THE VILLAGERS OF COLLINGHAM AND LINTON WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO
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CONTACT
Rank Lieutenant
Service Number 155856
Service Army
Battalion 68 Med Regt.
Regiment Royal Artillery
Died: 2nd January 1950
Buried Wetherby St. James on the Corner Cemetery
- Named in articles or lists in The Wetherby News or Collingham Parish Magazine
- Strong family connections with Collingham or Linton
- Address in 1939 or 1945/46: Red Garth, Collingham
(taken from either the 1939 National Registration or the 1945 and/or 1946 service electoral rolls)
Biography
Family background
Stephen Dudley Russell Gurney was born on the 4th February 192 in Fylde, Lancashire, the fourth child of Ernest Russell Gurney and his wife Clara Caroline Gurney (nee Ward). Ernest and Clara had married in 1905 in Scarborough and their first child, Mabel Caroline Gurney, was born on the 24th March 1906, in Horsforth, Leeds. Mabel was baptised at St. James' Church Woodside in West Yorkshire. The family's address at the time was Laurels, Broadgate Lane, Horsforth, and Ernest's occupation was listed as a journalist. Ernest studied law and eventually rose to become Recorder of Rotherham.
In the 1900s, the Gurney family appears to have moved house frequently in this period and the Kelly's Directory for Leeds in 1908 records Ernest Russell Gurney, a journalist, living at 15 Blandford Gardens, Leeds.
Ernest and Clara's second child, named Kenneth Russell Gurney, was born on the 2nd August 1909 in Chapeltown, Leeds and was baptised (on the 25th August) at St. Martin Church, Potternewton. Ernest is again recorded as a journalist, and their family address was now 8 Sholebroke Terrace. By the census date in 1911, the family had made a major move and were living at 52 Cromwell Road, Beckenham in Kent, and Ernest is described as a journalist/sub editor.
Ernest and Clara's third child, Basil, was born in Lytham, Lancashire, in 1919, so the family had clearly made another major move from Kent, back to the North of England. Two years later, at the time of the next census, in 1921, Ernest and Clara were living at 66 Clifton Street, Lytham with their children Mabel Caroline, Kenneth Russell and Basil Russell. At this time, Ernest was described as a dairy produce merchant. This seems a remarkable career change for Ernest, from lawyer to journalist to diary produce merchant, and we have no explanation why he made such a change.
A year later, in 1922, Ernest and Clara's youngest child, Stephen Dudley Russell Gurney, was born in Fylde in Lancashire.
We don't exactly know why or when the Gurney family moved to Collingham, but by 1937, Ernest and his wife and daughter were all recorded on the electoral roll for Collingham, living at Redgarth, Collingham, and two years later, at the time of the National Registration, Ernest and Caroline are recorded, still living at Redgarth, Leeds Road, Collingham, along with Caroline's widowed mother, Clara Ward, and their daughter, Mabel. Mabel is described as a fashion designer, and as taking classes for nursing. Also present are Stephen K Gurney, a law student, and a housemaid, Catherine Hurn. There is also one redacted line on the record [Jan 2024], which could be another servant of an entry for either Kenneth or Basil.
However an interesting feature of the record is Ernest's occupation which is now described as a Barrister at Law. Ernest is also described as a Special Constable.
Service record
Stephen served as Lieutenant Stephen Russell Gurney with a service number of 155836 in the 68 Medium Regiment Royal Artillery.
We do not yet have a detailed history of Stephen's movements in the early part of the war, however an entry for the 31st March 1943 in the war diary of Stephen's regiment, the 234 Medium Battery, Royal Artillery, records that they served in Egypt, and that, at 17.20 hours, "Two officers reported for duty:- Lieut Durtnell (interposted to 233 Med Bty. and 2/Lieut Gurney, interposted to 234 Medium Battery (need to see WO169/4661)". At the time 68 Med Reg RA were at Ain El-Gazala in Egypt.
On the 15th June 1943 68 Medium Regiment Royal Artillery were at Bir Hachim when they were captured and the Regiment became prisoners of war. Stephen Russell Gurney became prisoner number of 128970.
From about the 23rd June 1943 until 3rd August, Stephen was held at Prisoner of War Camp number 75 at Bari. Then from 4th August to 23rd September at Camp 21 at Chieta, and, from the 23rd September until the 30th September 1943, Stephen was at a POW Camp at Sulmona.
After the Italian Armistice, Sulmona camp was taken over by Germans and the prisoners were then placed on trains to be moved to Germany. During the transit, Stephen escaped. He was at large behind German lines from the 30th of September 1943 until 30th of January 1944 when he was recaptured by the Germans, attempting to re-join the allied troops at the Anzio bridgehead.
