Photo of POW at TOST’s Jlag VIII with identification (courtesy Frédéric Turner)

One of the most visited posts on this blog is one that has little to do with my personal family ancestry, but which I am happy to do a follow-up post to per Frédéric Turner’s request. I’ve also updated the original post, where I speculate how my great-grandmother Helena de Wit may have been involved with POW camps during WWII. Along with being in a five-decade relationship with a military man, she also kept a playbill, correspondence, and photos from POW camps. It’s all very interesting to me, and I know others out there are seeking information about their ancestors, so my hope is that this image with identifications will aid them in their quests.

This photo shows:

Tom Sarginson

Bernard Parsons

William Hildsheimer

Walter Hatfull

Eric Van Sommeren

William Duncan

Walter Doyle-Davidson

Tom Sarginson, Bernard Parsons, William Hildesheimer, Walter Hatfull, Eric Van Sommeren, William Duncan, and Walter Doyle-Davidson pose for a photo as prisoners of war.

Here’s some additional details from Mr. Turner in 2013:

The photo of the prisoners was indeed taken at TOST's Jlag VIII (8). I recognize two prisoners. They are standing. The 2nd from the left is Bernard PARSONS captured by the Nazis in France; the 4th from the left is William HILDESHEIMER captured in the Netherlands. I can give you additional information on these two prisoners if you are interested, as well as on the four that you indicate in your comment.
Frederick ANDERSON was born on 5.2.1897 in CARDIFF (Ireland). He was captured in the Netherlands. George HAMILTON was born on 8/27/1909 in DUMBARTON (Scotland), maybe the one with his kilt. He was captured in the Netherlands. Stanley CHURLEY born 24.6.1908 in LONDON (England) was on the liner ORAMA when he was captured with about 200 sailors from this ship. 19 were killed during the boarding of the boat. C. HENDRE must be Charles HENDRIE (or HENDRIC) for me. He is also an ORAMA sailor. He was born on 11.10.1898 in LONDON (England).
Contact me for further information. See also my books and the blog as specified to Cyril MALLATRATT.
Cordially.
Frédéric TURNER

WWII: Photo of internees at Ilag VIII

Dear readers,

Due to the popularity of this post, I feel it is pertinent to add that this is the sole photo I have of prisoners of war, aside from one of my own grandfather. I have only a handful of POW letters (from the men I have listed in the post below), but not much else in terms of documents or knowledge about the camps or people in them. However, please feel free to use the commenting area as a forum. Perhaps someone else who is looking for what you’re looking for — or who has what you’re looking for — will also find this post. Thank you for visiting.

May your search prove fruitful!

-Christina Gullickson

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Update: 5/20/2021

Dear readers,

I recently heard from Frédéric, who often comments on this post, that he had many IDs of the men in this POW photo. He asked if I could update the post with the identifications, so without further ado…

This is a photo of POWs/internees from WWII at the Ilag VIII internment camp, according to the stamp with the phrase “Gepruft 2” on the back. I found it in a box from my grandmother’s house which also contained documents and photos from my great-grandmother, Helena de Wit.

Helena, or Lenie as she was often called, frequently wrote to prisoners during the war, including a number at Ilag camps. I don’t know that the men she wrote to are the same as the ones in this photo (although, it’s my guess that at least one of them was, for why else would she have kept it), but I mention them because I am seeking their descendants before publishing the letters they wrote to Lenie on this blog. They are:

• Fred Anderson [Signed “Skylark,” sent from Ilag Tost 4, Oflag VIII D
• George Hamilton [Signed “Scottie,” sent from Ilag Tost 7]
• S. Churley [Sent from Ilag Tost VIII]
• C. Hendre [Sent from Ilag Tost 8, Oflag VIII D]

If you or someone you know is a descendant of one of these men, please post the details in the comments.