261393 Fus. John Alexander Creery British Army Royal Scots Fusiliers from:34 Tyne Street My father, John Creery, was a prisoner of war for 5 years. I have learnt that he was in Luckenwalde Camp Stalag IIIA. I remember him telling us stories about being so hungry he ate raw cabbages and raw potatoes and of finding men hanging in the toilets that couldn't take any more. I have to say none of his stories were happy ones. The only thing I found funny was someone gave him some cigarettes but he didn't smoke. So, he asked someone to try and get him some toothpaste as he was proud of his teeth and missed cleaning them. He did get some which he was glad for.
I remember my granny saying he went away a young man with lots of curly hair and came back like an old man with very little hair. He was awarded his wages on a cart by the lord mayor of his home town which was the Shankill Road, Belfast.
He continued to work for the British Legion until he retired.
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