| Surname: | Pummell |
| Initials: | J W |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 6025654 |
| Notes: | CMP. TC. POW. Enlisted Essex Regiment, 25/1/41 transferred to CMP. Took part in Sicily Landings, see his report in 1 Airborne Div Pro Coy War Diary, WO 169/8675. Casualty List 1817, POW, Previously reported wounded and POW now not POW, previous list 1655, Western Europe. WO 169/8675 War Diary 1 Airborne Div Pro Coy, CMP. The Officer Commanding, Provost Company 1 Airborne Division Sir, I have to report that at "F" Strip on Tuesday 13th July 1943 I was No. 1 in No. 1130 attached to the 1st PARACHUTE BDE. HQ's. L/CPL'S Evans, J, and PAGE M, were No's 2 & 3 respectively and SGT. WHITEHEAD N.o 4 stick master. At about 20.30 hrs we emplaned and took off at 2114 hrs. About 2300 hrs whilst we were flying over the sea we were fired upon by a ship. I being in the tail end of the plane looked down and although I would see the ship, which looked like a small tonnage merchant ship, could not identify its nationality. Just after this I saw the coast and we were met by very heavy Anti Aircraft fire from the ground. At about 23.40 hrs on receiving the signals I jumped, fire from the ground was pretty heavy and I noticed it came from some hills which were just to my left. I landed safely and found on looking about that I was right on the D.Z. and about 30 yds. from the R.V., which was a farm house. I made my way to the R.V. and found it already occupied by SGT. WHITEHEAD & L/CPL EVANS then arrived with four other men who were in our stick. L/CPL, PAGE was not to be seen. The Farm House was then coming under Shell Fire and we were told to form up ready to move. There were about fifteen men in our party and on approaching a small bridge where the road crossed a dried up stream we encountered some more of BDE. H.Q. personnel, one of whom was the Brigade Commander. it was now in the early hours of the morning on the 14th June, 1942 and we made our way to the bridge across the river SIMETP this we reached although an enemy searchlight kept us constantly going to the ground as its beam swung across the found over which we were crossing. On reaching the bridge it was already in our possession and there was rather a large number of personnel from different units on the road and about the bridge. In the darkness and owing to the number of men on the road I lost contact with the party I had been with. I did not see SGT. WHITEHEAD or L/CPL EVANS after that. I stayed at the bridge until it became daylight during which time the bridge was under small arms fire. On the north side of the bridge an enemy ammunition convoy was intercepted and destroyed, the flames from which lit up the bridge. At daylight I crossed to the north side of the bridge and endeavoured to find SGT. WHITEHEAD and the section to which I was attached. I could not locate them. I then attached myself to H.Q. "S" COY., of the 1st PARACHUTE Bn. I had a rifle and ammunition which was part of that was unclaimed at the R.V. After about four hours we received orders to "stand by" as an enemy patrol with an armoured car was approaching our lines. The enemy was engaged by our mortars. Some time later we were attacked and machine gunned from the air, after which the ground forces of the enemy opened fire with small arms and mortars and what I took to be Light Artillery. Our forces returned the fire with rifle and Bren. This continued through the day and the fire from the enemy indicated that we were outnumbered. At about 17.30 hrs I looked across the road and saw the enemy approaching across the fields which were covered with little small bushes. We opened fire on these but were ordered to retire. I was told to follow a party which was moving out while some of the men formed a rear guard. We crossed the fields and came under small arms fire. On reaching the river we crossed and took cover in a fairly large field in the ground. Some of the men were the detailed to line the river bank and stop the enemy from crossing. When darkness came we split up into small parties and were told that we were to make our way to the coast. After we had marched for some time we came to an orange grove and met some more of the Bde, we slept until morning. On continuing our march we came to a large plain from which we could see the sea. Very near we could hear the artillery and some officers patrolled the area and contacted the first units of the British Forces. We then continued our march and eventually arrived at SYRACUSE. Transport was then provided for us. I have nothing further to report. Field. signed 6025654 PUMMELL, J, L/CPL 26th July 1943 C.M. POLICE 1st Airborne Divisional Provost Coy. Casualty List 1578/34 North West Europe, Wounded and Missing believed POW, 1 Airborne Div Pro Coy, 25/9/1944. Captured Arnhem, 1 Sect, 1 Para Bde. POW Appeldoorn and Stalag XIB Fallingbostel, Lower Saxony. Casualty List 1655, Western Europe, previously reported wounded and missing believed POW, 25/9/1944, now reported wounded and POW in German hands location unknown, 1 Airborne Div Pro Coy, previous list 1578. 9/6/1946 to discharge. Joseph Walter Pummell. |
Prisoner of War Record: | |
| Imprisonment: | Stalag XI B GERMANY 🇩🇪 |