The Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp

First Jewish Relief worker and a member of the Quaker Team More

113th Durham LA

Senior Jewish Chaplain to the British 2nd Army

One of the witnesses to the liberation of Bergen-Belsen by British soldiers on April 15, 1945 was Iolo Lewis, a 20-year-old soldier from Wales. He recalled that, as he arrived at Belsen, Commandant Kramer and his assistant, Irma Grese, were standing at the gates to greet them.

Mike Lewis, a Jewish soldier in the British Army, filmed the bulldozers, driven by British soldiers, as they shoved the emaciated bodies towards the mass graves. This documentary film is still shown today at the Memorial Site. In the film, Mike Lewis said that he took a turn driving the bulldozer himself, while another soldier held the camera.

Native of Columbus, born April 10, 1925, to Joseph and Ruth Berliner Levison. After graduating Columbus East High School, Richard joined the U.S. Army serving in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He earned Silver and Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and was commissioned as an officer in the field, ultimately earning the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was among the forces that liberated Bergen-Belsen. Richard founded Richard Lewis Travel with branches in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville, Houston, San Francisco, and London, England. He was known as "Mr. Travel" throughout the travel industry.

Driver for Padre, John Ross Hopefully more details to follow...

113th DLI SERJEANT 4690934 Awarded MILITARY MEDAL More

Name: LING, ERNEST Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lance Serjeant Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 368 Bty., 113 (2/5th Bn. The Durham Light Infantry) Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 25 Date of Death: 22/07/1944 Service No: 2061888 Additional information: Son of Henry Joseph and Rose Ling; husband of Florence May Ling, of Forest Hill, London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. E. 12. Cemetery: BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Frederick Martin. Medical Advisor. RAMC

Rank: Warrant Officer Class II (B.S.M.) Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 113 (2/5th Bn. The Durham Light Inf.) Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 31 Date of Death: 28/11/1944 Service No: 1694013 Additional information: Son of Joseph Edward and Maud Lipscombe; husband of Muriel Mary Lipscombe, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 9. Cemetery: VENRAY WAR CEMETERY

William Francis Livingston joined the 7th Armoured Division North Africa on 29th June 1939 at the age of 16 as part of Royal Armoured Corps. It as only discovered he was under-age to join after completion of basic training and on the sea journey to relieve Torbruk as 1st Armoured Division to North Africa - at this point it was too late to do anything about it. On the 15th September 1943, the Regiment landed at Salerno in Italy, but after the Volturno crossing, it returned to England with the rest of 7th Armoured to prepare for North West Europe. Located at Thetford Forest, Norfolk to prepare and waterproof equipment and vehicles for further battles in Normany and into Europe. Now part of the British 21st Army Group (under General Montgomery), British Second Army. The Fifth landed in Normandy on the 7th June 1944 and, after heavy fighting in the “Bocage” the Fifth took part in the Great Advance through France and Belgium. By December 1944 the Fifth was in Germany, crossing the Rhine in March and reaching Hamburg by May. His unit was amongst the first to enter and witness the horrors of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, see: http://www.scrapbookpages.com/BergenBelsen/Introduction.html After the German surrender, 21st Army Group was converted into the headquarters for the British zone of occupation in Germany. It was renamed the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) on 25 August 1945 and eventually formed the nucleus of the British forces stationed in Germany throughout the Cold War. The Fifth remained in Germany for the next eight years at; Wilster, Brunsbuttel, Hamm and Hohne. The Fifth was the first Armoured regiment to be issued with Centurion Tanks. He left the army in November 1949, one day before his 27th birthday. Primarily a driver of lorries, armoured vehicles and tanks, losing his two front teeth as he crashed into a tree taking a corner, as a dispatch rider, on a motorbike. During his time in Germany he was a corporal and PT Instructor, becoming extremely fit and running many long distance races. He was amongst a handful of athletes who ran sub 4 minute miles in the early 50's. However, Roger Bannister was the first to be officially recorded. Discharged on 28 Oct 1949 with an Exemplary Military conduct from 5th Royal Tank regiment.

Rank: Bombardier Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 113 (2/5th Bn. The Durham Light Inf.) Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 23 Date of Death: 28/11/1944 Service No: 11254046 Additional information: Son of Christopher Richard and Esther Annie Mary Loades; husband of Gwendoline Doris Loades, of Littlehampton, Sussex. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 8. Cemetery: VENRAY WAR CEMETERY

Driver RASC Aged 38 On duty in May 1945 at Belsen. A week later he was taken ill, was flown to England, and died on June 15, from Leucemia. (Leucemia: A different spelling of leukemia, cancer of the blood cells. The growth and development of the blood cells are abnormal.)

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Gunner, 113th. KIA Normandy, 1944