why he was so sick.
I have managed to locate war crime documents (from Kew) relating to the
forced march from Poland to Germany, which I will endeavour to transcribe
and make available. Kew WO0309-34 which I have transcribed, for anyone who
is interested.
I also have copies of the following red cross reports on Stalag XXB
- WO 224/226 23 March 1945 No. 26
- WO 224/226 27 April 1945 No. 54
- WO 224/226 10 May 1945 No. 63
- WO 224/49 10 May 1945 p.4,44,46,50,52-59,61-62
I have only one photo of Winston Massey that is at Stalag XX1C (but I know he spent his time at Stalag XXB) - does anyone know anything about this Stalag XX1C, and why a woman would be in the photo, possibly a Red Cross Nurse? I have provided details of the reverse of the photo that may give some clue as to its origin.
Other than Stalag XXB, I have spent time in Shanghai and Luxor in India
trying to discover the operations of the Queen's Royal Regiment but
from the 1920's through to 1939 there is scant information. If anyone can
help in this regard I would appreciate it. I only have uncovered blue
prints of the mortar lines in Shanghai and their rules of engagement, and
mention of the relief at the Quetta earthquake. Any help appreciated.
