1946 to 1958 > Germany

Historical Quarterly Report 1st Bn Manchester Regiment 1948

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mack:
hiya colin
pte donald,william giddins deliberately crossed into the soviet zone so as to get into trouble,he wanted to get married but his regiment was leaving germany,and this was a way to delay his departure,poor james royle his pal went along with him,they were returned to the allied zone and given 49 days detention

colin
donald was still alive up to about 9yrs ago,i have a last known address for him in camberley

ps he eventually married his girl herta rosemann the following year at aldershot

mack

colin parry:
wow,i will have to look into this more.Thank you

colin parry:
Donald Giddins is alive and well,i spoke to him and his wife Herta both very nice people.Donald Giddins was in the Manchester regiment band then he was in the Kings regiment and I think he said then the REME, in all for 30 years.He said he was not with my dad when they got captured but they were in a prison together at the start.Donald Giddins and James Royles were released shortly after.He told me he had been told he could not get married so for him he done it so he could get married.He said he did know my dad and he saw my dad after he escaped from Cottbus.He told me he still plays the saxophone today.
James Royles sadly died on 22 December 2009.

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