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: 15th April, 2025. 80th Anniversary. Thank you to everyone for submitting 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. liberator@belsen.co.uk
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.
Yates, T M (Capt.) (113 LAA) Submitted by: Belsen Archive
Yeoman Philip Metcalfe
Yorath, Lyndon Lewis. Sergeant (113th LAA)
Ref: D/DLI 7/404/33
Photograph of Sergeant [Yorath] sitting among discarded German artillery, Hanover, Germany, July 1945
Enlistment Date: 15 Jul 1939
Regiment: Royal Artillery
Military Unit: 16 Searchlight Militia Depot RA
Service Number: 1492589
Birth: 12 Sep 1918 • Bridgend, Glamorganshire, Wales
Marriage Peggy Thompson (1918–2008), Jun 1943 • Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Death JAN 1995 • Eastbourne, East Sussex, England
Hi, I just wondered if you have any info on the role of Corporal George A Young of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry who drove one of the first ambulances in to Belsen on the 15th April 1945 and who stayed as a medic for about a fortnight until things were sorted out. I am his daughter and I have access to his memoirs written when he was suffering from dementia just before his death. I am pretty sure that his memories are 100% accurate. His consultant has advised me that those with dementia seldom lie.
I am planning to visit Belsen next year to pay my respects.
Submitted by: Jackie Young
Young, Hamilton Baird
Born 1903, Ayrshire
Landing in France on D-Day with 21st Army Corps of Canadians as Medical Officer.
MO at Belsen with Canadian unit. Mentioned in Dispatches in November 1945.
Known as 'Hammy'
1909–1999 Birth 21ST JULY 1909 • Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England Death NOVEMBER 1999 • Abbeyfield House, Clitheroe, Blackpool, Lancashire, Read more
Rosalind Venetia Pitt-Rivers is best remembered for the discovery of the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine, which earned her worldwide recognition. Towards Read more
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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…
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. Read here about The Heroes of Belsen.
*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
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UPDATE: 2025. Apologies for the ridiculous amount of Google adverts within the site. We are looking into changing this, to a more appropriate level. That said, the adverts do generate income to keep this site going.
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.