George Churcher

George Churcher, shown here as a Lance Corporal, was in No.3 Commando 5 troop, and took part in Operation Chariot, the raid on St Nazaire, after which he was taken POW.

Photo courtesy of his daughter Elisabeth Churcher who adds:"My father was in Stalag VIII B. My father would have been between the ages of 22 and 25 ish while he was a prisoner. He was born in July of 1919.In February before the war ended he escaped with two others while they were being marched by their captors away from the front. My father joined up with the Americans who gave him a new uniform everyday for several days, burning the one he had been wearing because he was full of lice. He ate corn flakes for breakfast and was amazed by the food. My father who has been dead since mid 1990 emigrated to Canada after the war, had three children, after 20 years moved on to Singapore, Australia and then back to Vancouver Island where my mother (90 years) old still lives. Not sure he every fully recovered from the war and his many losses"

Elisabeth also adds "My father's only brother Herbert Churcher(Jim) was killed in the south of Italy by a sniper in a church tower. He is buried in Salerno"

In Memory of 6093889 Private Herbert 'Jim' Churcher
The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
who died on 9th September 1943 aged 26
Remembered with Honour at Salerno War Cemetery

[Posted by Pete R.]