John Wain
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Son of Jim C and Anne Wain of 113 Bentinck Road, Shuttlewood. James Known as Jim had enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on 23rd Feb 1915 but discharged as "not likely to make an efficient soldier" on 23rd June 1915.
Siblings: George 13/7/1900, Emily 19/3/1902, Sydney 7/19/1903, Leonard 27/11/1905. John's father and 3 brothers all worked at the local colliery.
Married Ivy Foster in 1933 and they had at least 2 children, Sylvia in 1937 and Barbara in 1938.
In 1939 Ivy was living at 4 Allsops Yard Sutton in Ashfield
The 2nd battalion had been sent to France in October 1939 and were involved in the Battle of Arras on the 21st May 1940 and the Battle of Ypres-Comines Canal on the 26th to 28th May 1940. Both these battles delayed the German advance and allowed more men of the B.E.F to reach Dunkirk for the evacuation of Allied troops. Only 40 men from the 2nd Royal Scots made it to Dunkirk many were taken prisoner.
Camp VIIIB was opened in the summer of 1940 specifically for PoWs taken during the Battle of France and initally it held 5,000 men this rose to 12,000 by the end of 1941. Situated near Gleiwitz in Poland the camp was overcrowded and was often short of food, fuel especially in the winter and other supplies. Many men opted to work at one of the many work camps (Arbeitskommandos) in the area, including coal mines. Given John's background and the cause of his death it is likely that he had chosen to work in one of these mines.
Report of John's death translated from the original German as held on Ancestry.com
Gleitwitz 26 August 1942:
The British prisoner of war, soldier with 2nd Royal Scots, John Wain last residing in the Mansfield Woodhouse district.
It was on 9th may 1942 at 10 o'clock died underground at Gleitwitz Oeringen shaft facility.
The deceased was born 13/12/1909 at Bentinck
Father: James Wain
Mother: birthname Wotton
The deceased was married to J Wain of 40 Newcastle Street, Mansfield Woodhouse.
Registered with the Wehrmach's office for military losses and Prisoners of War in Berlin on 20/8/1942 Camp VIII
Based on the registrar's own findings the more accurate cause of death has been recorded.
Cause of Death: skull injury and neck fracture due to accident.
Signed by Registrar Winters.
Glitwitz was were the Germans staged the "attack" on a radio station on 31st August 1939 to give them a reason to invade Poland.
No photos