Les Hansell

‘The last great heave of war,’ according to Churchill, took place with the crossing of the Rhine on 24th March 1945.

les hansell Belsen 88 year old Les Hansell is formerly of Redcar – Les was in the Parachute Regiment – 6th Airborne Division, 9th Battalion.

He described his experience as the ‘shock of a lifetime’ when they came upon Camp Belsen.

Archive: BBC Radio Tees, March, 2015

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Belsen Online Archive

This archive has been established after my own relative, Reg Price, took part in the liberation and subsequent humanitarian effort of Bergen Belsen in April 1945. Reg produced this famous sign at Belsen. As part of the 113th DLI, Reg and his comrades were at Belsen for 5 weeks and left when the last hut was empty and ceremonially burnt down. This archive compiles all available resources to build a lasting tribute to all the men and women who helped - any unit, any nationality. 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 Nick Price Creatives • Facebook • Twitter •

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Those That Served

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Showing 10 most recent names in this directory

Lightfoot, J K (Sgt)

I believe that my late father, Sgt J K Lightfoot late of the 141 Royal Armoured Corps (The Buffs) Churchill Crocodiles. Throughout his life, he spoke very little of his war, only during his final day's did he share his terrible memories

Submitted by: Classical Brands

Day, William Henry

I'm not sure if anyone can help me. I'm trying to find out more about my Grandad and his war time service. When I was much younger and learning about World War 2 at school, I'm afraid to say I did badger him about his time in the war. He told me he would talk about his experience of Belsen once and never again. he told me he was part of the group of soldiers who liberated the camp and that it was like Hell, people dead or dying and hardly recognisable as human beings, he said that they tried to help and as they were starving gave the prisoners their rations, he said, we killed more people, we didn't know that our rations were too rich for their stomachs. This has stayed with me for over 40 years now and I think about this exchange often and wished I'd asked more questions, even though he made it clear the subject wasn't up for discussion again! The reason for the resurgence of interest is threefold, firstly we are due to visit Auschwitz over the next week, although not the same, still an important place to visit, secondly and the reason for the visit is our son has recently studied further in History at school and has an interest, along with reading The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in English lessons, in learning more and thirdly as part of his GCSE course in RS has to prepare a project, he is intending to research all of my Grandads medals and why he received them. My mother is of an age that although she's always been interested in what her Father did in the war has not had the opportunity to research, I'd like her to know more before she exits stage left and I feel like it's left to me to share his story and know more. Any pointers you can give me would be most welcome, I do have his record card but it's very vague. His name was William Henry Day born in Bradford. I'm also sending over a couple of photos we have in case they are of interest. My Grandad is the one writing at the desk!

Submitted by: Charlotte Parker

Hunter, James

My grandfather, James Hunter of Belfast, served in the Gordon Highlanders. He rarely talked about the war, but he did mention taking part in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen.

Submitted by: John Hunter

Rowan, Vincent

My father, Vincent Rowan, born 1914, was with the BAMC at Bergen Belsen when it was liberated. It was only as they were leaving that they were told the war was over. Dad always described the area as terrible and it affected him greatly as he told us some of the things they experienced. (RAMC? Admin)

Submitted by: Phil Rowan

Clifford, William (RA)

My late father My William Clifford was in the 8th Army Royal Artillery 1456039 (Gunner Clifford) and told me he was at the liberation of Belsen. It affected him deeply and he would not talk about it. He also served on police duty at the Nuremburg trials of the SS officers. He did have several small photos of the bodies piled high but he burnt them just before he died.

Submitted by: Janice Wooldridge

McMurtry Anderson, Robert

I think my grandfather Robert McMurtry Anderson was an ambulance driver attached to the American army who helped liberate the prisoners from Belsen. He didn’t talk about it other than what is above so I don’t know any more about it. I’d love to know more about his service. Nancy Anderson (Admin: Poss AFS? https://www.belsen.co.uk/category/american-field-service-afs/ )

Submitted by: Nancy Anderson

Acreman, Stanley

My uncle served in the war. He left at 17 and at 18 helped liberate the Belsen camp. His name is Stanley Acreman. He lived in Somerset and moved to Dursley, Gloucestershire. He was a lovely man. He never spoke about what he saw to anyone. Then in the last years of his life I felt privileged that he shared history with me. It was horrendous what he saw and how he described it. Truly awful. It’s awful to see a grown man cry. I will never forget what he saw and he was such a brave young man. I do not know his regiment nor number. All I know is that he was called up to fight as he had turned 17.

Submitted by: Helen Fursland

Comer, Dominic

My dad told me his brother Dominic Comer who was a cook in the R.A.F. Was involved in the liberation of Belsen, and he only ever spoke about what he had experienced once. I was shocked as my uncle was a very happy cheerful much loved uncle who showed no signs of what he had been through. I do not have his records or i.d no.

Submitted by: Maria Knight

Hutchinson, Robert Clark (Major)

For reasons of family history, I would be highly grateful if you could be so kind as to provide any sign, traces or concrete evidence of the presence of Major Robert Clark Hutchinson of the 115th Highland Division (Gordon Highlanders) at the initial opening of the gates and liberation of the WWII Bergen Belsen transfer concentration camp in Germany.

Submitted by: Anthony Patrick Hutchinson (son)

McKeown, Albert (Major)

Found your website by chance so thought I'd let you know another name for the Liberators list as I've been researching my family tree. Maj Albert McKeown Sherwood Foresters under the Royal Artillery.

Submitted by: Jenny McDowell

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