Soldiers' stories...

Dick Lewis (nicknamed 'Tiger') enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment on 15 November 1939. He was quickly posted to the 2nd battalion which at that time was serving in Egypt. He served on Crete in May 1941, before returning with his battalion to North Africa. He was taken prisoner at Tobruk on 17 November 1941, and was taken to a POW camp in Italy - PG29 at Viano. In September 1943 Italy surrendered, and in common with many other Allied prisoners Dick took the opportunity to escape. However he was recaptured by the Germans, and sent to Stalag VII and later Stalag XIB in Germany. He was finally liberated by US troops in 1945, and returned home to his family.