260666 A/Cpl. Charles Birrell British Army 8th Btn. Scots Guards from:Fife My dad, Charles Birrell, hailed from Forgan in Fife.
On researching him I found out he joined the 8th Battalion, Scots Guards which became part of the 44th Lowland Infantry Brigade and were involved in Operation Overlord, the Battle of Caen, Operation Epsom, second Battle of the Odon, and Operation Bluecoat between June 1944 and August 1944. They then fought in the Northwest Europe Campaign (Siegfried Line Campaign) during which my father was captured in Belgium by the Germans in September 1944.
He wouldn't tell us much about his time during the war or his time in Stalag XII-A but he suffered with his stomach and bowel for years. He did tell us that the men had to forage the rubbish for food and would make soup from potato peelings. He mentioned being liberated by the Americans and said he was glad that it wasn't the Russians, but I don't know why this was. I still have the letter sent to his mother that said he was missing and presumed dead.
|