Teens to follow footsteps of RAF PoWs

Kyt · Feb 27, 2009

Teens to follow footsteps of Second World War PoWs (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

STUDENTS are in for a long haul as they retrace part of the route taken by RAF prisoners when they were force-marched through Germany during the Second World War.

Stalag Luft III at Zagan, now in Poland, was a huge PoW camp now famous for two of the most daring escapes of the war - the Wooden Horse and the Great Escape.

But in RAF history it is also renowned for what became known as the Long March, when thousands of prisoners were marched west from the camp in appalling conditions during the closing stages of the war.

And next week, from February 16 to 20, students from Bedale and Yarm will join modern-day airmen when they cover 65 miles of the original 1,000 mile route, from Zagan to Spremberg.

The project officer, RAF Leeming-based Sgt Neil Galloway, said the youngsters’ involvement began with his daughter, 15-year-old Shannon, a stuydent at Bedale High School.

"Shannon would see me come home from military exercises and say how much she wished she could go with me," he said.

"This is the first time it has been possible, and it’s great that we could extend the opportunity to some of her classmates."

A total of 11 students from Bedale will be taking part, alomng with nanother eight from Yarm school.

And all the volunteers met up for a team-bonding day at RAF Leemiong to get to know each other before the march itself.

Sgt Galloway said: "The two schools have never met, so the idea was to get them all together and do some team building activities. I hope the kids will see this as a great experience and that they get a real sense of achievement from it."

The team will be keeping a diary of their journey through Poland. Anyone interested in keeping up to date with their exploits can log on to 90 Signals Unit Long March 09 - Homepage
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liverpool annie · Feb 27, 2009

What a wonderful experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives !!

( But I bet they'll all be complaining like mad ... " Are we there yet ?? " ) :doh:

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Teens to follow footsteps of RAF PoWs

Kyt Άρης

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