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W.F Anderson (geb. 17.06.1905. Royal Engineers 1925)
geriet an 30.05.1940 in der Nähe von Dünekirchen in Gefangenschaft.
Nach seinen Fluchtversuchen aus dem Kriegsgefangenenlager Oflag VIIC Laufen,
Bayern (in der Nähe von Salzburg) wurde er am 11.07.1941 in das Speziallager
Oflag IVC Colditz überführt. Bis zum 16.04.1945 blieb er Kriegsgefangener
in Colditz.
In seiner Gefangeschaft hat er sehr viel gemalt. Das Internationale Rote Kreuz verschickte Papier und Farben. Alle seine Werke konnte er seiner Familie senden, ohne daß die Zenzur Einwände hatte. Er beschäftigte sich außerdem mit Musik und Sprachen - er erlernte von einen polnischen Offizier die Russische Sprache. Doch wie für alle anderen Offiziere des OFLAG IVC war seine Hauptaufgabe die Fluchtvorbereitungen. Seine Zeichenkünste waren für die Herstellung falscher Ausweispapiere von großem Nutzen Auch hat Anderson die Beine Douglas Baders repariert... |
In the week up to May 22 1940 the unit was operationally under the Welsh
Guards, who were defending the Northern French town of Arras from German
attack. He was awarded a bar to his Military Cross, it is believed on recommendation
of the French, for the part that his unit played in helping to delay the
German advance. Here we see the Bar to his Military Cross that he
cast from lead while in Colditz. This is now in the collection of the Colditz
Museum.
Anderson was involved in several escape attempts. He was one of a team who used their artistic skills to forge travel documents: the floor linoleum in the castle proved excellent for making false document stamps. He was involved in making many items that could be used to assist escapes: a camera to replace one lost during a search using a lens from an old pair of spectacles - this was said to have done an excellent job; he made some of the equipment used in the Franz Josef escape; he built the trapdoor for access and was involved in building the secure workshop for the glider project.
He shared a room, at one time or another,
with Sq.-Ldr. Brian Paddon, Lieut-Col. George Young, Group Capt. Douglas
Bader, Lieut.-Col. David Stirling and Major Jack Pringle.
Because of his knowledge of German and his wood and metalworking skills,
he would sometimes accompany Bader on parole to the local blacksmith in
Töpfergaße, just below the castle, to repair Bader's artificial
legs. Bader was allowed out on walks regularily on parole. Anderson made
some long sacks out of pyjama legs that Bader could place inside his hollow
legs. Into these sacks Bader would place grain and oatmeal, which he bartered
for chocolates and cigarettes.
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Anderson had always painted in his spare time, attending art classes
as opportunity offered. He took up painting again first in Laufen and then
in Colditz. Many of these paintings were sent back to England by post to
his wife Kathleen. Largely due to her efforts these paintings and those
by other prisoners were exhibited at the time to help raise funds to meet
the needs of Prisoners of War. An exhibition of his pictures was prepared
by the Colditz Museum to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the liberation
of the town by the Americans in April 1995 in the Castle Wine Cellar which
has now been moved to the new Escape Museum in the Guardhouse. (See
Virtual Tour)
Up until his 92nd year, he still went to art classes and painted and
drew whenever he had time. His life work was exhibited in the Blackheath
Concert Halls in October 1997 under the title From the Khyber to Colditz
and raised over £8,000 for the St Margaret's Lea Church Organ Fund.
He died peacefully on 27th August 1999 aged 95. Obituaries appeared
in The Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Independent. Times
4.10.99 : Telegraph
18.10.99
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NotesMajor Jack Pringle MC (& Bar) : 8th Hussars Captured in Libya 28.11.1941 Arrived in Colditz 20.8 1944. Pringle. J: Colditz Last Stop - Four Countries, Eleven Prisons, Six Escapes. Temple House Books, Sussex 1995 ISBN 1 85776 029 8 Obituary : Telegraph 4.12.99 Royal Engineers Museum |
Updated March 2000
