John Christian William Handford

Name: J. C. W. Handford Rank: Pte Army Number: 26754 POW Number: 75083 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: 8A Camp Location: Gorlitz, Poland Section: South African Land Forces : Officers and Other Ranks

Port Elizabeth, Monday, May 21, 1945.

S.A. PRISONERS REPATRIATED.

ARRIVALS IN UNION AND BRITIAN.

PRETORIA, Sunday. Brigadier A.A. HAYTON, of Johannesburg, heads a list of 62 South African prisoners of war who arrive in three aircraft at Zwartkop to-day. In common with the rest of the prisoners of war, who have had time to recuperate at Brighton, he looked very well and spoke highly of the treatment given to prisoners of war by the people of Britain.

“I have lost 30 lbs. in weight while I was a prisoner but I have already regained 15 lbs.,” he said.

The story of how the Americans released the men in Brigadier HAYTON’s camp was cabled out to South Africa in April, when he and others arrived in England.

“We knew that the American were getting nearer and nearer while we were at Offlag 12B” he said, “ and when we moved to Lotter we knew it would not be long – and it wasn’t. While we were at Lotter the American spearhead came round and we hoisted the Union Jack.”

Referring to Brighton, Brigadier HAYTON said “released prisoners are coming so fast that the authorities naturally find the task a difficult one with which to cope, but they are tackling it with a will and are gradually overcoming a really enormous difficulty.”

Arrangements between Croyden and Pretoria were really excellent . All the arrangements along the route were remarkably efficient.

Brigadier HAYTON was met by his wife and family. Also at the aerodrome were Brigadier H.S. WAKEFIELD, acting Adjutant-General, Brigadier H.B. KLOPPER, O.C. Northern Command and Col. T.B. CLAPHAM, D.A.G.-P.O.W.

The following are the ex-prisoners of war who have arrived:-

Port Elizabeth men: Corporal H.M. DE BRUGGE, L/Cpl C.R. MITTEN. Gunner C.E. AUBIN, Signallers E.M. ENGLAND and L. THOMPSON.

Other Centres: -

Brigadier A.A. HAYTON. Lt.-Col. E.S. THOMPSON. Major A.C. MARTIN. Captains: W. LANSDELL, P. SPENCE, G. LAW, A.K.K. HALL, Staff Sergeant W.F. BEATTIE. Sergeant W.G. REYNOLDS. Bombardiers: J.A. THOMSON and H.S. DUMONT. Corporals: J.D. ELIASOV, S.J.J. HOLLIS, J. McG. SHONE, F FRIEDMAN, G.L. KILBY, P.L. LLOYD, J.A. CHAMPION, P. DELANEY, A.E. ASHBY. Lance Corporals: G.D.J. DE WITT, E.L. DU TOIT. Gunners: A.E.W. VAN HEERDEN, J.J. BOTHA, P.J. MARCUS. Privates: M.J. FRIEDMAN, R.E. WILIE, J.J. OPPERMAN, P.H. BRADLEY, V.H.A. ROBERTS, W. SAMMONS, M. VAN ROOYEN, G.E. ADRIAANSON, A. BOOTH, L.E. DAVIES, H.V.L. ENGELBREG, J.H. FERREIRA, J.H. HOLMES, W.T.M. HOWES, B.B. KOTZEE, C.L. PATERSON, J.R. SUTTIE, T.P. HANRAHAN, R.W.H. TAYLOR, D.J. SMITH. Rifleman: E.V. WHITTALL, G.P. COUSINS, J.B. MANSON. Signallers: R.A.H. KROHN, G. GRIFFIN, W.G. ROBERTSON, W.A. CAMPBELL. Troopers: W.R. GREEN and C.E. KENMUIR. Sapper M.W. KELLY.

The following ex-prisoners of war have arrived in the United Kingdom: -

Port Elizabeth: Ordinary Seaman H.J. GUNN, Privates J.J.H. BANCROFT, T.D. COLLOCOTT (admitted to hospital).

Grahamstown: L/Corporals R. FITCHAT, N.G. ZIMMERMAN, Privates J.H.P. MAHER, WILLIS (no initial), R. STEADMAN, (admitted to hospital), Signaller J.F. HEATHCOTE.

Somerset East: L/Cpl. J. DEAS (admitted to hospital), Cpl C.F. GOWAR (admitted to hospital).

Uitenhage: Lieut. A. BURCH ( admitted to hospital), T/Cpl. D.B. O’HAGEN, Signaller R.N. HEYWOOD.

