The Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp

Welcome this new archive relating and dedicated 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: The Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp.
UPDATE:
Thank you to everyone who submitted a name/details to coincide with the anniversary of the liberation of Bergen Belsen – we’ll go through all your submissions, moderate and add them on. If you have a photo or any more details please email us. Thank you.

We are now inviting any relatives of service personnel who may have been at the camp to get in touch. Any regiment, service, nationality, volunteer or any snippet of information – we would like to hear from you. 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.

Those That Served

Latest | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z | Submit a name
Showing 10 most recent names in this directory
Holmes, George (257 COY)
RASC More to follow...
Submitted by: Debbie Holmes

Upton, Leslie (257 COY)
RASC. 257 COY. More to follow
Submitted by: Belsen Archive

Apicella, Gennaro (Catering Corps)
I’m trying to find out further information about my father’s part in the liberation of Belsen-Bergen. He was a Company Cook in the Catering Corps and I’m currently trying to get his military records. APV001483605: Gennaro Apicella (Service Number: 14379057) He died in 1973 and 24.2.2024 would have been his 100th birthday.
Submitted by: Tony Apicella

Roberts, Joseph (RAMC)
My grandad was Joseph Roberts and was part of the medical Corp who went into Belsen April 1945 after its liberation. He never talked about it . My mam has all has papers .
Submitted by: Helen Mosley

Brenchley, Sgt
My dad Sgt brenchley , was a crocodile tank commander at the end of the war . To be honest not to sure of unit etc. But anyway I thought you may be interested in these couple of pictures from his personal Photo album. He as sent home at wars end then sent out to Malaya in 1948 with the 4th hussars for 3 years He just labelled these photos in his album as burning Belsen Bit blurry as you can appreciate as they are many years old. Hope they are of interest.
Submitted by: John Brenchley

Jasper, Thomas (Sgt)
I am wondering if you may have any records or information in regards to my great grandfather, 14340467 Sgt Thomas Jasper. He was in the anti tank platoon of the south Lancashire regiment and the story goes his section was involved in the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp.
Submitted by: Benn

Liddiard, George Bernard (110 HAA)
My dad was a British soldier at Belsen but after the war he wouldn’t speak about it (I was born on April 17th 1945). My dad was Gunner 1575864 George Bernard Liddiard of 110 HAA regiment and he went to Belgium in the autumn of 1944. However, as there were no enemy aircraft to shoot at in the Spring they joined the infantry and were ‘mopping up’ so not sure if they stumbled across Belsen or were ordered in? His release book says that he was transferred to RASC/Pool with EFI.
Submitted by: Nick Liddiard

O'Grady, Gerald
63rd Anti-tank regiment. He was in the Oxfordshire Yeomanry which became the 63rd anti-tank regiment. I know he was among those who liberated Belsen, but I don’t know any more details than that. We used to have a Belsen Report which he brought back from there, but unfortunately we can’t find it now. His name was Gerald Vigors De Courcy O’Grady and I think he may have been a Major in 1944. He later become a Lt Col.
Submitted by: Faith O\'Grady

Suddes, Ernest 113th LAA
Gunner RA. Served 1938- 1945..present at liberation of Bergen Belsen ...Never spoke about his experiences Home, Brandon, County Durham (Possible 113th LAA - being in County Durham)
Submitted by: M. Harland-Suddes...daughter in law

Suddes, Ernest
Gunner RA. Served 1938- 1945..present at liberation of Bergen Belsen ...Never spoke about his experiences
Submitted by: M. Harland- Suddes...daughter in law


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Having trouble submitting a name? Please email us instead: liberator@belsen.co.uk

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Liberation of Bergen Belsen

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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…

Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp
The Sign at the Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp

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.

Read here about The Heroes of Belsen.

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

***

The Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp

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.

The Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp
Names of British soldiers who liberated Belsen

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