206057 Capt. James Shankley British Army 5/7th Btn. Gordon Highlanders from:Montrose, Angus My father was in the 5th/7th Gordons, 51st Highland Division, and taken prisoner at St Valery but like most POW's, he never talked openly about his experience. I only remember him talking 2/3 times - all after a few "pink" gins.....
The story that springs to mind is when they were captured and moved on by the Germans. They were held in a field whilst the German officers conferred. Whilst this was going on the British officers were busy burying knives, lugers etc.!! The Germans then walked along behind the officers and gently patted their kilts - waiting for the rustle of silk revealing the presence of a silk map !!! After they were moved away the Germans then went over the field with a mine detector to find all the "hidden" items.
This may or may not be true, but it was one of the few stories I truly remember. Lt Col James Shankley died in 1991 after a spell in hospital where the horrors of war came back to him. His family has no information regarding where he was, other than an internet-gained note that he was at the camp at Eichstatt (Oflag 7b). If anyone has any information ??? Additional Information: | It appears that I might have wrong POW camp. I now suspect my father might have been in Stalag XXA. This is because he said in passing that he had been in the same camp as the actor Sam Kydd. But I'm still clutching at straws' here.Peter Shankley
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