• 75th Anniversary Press – Ken Knight

    Ken Knight was one of the first men through the gates. He spoke movingly about the experience to the Dorset Echo in 2003. Here we re-publish the interview with Ken who passed away in 2007.  12,037 total views

  • James Learmonth Gowans: Medical Student

    Sir James Learmonth Gowans CBE FRS FRCP (7 May 1924 – 1 April 2020) was a British physician and immunologist. In 1945 while studying medicine at King’s College Hospital, he assisted at the liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a voluntary medical student.  11,006 total views

  • The Heroes of Belsen

    The Heroes of Belsen “If you asked them to build a battleship overnight they’d produce it for you at breakfast!” Such are the expressions of praise made by Army authorities when referring to the magnificent work of relief done by officers and men of the 113th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA at Belsen Concentration Camp.  15,852 total views

  • Iolo Lewis

    Iolo Lewis was part of the British 11th Armoured Division, which liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. Iolo wrote a poem based on his experience called ‘Belsen Silence’.  10,434 total views

  • Eric Lines

    Eric Lines (113th LAA) Auction Details

    Medals of WWII D-Day hero who helped to liberate Bergen-Belsen death camp are re-united with his family 30 years after they had to be sold to pay for widow’s care. A D-Day hero’s medals have been reunited with his family 30 years after they had to sell them to pay for his widow’s care. Regimental Sergeant Major Eric Lines won the prestigious Military Medal for helping to defend Pegasus Bridge on June 6, 1944. He went on to fight at Nijmegen during Operation Market Garden, was one of the first to cross the Rhine into Germany and helped liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Sergeant Major Lines died in 1977 and…

  • AFPU OAKES Lawrie belsen

    Sgt Bill Lawrie (AFPU)

    The first AFPU team to arrive on April 15 consisted of Sergeants Mike Lewis and Bill Lawrie (film), and Sergeant Harry Oakes and Lieutenant Martyn Wilson (stills). They continued coverage until 26 April 1945, when another team took over.  3,268 total views

  • Liberation of Bergen Belsen

    Sieg Maandag

    Sieg Maandag (1937-2013) was seven years old when he was photographed by George Rodger as he walked among the piles of bodies in the liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.  2,868 total views

  • Amy Russell QAIMNS

    A.R.R.C. London Gazette 21 June 1918. ‘Miss Amy Russell, Sister, Q.A.I.M.N.S.(R.), Mil. Hospl., Dover.’ R.R.C. London Gazette 18 February 1943. ‘Miss Amy Russell, A.R.R.C. (209113), Sister, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Leeds).’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 November 1945 (North West Europe). Medal group contains family medals, details at bottom of page Recommendation for the R.R.C. reads: ‘This lady has been attached to the Regular Nursing Service as a Reserve for almost unbroken service since the last war. Quiet, competent, and energetic, she has rendered expert and valuable service by her devotion to duty throughout her time in the General Hospitals of the Middle East. For the past six months…