Welcome this new archive relating to the men and women service personnel and the part they played at the Liberation and subsequent Humanitarian Effort of the Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp in 1945.
We are now inviting any relatives of service personnel who may have been at the camp to get in touch. We do not believe there are any records of the diverse group of men and women, many completely untrained, who were involved with the camp, after it’s liberation.
There are currently 46 names in this directory beginning with the letter S.
Salt Charles
Salt, Sidney (113th LAA)
Just started to try and find out more about my father who was in 113th LAA. I think 370 bty.
His name was Sidney Salt and I think he was listed as a mechanic on the transport. Definately went to Belsen and also Bad Pyrmont where we have visited and stayed in actual guest house he was billeted in
Submitted by: Ron Salt
Sanderson, Joseph Wyatt
369 Battery, 113 Durham Light Infantry
Mentioned in Despatches c April 10, 1945
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030022185
1910–1976
Birth 18 OCT 1910 • Kingsley, Staffordshire
Death 12 DEC 1976 • Fenham Newcastle upon Tyne
Served at Tobruk and Bergen-Belsen
Submitted by: Belsen Archive
Shellard Arthur Thomas
Shepherd, Walter Ernest Arthur (Jack)
113th Light A A Unit.
Submitted by: 113th DLI Archive
Sheridan Roger
Silva Jones Molly
Silverberg Morris Roger
Sim David Gordon
Simpson Fred
Simpson, James (Pioneer Corps)
1908 - 1964 (Aged 55)
"Commandant at Belsen" Ref at Belsen by 18th June, 45
Submitted by: Belsen Archive
Sington, Derrick
63rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
Submitted by: Archive
Skeggs, Harry
32nd Casualty Clearing Division
Submitted by: Archive
SKINNER, HAROLD (KIA)
Name: SKINNER, HAROLD
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 113 (2/5th Bn. The Durham Light Inf.) Lt. A.A. Regt.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 07/07/1944
Service No: 1780611
Additional information: Son of William Thomas Skinner and Emily Winifred Skinner, of Brockenhurst, Hampshire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 2.
Cemetery: SECQUEVILLE-EN-BESSIN WAR CEMETERY
Submitted by: 113th DLI Archive
Slade, Christopher
225 Company Pioneer Corp 21 Army Group and was moved to 71 Company Pioneer Corp, then 229 Detachment Military Government.
6 sections of the company were moved to Belsen in May 1945. Christopher was then part of the British Army of the Rhine and part of the 618 Military Government ‘R’ Detachment.
Christopher was at Belsen until around June 1946, and was awarded a papal medal by the Vatical Mission at Belsen in March1946. While at Belsen he met Marlene Dietrich in relation to Marlene’s sister Elizabeth.
Submitted by: Archive
Smart, Owen (Sergeant)
‘Before we entered the camp I had never heard of Bergen-Belsen. I knew nothing of what had been going on. We heard about atrocities, which are bantered backwards and forwards, but we didn’t realise really what it was, and then it was just after that, that all the rest of it came about, other camps just like Belsen.
'But to me the name Belsen after that was shocking. I didn’t see anything of the inmates in the prison really. I saw a few, possibly the remainders of those that were fit enough to be put into a hospital – but I didn’t see many of the actual people. They had been taken away, or the remains of them. That was awful... There’s no doubt that after seeing something like what had gone on in Belsen, it does stay in your mind and never goes away.’
Featured on film
“Reverend T.J. Stretch, attached as padre to the formation concerning this camp. My home is at Fishguard. My parish is at Holy Trinity Church Aberystwyth.”
Submitted by: Belsen Archive
Stroud, H (Capt.) (113 LAA)Submitted by: Belsen Archive
Summers, James F (113 LAA)
Born 25 Feb, 1912
Lived Leamington Spa
Submitted by: Belsen Archive
Super, Arthur Saul (Rabbi & Dr)
Rabbi Dr. Arthur Saul Super, a Chaplain with the British army, was present at the liberation of Belsen. (He was my late wife’s uncle).
Photo
Submitted by: Chaim Freedman
Sutton, Edwin Oliver (Reverend)
My grandfather Edwin Oliver Sutton was born in Hankow, China (a district of Wuhan) in 1902. He was a Methodist minister and served as a chaplain in the British Army in the second world war. He joined the newly formed 11th Armoured Division – known as the ‘Black Bull’ – under Field Marshal Montgomery, and he was one of the first Allied soldiers to participate in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp 75 years ago today. Apparently, one of his main tasks was assisting with burying the bodies and helping to mark the graves of those who died in that camp.
1909–1999 Birth 21ST JULY 1909 • Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England Death NOVEMBER 1999 • Abbeyfield House, Clitheroe, Blackpool, Lancashire, Read more
This site will progress and I’d encourage anyone with any info to get in touch. My granddad, Reg Price served with the 113th Durham Light Infantry*, as part of 369 Battery. As a signwriter, he produced this sign…
Belsen sign
And this was kept in the family for years – so for the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Belsen in 2020, subsequent VE Day and VJ Day, I thought it’s about time I’d try to find out more about Reg – his comrades (many of which are names, simply written on the back of photos), what they did together and for a way to remember them all, properly.
To coinicide with the anniversary, I was able to be filmed both on national and local BBC TV to tell Reg’s Story. Whilst this was totally out of my comfort zone and I dreaded every moment – I decided I needed to do something to start this all off. BBC Midlands Today aired 7th May and a VE Day Antiques Roadshow Special aired Sunday 10th May.
The main photo, shown here was coloured for the 75th Anniversary and we’ll tell you all about it shortly – and what happened next!
*Just 113th Durham Light Infantry? No we are interested in all Service and Medical personnel who took part during the humanitarian effort at Belsen Concentration Camp. Their roles and names are largely forgotten, as many were too horrified to ever speak of what they had to do, so this archive seeks to form a tribute to ALL those that were there, to find out more and to remember them. If you have a relative, or any info, on the relief effort at Belsen, we’d love you to please get in touch. Email us: liberator@belsen.co.uk – Thank you
***
Any 113th Durham Light Infantry friends or family are encouraged to get in touch via 113th@belsen.co.uk
** In 1938 the old 5th Battalion DLI changed its role to Searchlights and then in 1940 to Anti-Aircraft. This 113th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment went to Normandy in June 1944 and joined the advance into Germany in early 1945. Official designation – Brigade: 100 AA • Division: 30 Corps. • Unit: 113 LAA Regt. RA (DLI) TA.
