11th October 1947 Thirteen Sick German Generals are repatriated early: Western Mail Newspaper Click image to enlarge |
The newspaper report above details the names of 13 prisoners being repatriated due to ill health. However, recent evidence, whilst confirming the 13 names above, also gives the names of another 3 PoWs. Therefore the true list of repatriated PoWs is:
- Generaloberst Alfred Keller (Luftwaffe)
- Generalleutnant Karl von Beeren
- Generalleutnant Erich Denecke
- Generalleutnant Friedrich Karst
- Generalleutnant Otto Kühne (Luftwaffe)
- Generalleutnant Alfred Kurz
- Generalleutnant Erwin Leister
- Generalleutnant Wilhelm Raapke
- Generalmajor Gerhard Fischer
- Generalmajor Günther von Manteuffel
- Generalmajor Werner Siber - No Profile exists
- Vizeadmiral Thilo von Seebach
- Konteradmiral Hans-Hermann Graf von Schweinitz und Krain Freiherr von Kauder
- SS-Gruppenführer m.d.U.d GL d. W-SS Leo von Jena
- Generalmajor Heinrich Kreipe
- General d. Fallschirmtruppe (Luftwaffe) Alfred Schlemm
The evidence states that the prisoners were repatriated via the ship El Nil. This ship had several names during its service:
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Tjerimai 1921-1933 An official Rotterdam Lloyd card |
- Ordered 1914 as Hamburg ship Marie Woermann.
- Built in 1916 as MARIE WOERMANN for Woermann Line (7690 gross tons).
- 1917 renamed WADAI.
- 1921 to Rotterdamsche Lloyd renamed TJERIMAI.
- She was laid up in 1930 when Dempo and Baloeran entered service.
- 1933 sold becoming Egyptian EL NIL.
- 1942 requisitioned by the British, 1943 became hospitalship, managed by Furness Withy & Co.
- 1947 returned to owners.
- 1950 sold renamed SAFINA-E-MURAD.
- 1953 scrapped.
One of the hardest things about developing this web site had been finding documents which make reference to Island Farm and which contain a POW name. Only when I have evidence that a POW was held at Island Farm could I research and host the profile. However, in April 2001, I had the good fortune to receive an email from a Mrs Anne Hewinson and her daughter Mrs Stella Pigott. Mrs Hewinson's late husband was a guard at Island Farm from April 1945 and was also one of the guards who accompanied the repatriation of the POWs.
"My dad was in the NCC and basically was a type of clerk, his name was Horace Hewinson and he was born in Newport. My father was very talented at languages (unfortunately not a skill he has managed to pass on to his kids!) and put his linguistic skills to great use whilst he was at Island Farm. He spent alot of time with the officers and became quite friendly with some. Some continued to correspond with him after they had been repat. His service number and details were 21021245 P.TE Hewinson HA NCC. It looks like from his photo album that he did his basic training at .R.P.C.D. Stourport Nov 1947. April 1948 he went to No 11 POW camp (Island Farm). After Island Farm and his Repat trip he went to Honeybourne 196 company Royal Pioneer Corp. He also helped during the London Dock Strike. He attended a pre release course at Welbeck Abbey and was Demobbed on 9/9/1949."
Amongst her husband's belongings was a POW repatriation list, as well as a few photographs and newspaper cuttings. I am extremely grateful to both Mrs Hewinson and Mrs Pigott for sending these to me.
April 1948 Click image to enlarge |
Picnic at Merthyr Mawr
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Picnic at Merthyr Mawr Click image to enlarge |
| ACTUAL REPATRIATION LIST | |
Click image to enlarge |
Click image to enlarge |
The above Repatriation list is as follows: