I’ve been adding some more information to the Wetpaint Wiki that I’ve set up to record the majority of information for this project (http://menintheshed.wetpaint.com).
I’ve added information to the John Harder, Tom Caldwell, Ray Elledge & Francis Gillespie pages including some photos.
I’ve also added some information to the home pages including location maps
… is a question that I’m often asked.
A friend of mine, Stuart, who I had known for many years after we had met when I took over as Cub Scout Leader at a local Scout Group where he was a Venture Scout (& subsequently Assistant Leader), eventually moved out to live in Normandy, France – about 18 years ago, now.
As we talked from time to time over the ‘phone, he told me about something of interest on the wall of the shed in his garden – “there’s some names that you might find interesting” was the usual comment (Stuart was only slightly aware at that time of my interest in the Second World War).
Eventually, in 2003, we decided to go & visit him. So, having made our way through France, we unloaded our gear and the conversation went something like this…
“OK Stuart, where’s this shed?”
“There… & see those patches? Well, they’re patched up bullet holes”
“Hmm..OK, But there was a lot of fighting around here in 1944!”
“Go in, then”
“OK… you’ve got a big, empty shed with bullet holes in!”
“Now turn around”
And that was when I saw the whitewashed (1944 dated!) area of the shed wall with the 18 “signatures” on… Name, Rank, Serial number, Date of Capture & unit (In one case, an address, also & a record of several escapes & re-captures!). At this point, I did say something, but it was quite rude & not for print!! Let’s just say, I was well impressed!!
Stuart had found out a little about the fighting in the area, but nothing specific regarding the men who were captured, so I agreed to see what I could do to track them down as I had access to the Internet; Stuart didn’t.
What I could tell him, straight away, was that where he lived was (more or less) situated on the top edge of what became known as the “Falaise Gap” where the German Army attacked to try to force a gap between the British & Canadian Armies and those of the Americans. Fortunately, they were stopped near Mortain & then encircled, thus helping (I believe) shortening the war.
So, in December 2003, I began the quest to find out what I could about these men. Did they survive the war? Are they still alive? Did they have any memories of being held captive in my friend’s shed? The result is this blog
Here’s a photo of the shed…
As I said, on the inside (to the left of the door as you look) was a whitewashed panel & here’s a photo of that…
This is a blog that I’m putting together to help me make sense of all of the research I’ve done & information that I’ve found out about 18 Allied PoWs who for a short while in 1944 were held in a wooden shed in Normandy.
I found out about them from a friend who bought the cottage thatthe shed belonged to who knew I was interested in Military History.
So, hopefully, someone out there will find this interesting & who knows, it may spark some memories!