Other centres: -

Sergeants: S.C. GROENEWALD, J. HURST, J.E. SCHMIDT, C.T. SPENCER, E.T. ELLIOTT-WILSON, R.L. JACOBS, B. GREENBLATT, A.I. BENSIMON, I.J. VINCENT. Air Sergeants: J. DONKIN, S.STONE. Bombardiers: T.C.D. KENNAN, N.A. HAUPT, J.J. VAN DER SANDT, A. MYBURGH. Corporals: G.A. BREEN, B.F. LEE, T.L. WADE, H.R. WHITTLE, A. JOSEPH, H.A. BARRAUD, G.J. COETZEE, J.C. HOBSON, T.A. MITCHELL, R.D. PEARSON, P.J. SWART, D. WHYTE, H.A. HARPER, B. BERRY, D.G. BURDON. Air/Cpl. J.M. ABRAHAMS. Lance Bombardiers: V.J. SCOTT, A.W. PHARO. L/Cpls.: J. McLACHLAN, H.J. DU PLESSIS, W.S.I. JAKINS, B.D. GARDNER, D.D. MORRIS, L.W. MOORE, J.J. BRITZ, G.F. WILKINSON, C. DU BARRY. Gunners: G.S. HARRIS, J.D. KENNAN, C.G. KEMP, G.E. FREEMAN, A.G.F. JONES, J.E.L. DE ROOS, E.H. JONES, J.H. MUNN, C.M. SMUTS, H. RAUTENBACH, N. VELDSMAN, E.E. BECKETT, S.S. CLOUSTON, T.A. PULLER, C.A. THOMAS, R.W. SCOTT, S.E. WESTON, H.W. BARNARD, R.C. FICKLING, N.D. SMITH, A.W. DU PREEZ, A.S. COX, J.O.D. CLIFFORD, R.P.P. ALLEN, A. JOSCELYNE, M.L. MOORE, A.F.F. SMITH, F. DAWKINS, H.J.B. BAXTER. Privates: H.R. AINSLIE, T. BURKE, J.A.J. BOTHA, J.S. BARKER, M.A. COLLINS, J.K. GURRIN, L.C. DAVIDSON, E. FORTUIN, H.B. LOKER, L.J. BESTER, G.J.J. BESTER, W.R.S. COPE, R.R. DAVID, E.A. FOX, J.J.P.P. SMITH, R.J. WALKER, N.J. DURANDT, A.V. BLASSOPLES, H.L. VAN STRYP, F.J. WHITEHEAD, J.J.W. BENNIE, T.J. JACKSON, L.F. STEWART, D.G. BORCHAARDT, J.E. ACKINS, R.G. DAVIDSON, T.C. FRANKISH, J.C.W. HANDFORD, C.R. PHILLIPS, D.M. WEAVER, D.J.W. DE WITT, P.W. LIGHTFOOT, W.A.F. STRAUSS, H. JOHNSON, C.A. RUDDER, D.M. STEWART, M.N. VAN WYK, C.C. WADE, D.G. FLANDERS, W.P. LOUW, C. BERRY, F.J. WHITAKER, W. FRANKEL, Z.H.R.B. ZENADE, M.H. BULLOCK, G.N.T. CHARLTON, W.A. HOOLE, D.W. LE ROUX, A.C. GOOSEN, R.D. CALDECOTT, A.D. CORMACK, W.A. GORDON, A.C. BALES, I.E. TAPP, W.W. GRAHAM, R.L. COMRIE, C.R. BEGG, C.V. BABRAFF, F.W. BATCHELDER, W.P. LOUW, J.J. PRESTON, L.W.R. CARTER, E.R. BARKER, E.R. BALES, S. NORTON, P.A.L. KOEKEMOER, F.J. SMITH, A. CARR, E.W. MAREE, G.L. WHITTLE, D.A.M. EDWARDS, Z.A. DE BEER, A.D. PALMER, V. MORAND, D.J. MOORE. Riflemen: J. O’CONNER, C.J. VAN DER H. BARRY, G.L. BAXTER, V. KOEKEMOER, D.F. KILEY, D.D. LONGMORE, J.M. BARNES, J.J.C. GEYER, D.G. GRAPENTIN, K.L. GILLINGS, P.D. BAILEY, J.W. PAUTZ, I.C. PETER. Signallers: J.J. GELDENHUYS, C.J. LUNDIN. Troopers: J.M. KELLY, H.H. BAIN, J.J. STEYN. Sappers: E.R. WALLACE, F.J.A. BINEDELL, W.L. VINCENT, F.A. ELLIS, A.J. McCARTHY, D. BEAMES, W.H. HOLDSTOCK, D.G. FLANDERS, No ranks given: J. MAOKOW, P. RAMOKONI, J. MANTLAKASI.

The following prisoner is reported released in Western Europe: G. MOKLA.

The following have been released in Western Europe and are in transit to the U.K. Majors B. BROMILOW DOWNING, H.J. PIENAAR.

The following ex-prisoners of war from other centres have arrived in the United Kingdom and have been admitted to hospital:-

Major J.H. ROBERTS W.O.2: J. FERGUSON, J.E. LAW. Sergeants: B.J. YALDWYN, G.C. WILLIAMS. Bombardiers: J.H. CORRIGALL, C.S. FORBES, A.G.S. HARLEY, W.A. MILLAR. Corporals: D.L. DALTON, W.P. DE WITT, F.D. LEGGOTT, J.T. ROE, A.A. ODENDAAL, E.D. IVINS. L/Corporals: J.J. BOTHA, J.C. KHOSI, R.J.H. SCOTT, R.J. DUBERY, H.J. SAUNDERS, R.C. HENDRICKS, D. THOMSON, H.E. COOPER. Gunners: P.R. HANDS, H. SACK, J.H. LISTER. Privates: D. HOLLARD, P.J. GREYLING, A.F. HAY, M.W. JUKES, C.J. SWANEPOEL, H.G. JAMES, A.S. LOUW, J.R.A. OELOFSE, F.E. SMITH, B. MANPEOLE, HARTLEY (no initials), L.S. COETZEE, J.J. FOURIE, H. LE ROUX, D.C. CUMMING, B.L. SHEINUK, J.M. DE KOCK. Signallers: T. HEYDENRYCH, W.P. CLARKE, P.L. JOLIVET. Trooper A.V. STEADMAN. Sappers: V.L. BURNARD and A. PHELPS. No rank: J. MARCH. – (Sapa)