From Dunkirk to Captivity

This group of Second World War medals led to the identification of a soldier captured during the retreat to Dunkirk, and his subsequent experience as a prisoner of war.

This group of three Second World War medals, including the 1939–1945 Star, at first offered very little information about the man to whom they were awarded.

The medals were contained within two postal boxes, one addressed to Mr E. Laycock of Skipton, but with no clear indication as to his regiment or service.

Identifying the Soldier

Second World War medals are typically unnamed, making research difficult. However, through further investigation, a prisoner of war record and a contemporary newspaper report were identified, and from these, it was possible to identify the recipient as Private (later Lance Corporal) Eric Laycock of the 9th Battalion the Highland Light Infantry.

Early Service

Eric Laycock, a postman driver by profession, enlisted in March 1940, and he was deployed to France as part of the 52nd Lowland Division.

On the 16th of June 1940, during the British and allied forces’ evacuation from Dunkirk, he was captured by German forces.

Years in Captivity

From 1940 to 1945, Eric was held as a prisoner of war, and was initially imprisoned in Rouen, France, before being transferred to camps in Poland, including Lamsdorf.

During his captivity, he was assigned to working camps, including coal mines at Hindenburg and Sosnowice, and later a shoe factory at Ottmuth.

The Lamsdorf Death March

In early 1945, as Russian forces advanced, approximately 100,000 prisoners were forced to march westward in what became known as the Lamsdorf Death March.

The march covered hundreds of miles in freezing conditions, with minimal food and supplies, and thousands died from exhaustion, illness, and exposure.

Attempted Escape

In his post-release debrief, Eric recorded that he and another prisoner attempted to escape. They left the marching column near a place called Stralin (Strzelin), but they were recaptured around a week later.

This is a powerful example of how even a small and seemingly ordinary group of medals can reveal a story of hardship, endurance, and survival, and without further research, the significance of this small group would have remained unknown.