Themes
Rupert Lonsdale
Article Highlights
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The separation of the crew
The separation of the crew
After spending one month at Kiel their captors sent the officers and the men of HMS Seal to different prisoner of war camps. Rupert Lonsdale spoke a few words to his crew before separation.
‘You are all British. You will remain British. And until the time when you return home – and God alone knows when and how that will take place – you must remain loyal British seamen. Even in captivity you must always behave so that the Navy can be proud of you; and you must be comrades to one another, even under perhaps strenuous conditions of life’.
Petty Officers and Ratings left in a crowded train to Stalag XXA at Thorn in Poland and the officers went to Oflag IXA at Spangenburg in Germany. In 1941, however, the Germans opened up a special naval prisoner of war camp called Marlag and there the ratings and the officers of HMS Seal reunited.
The crew of HMS Seal as prisoners of war in Poland (RNSM)
To learn about life at Marlag, select Next
