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Pte Dougas Bell Jardine
British Army 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders
from:Lockerbie
From the local Lockerbie newspaper on Douglas' return in 1946: Lockerbie Soldier's Return, Welcome to Pte. D. Jardine
Pte. Douglas Bell Jardine, 2nd Batt. Seaforth Highlanders, whose home is at 6 Well Street, arrived in Lockerbie on Wednesday night after five years in a German prisoner of war camp. Pte. Jardine, who is twenty-five years of age, joined the Army in 1938, and he crossed to France in October, 1939. He was captured at St. Valery in 1940, and most of his period of captivity was spent in Southern Silesia, where he was a member of a working party in a glass factory. For the first two years and the last six months Pte. Jardine states food was very scarce, and the prisoners were kept alive with parcels received from the Red Cross. When the Russians advanced the prisoners in Pte. Jardine's camp, which included several soldiers of the Red Army, were marched across the Czech mountains to Sudetenland, a distance of four hundred miles. The march started in February and con- cluded on Easter Monday at Brux, where they were put into another camp. An explosives factory there had been bombed, and Pte. Jardine was employed clearing up the debris, having to work twelve hours a day on rations which consisted of half a litre of soup and three slices of black bread. He was liberated by the Americans on 8th May, and was brought to this country by air, arriving near London on Monday of last week.
After supper Dr. G. H. Sinclair, The Green, chairman of the Local Welcome Home Fund Committee, who presided, in the course of a few remarks, extended a welcome back home to Pte. Jardine. He had known their young friend for sixteen years, his father, the late Mr. Robert Jardine, having been for eight years his faithful and trusted henchman, and for a quarter of a century before that chauffeur to his predecessor, the late Dr. Bell. Their guest that night had during the past few years undergone many hardships, but his spirits had never been broken, and they were glad to have him back amongst them fit and well. On be- half of his many friends in the town he had great pleasure in asking him to accept of a wallet of Treasury notes with their best wishes for his future wellbeing and happiness. (Applause.) Pte. Jardine, in returning thanks for the gift, said he was overcome by the warmth of the welcome he had received on his return to his native town and by the many kindnesses that had been shown to him. He was particularly grateful to those who had subscribed to the handsome gift which they had given him. He assured them all their kindness was much appreciated. It was nearly five years since he was captured by the Germans, and he could assure them that he had often during that time looked forward to the day when he would be back in Lockerbie. He was glad that day had come, and he wished them all good luck and a speedy return to their normal peaceful lives.
