The definitive research resource for the 1st KOSB from 1944-1949
Blessé au combat
Pte P R Cope
Service No.
14557204
Company:
A
Original Regiment joined- (Based on their Service No).
Royal Army Medical Corps
Date Wounded:
Friday, November 24, 1944
Details of wounds - (Based on War Diary etc.)
Wounded and taken prisoner
Location (from War Diary)
VEULEN, Holland
Pte Percy Raymond Cope, Born 9th November 1905 in Salisbury.
Service No. 14557204, RAMC, was wounded and captured on the 24th November, 1944.
Held in Dulag (Stalag) XIB - POW No. 200088
Details from Wikipedia
Stalag XI-B
The camp was built in 1937 as accommodation for workers building the barracks at the nearby Westlager ("Western Camp") of Truppenübungsplatz Bergen ("Military Training Area Bergen").[1] In September 1939 the huts were fenced in and designated Stalag XI-B. The first prisoners to arrive were Poles in late 1939, followed by French and Belgians the following year. By the end of 1940 around 40,000 POW were registered there, although only about 2,500 of these were housed at the camp, with the majority assigned to various Arbeitskommando ("work team") in the area.[2] Close by were the barracks of Landesschützen-Bataillon 461 ("Local Defence Battalion 461"), who guarded the camp.[3] This Army unit was composed of men considered too old or otherwise unfit for front-line service, and were commonly used for guard and garrison duties.[4]
In the final stages of World War II, in 1945, the Germans evacuated Canadian prisoners of war from the Stalag II-D prisoner-of-war camp in Stargard to Stalag XI-B.[5]
1st KOSB War Diary for date of wounds
In the morning A Coy went out to inspect the MOLENBEEK and its bridges in the area of TIENRAIJ 8523. The Coy set out at 0900 hrs, reporting KASTENRAIJ 8122 clear of enemy at 0930 hrs.
From KLEINOORLOO 8223, reported clear at 0945 hrs then moved by tracks to the wood at 850233.
At about 840231 a civilian approached a stretcher bearer, *Pte Cope, and he went with him to attend to a wounded civilian in a nearby farm. While he was there three Germans came in and took him prisoner, whereupon the civilians informed the Coy and a patrol was sent out at once to try and intercept them, but without success.
When the Coy entered the wood they were mortared and fired on by MGs from the area of the Concrete Works 857228. Fortunately most of it fell behind them and there were no casualties.
From the wood a patrol under Cpl Hartle went down to the river at 856232 and found the bridge blown and the river fairly full. The patrol was fired on from the area of the Concrete Works several times during the day.
During the afternoon the RUR arrived to take over the posn.
The CSM of A Coy was fired on while trying to get to the patrol. Eventually the patrol was withdrawn after dark.
During the day elements of 227 Bde 15(S) Div were contacted moving North from HORST. S Coy moved to KASTENRAIJ at 815224.
