On 14th September 1939, Lieutenant Guy Griffiths RM, flying his 803 Squadron, Skua from HMS Ark Royal was the first Fleet Air Arm pilot to become a POW along with Lt Richard P Thurston.
‘Griff’ was brought down by splinters from his own bombs while attacking U30 which was hunting SS Fanad Head. Captured by the same U-Boat, he spent the rest of the war as a Prisoner of War at Dulag Luft, Oflag IX-A and Stalag Luft 1, 2 & 3
While a POW he used his artistic skills as a forger for escape documents, but he was also communicated with MI9, to pass on information about captured aircrew and to share details of new German aircraft that could be seen during testing in the skies above the camp. He also created drawings and information about fictitious British aircraft that he would leave visible for German security ‘Ferrets’ to find, and thus confuse the enemy.
Following the death of John Kiddell RN, ‘Griff’ stole some photographs of the funeral procession that he found on the Commandant’s desk. He hid these for two years, and at the end of the war he brought them back to the UK and gave them to John’s mother. He took part in The Long March of January 1945. Post war, he is credited with being the first Royal Marine to fly a helicopter.
The Long March…80 years ago
In January 1945, thousands of Allied Prisoners of War were force-marched west, away from the advancing Russians. Over 10,000 were evacuated from Stalag Luft III, and marched 60 miles to Spremberg in Germany, in temperatures of –25 °C.
They included FAA aircrew who had been captured from the Mediterranean to Norway.
Many POWs died from cold, maltreatment by their guards, and fire from strafing Allied aircraft. Frostbite and dysentery crippled many others who had to carry their personal possessions and food.
From 24th to 26th January 2025 this march will be re-enacted by military personnel and families of original marchers who will follow the same route and visit the farms, stables, factories and churches where the POWs slept.
Many of the POWs were eternally grateful to the Red Cross and the Order of St John, for the support that they received throughout their incarceration in the form of food parcels, clothing and mail from home. This amalgamation still exists as the ‘St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service’, commonly known as the DMWS.
As a Royal British Legion Standard Bearer, James Castle has decided to complete the 60 mile walk from Stalag Luft III to Spremburg, while carrying the flag of the DMWS on a ceremonial pole. Through various ventures he has raised over £25,000 for charity, and he would like to raise awareness of, and support the DMWS by marking their involvement in the Long March of 1945.
Any help that you are able to give will be very gratefully received. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/dmwsthelongmarch?utm_medium=CA&utm_source=CL