The Liberation of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (TA) Enlistment Date: 16/09/1940

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 16/09/1940

First Jewish Relief worker and a member of the Quaker Team More

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 30/09/1940

113th Durham LA More

Corporal in the British Military Government. More

Senior Jewish Chaplain to the British 2nd Army

1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry More

11th Armoured Brigade More

RAMC Medical Hospital “We the unit to which I was attached arrived at Belsen, premilimary clearing of the camp had already been done. This was soon completed and we were present at the official burning down of the camp.”

Mike Lewis, a Jewish soldier in the British Army, filmed the bulldozers, driven by British soldiers, as they shoved the emaciated bodies towards the mass graves. This documentary film is still shown today at the Memorial Site. In the film, Mike Lewis said that he took a turn driving the bulldozer himself, while another soldier held the camera. More

Native of Columbus, born April 10, 1925, to Joseph and Ruth Berliner Levison. After graduating Columbus East High School, Richard joined the U.S. Army serving in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He earned Silver and Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and was commissioned as an officer in the field, ultimately earning the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was among the forces that liberated Bergen-Belsen. Richard founded Richard Lewis Travel with branches in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville, Houston, San Francisco, and London, England. He was known as "Mr. Travel" throughout the travel industry.

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (Durham LI) Enlistment Date: 25/04/1939

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.

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (TA) Enlistment Date: 09/05/1939

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

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA)(TA) Enlistment Date: 03/05/1939

Driver for Padre, John Ross Hopefully more details to follow...

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (Durham LI) Enlistment Date: 18/05/1939

113th DLI SERJEANT 4690934 Awarded MILITARY MEDAL More

Gunner. (Asked if related to 113th LAA Lance Serjeant Ernest Ling)

Name: LING, ERNEST Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lance Serjeant Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 368 Bty., 113 (2/5th Bn. The Durham Light Infantry) Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 25 Date of Death: 22/07/1944 Service No: 2061888 Additional information: Son of Henry Joseph and Rose Ling; husband of Florence May Ling, of Forest Hill, London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. E. 12. Cemetery: BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (TA) Enlistment Date: 29/07/1940

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 16/09/1940

Frederick Martin. Medical Advisor. RAMC

Rank: Warrant Officer Class II (B.S.M.) Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 113 (2/5th Bn. The Durham Light Inf.) Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 31 Date of Death: 28/11/1944 Service No: 1694013 Additional information: Son of Joseph Edward and Maud Lipscombe; husband of Muriel Mary Lipscombe, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 9. Cemetery: VENRAY WAR CEMETERY

William Francis Livingston joined the 7th Armoured Division North Africa on 29th June 1939 at the age of 16 as part of Royal Armoured Corps. It as only discovered he was under-age to join after completion of basic training and on the sea journey to relieve Torbruk as 1st Armoured Division to North Africa - at this point it was too late to do anything about it. On the 15th September 1943, the Regiment landed at Salerno in Italy, but after the Volturno crossing, it returned to England with the rest of 7th Armoured to prepare for North West Europe. Located at Thetford Forest, Norfolk to prepare and waterproof equipment and vehicles for further battles in Normany and into Europe. Now part of the British 21st Army Group (under General Montgomery), British Second Army. The Fifth landed in Normandy on the 7th June 1944 and, after heavy fighting in the “Bocage” the Fifth took part in the Great Advance through France and Belgium. By December 1944 the Fifth was in Germany, crossing the Rhine in March and reaching Hamburg by May. His unit was amongst the first to enter and witness the horrors of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, see: http://www.scrapbookpages.com/BergenBelsen/Introduction.html After the German surrender, 21st Army Group was converted into the headquarters for the British zone of occupation in Germany. It was renamed the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) on 25 August 1945 and eventually formed the nucleus of the British forces stationed in Germany throughout the Cold War. The Fifth remained in Germany for the next eight years at; Wilster, Brunsbuttel, Hamm and Hohne. The Fifth was the first Armoured regiment to be issued with Centurion Tanks. He left the army in November 1949, one day before his 27th birthday. Primarily a driver of lorries, armoured vehicles and tanks, losing his two front teeth as he crashed into a tree taking a corner, as a dispatch rider, on a motorbike. During his time in Germany he was a corporal and PT Instructor, becoming extremely fit and running many long distance races. He was amongst a handful of athletes who ran sub 4 minute miles in the early 50's. However, Roger Bannister was the first to be officially recorded. Discharged on 28 Oct 1949 with an Exemplary Military conduct from 5th Royal Tank regiment.

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 21/04/1938

Rank: Bombardier Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 113 (2/5th Bn. The Durham Light Inf.) Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 23 Date of Death: 28/11/1944 Service No: 11254046 Additional information: Son of Christopher Richard and Esther Annie Mary Loades; husband of Gwendoline Doris Loades, of Littlehampton, Sussex. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 8. Cemetery: VENRAY WAR CEMETERY

Possibly Frank. More to follow

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 16/09/1940

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 16/09/1940

Enlisted 16/9/1940 55 SL Regt.

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 25/04/1939

Driver RASC Aged 38 On duty in 10 May 1945 at Belsen. A week later he was taken ill, was flown to England, and died on June 15, from Leucemia. (Leucemia: A different spelling of leukemia, cancer of the blood cells. The growth and development of the blood cells are abnormal.)

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55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (TA) Enlistment Date: 20/06/1940

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA Enlistment Date: 16/09/1940

Gunner, 113th. KIA Normandy, 1944

Born Goveton in 1900 As a young man he served in the Royal navy for 12 years. In 1939 he joned the RASC as an Ambulance driver and took part in the relief of Belsen. Soon after he developed Tuberculosis of the lungs from which he dies in 1945. Buried at Thurlestone. Exeter

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (TA) Enlistment Date: 15/02/1940

55 Searchlight Regt RA: 113th LAA (TA) Enlistment Date: 29/07/1940