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Pte Fred Sheridan, 7th Worcestershire

PostPosted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:05 pm
by LarsA
I have just aquired the 39-45/War medal group to Pte 4197291 Fred Sheridan of the 7th battalion. He became POW before Dunkirk, and died of TBC while a POW.

He is listed as being held in Stalag 8b (Lamsdorf, now in Poland) and buried in Berlin War Cemetery.

One thing I am trying to understand why a man held in Lamsdorf is buried in Berlin? When checking on different sites I understand that men dying at Lamsdorf might be expected to be interred in Poland.

Does anyone have any information on this?

Kind regards,
Lars

PTE FRED SHERIDAN - 7TH WORCESTERS AND POW AT LAMSDORF

PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:12 pm
by shelldrake
Lars,

I know nothing about the soldier you are enquiring about, but can offer some background information on POW's in Lamsdorf which may give an answer to your question.
Lamsdorf (Stalag VIIIB and in 1944 renumbered to Stalag 344) was also a POW Camp in WW1. It was used for the same purpose in WW2 and the first British prisoners arrived there in 1940. Due to it's very poor conditions it quickly became known as the 'Prison Camp from Hell', at one stage there were over 10,000 British POW's held there. In addition to the main camp there were also 235 satellite or work camps (Arbeitskommandos) - supposedly administered by the main POW camp. The purpose of these camps or groups was to provide labour (POW's) to the local industrial and coal mining areas - but in fact to almost anywhere in GERMANY. Thousands of POW's were moved around the country for this purpose - particularly if they had a special trade or skill which was in demand.
So, a large POW camp with a very transient POW population - although your man is listed as having been held at Lamsdorf it may have been only on paper and he may have actually beeen working (and died) close to Berlin.

Hope this helps. Regards,

Shelldrake

PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:18 pm
by LarsA
Thanks Shelldrake,
it helps very much and seems like a reasonable explanation.

Kind regards,
Lars

PTE FRED SHERIDAN

PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:42 pm
by shelldrake
?="LarsA"? Shelldrake,
it helps very much and seems like a reasonable explanation.

Kind regards,
?/?

I should have also added the possibility that he could have been a POW escaper, on the run, who didn't make it.

Shelldrake