After his recapture Stephen was held at various transit camps until, on the 17th January 1944, he was at Camp 7A at Moosburg where he stayed until 6th July 1944. After Moosburg, Stephen was at Camp IX A/2 at Rotenberg. Stephen was an inveterate escaper and he made his final escape on the 4th April 1945, reaching the American front line troops on the 5th April. After the war, Stephen completed a detailed record of his time as a POW and we can therefore let Stephen tell of his adventures in his own words in the form of the letter he wrote to the War Office:
Dear Sir,
Herewith the reply to your letter ref OW/POW/98 24th September 1945 requesting, on behalf of the War Office, further and better particulars of my escapes whilst a POW in Italy and Germany and other matters mentioned in the same letter:
I attempted on two occasions to escape from prison camps in Italy but on neither occasion did I succeed in getting outside the camp. The tone of your letter indicates that these attempts will not be of interest to you and so I will not elaborate.
After the Germans had taken over my camps in Italy (after the Italian Armistice) "Campo C. P.G. 21. Chiati", we were moved in a body by MT [motor transport] to an ORs [Other Ranks] camp at Sulmona. It was there that I made my second attempt and failed to clear the wire, suffering only the loss of my chocolate (iron ration) and four days confinement on bread and water. The camp (Sulmona) was then entrained on 30th of September 1943 in cattle trucks for Germany. Before the train moved off at dusk it was closely guarded on both sides and a parachute captain (Short by name) was shot through the head and killed trying to make a dash from the station.
Returning to Stephen's letter:
At about 1:00 AM in the morning the train started off. I was in a truck with my best friend (Captain H H Gardiner, RASC army number something like 64005). It was a cattle truck with a slit at the top of the side, presumably for ventilation purposes. There were no guards in the truck and the doors were bolted on the outside. When we were on our way, Gardner and I attempted to pass through the slit, which appeared to be wide enough for slim men like ourselves to pass through, with a view to discovering where the sentries were stationed. We suspected that they were on platforms between the trucks but were unable to see. We cursed ourselves for not noticing whether there was a platform on our own truck - there had been platforms on other trucks further up the train. We eventually made our minds up to chance it. The train was travelling very fast, we guessed 40-50 miles an hour, too fast to jump; but fortunately it stopped at a station and we waited for it to restart before attempting to get out. As it started we squeezed ourselves through and dropped onto the line when the train, gathering speed, had reached about 20mph. We took a bound to the ditch and lay there. I tried to see where the guards were as the train went by but it was too dark to see. There was no shooting.
Someone was walking along the line with a lamp (we learned after he was a fascist station master) and we avoided him and climbed up the mountain away from the line. We afterwards learned we were near a village "Colli de Monte Bove" in the Appenines between Averzzana and Casoli on the main Pescara-Rome railway.
As dawn broke we hid in a thick hedge by the main road and watched the German transport pass by. It rained later in the day and we moved into a covered grove in a cemetery and prepared to march south as soon as night came, over the mountains. Before dark, however, 2 young men (Italians) came into the graveyard and with difficulty we explained we wanted to get to Naples (we knew our troops were near there) and they offered to show us a way (or so we thought). We started off. After some time they offered to take us to their house first and feed us. I thought this was a trick but Gardner was satisfied with their good faith and I eventually consented, thinking we could watch for treachery. They were in good faith and took us to the house of Signor Filippo Caroli, of Colli di Monte, who gave us a meal and exchanged our uniform for civilian clothes. He (Caroli) eventually prevailed on us (talking in French) to hide in the mountains (he would feed us he said) until the Allies reached the area – the Allied troops were moving fast at that time (Oct 1). We listened to his radio and learned that Naples, Benevento and 2 other large towns had been occupied. So we went up into the mountains and lived in a cave for 6 weeks – the Allies were halted. Caroli continued to feed us. In the middle of November the snow came so we went down to Colli and slept for some days in a cellar in Caroli’s house. We decided that our troops were halted for the winter and that we must go to meet them. I may say in passing that Caroli was (tho’ I had suspected him at first) at all times the most trustworthy Italian I ever met in Italy. In fact he was the only one who, however slow the Allied advance, never hesitated to hold out to giving the hospitality that it was within his power to give, compatibly with the safety of his own family. I believe that all through the war he had, whilst apparently saying or doing nothing against the Fascist cause, been as much anti-fascist as was possible in the circumstances.
We started for the lines in about the last week of November. We were aiming at the source of the river Sanglo at the base of an 8000ft mountain, "La Mata". We travelled by day over the mountains and eventually reached "Colle Longa" a small village about 15-20 miles from the mountain "La Mata" and the last village where we could get bread or shelter before the lines. We did with difficulty get enough food for about 4 days – to take us there, and, if necessary, back. We set off on the last leg which was to take 2 days, over the highest mountain. We did not dare go down into the valleys for snow was not deep there and the Germans were numerous, whereas on the mountain tops there was over a metre of snow. After dark on the first day we reached our first objective – a refuge hut on the top of a 6000 footer, with "La Mata" the only mountain left to climb and that just ahead towering above us. Next morning, however, a blizzard started which obliterated everything beyond 4 or 5 yards. To wander about on the mountain in it was impossible, so we sat tight. It blew out 3 days later, by which time we were utterly worn out – for it was too cold to sleep – and our food was gone. We had no alternative but to turn back to recuperate.
We went right back to Colli by easy stages and stayed there over Christmas 1943 with our friend Caroli. On January 25 however the landing took place at Anzio. We decided that it was worth trying to reach it while the line there was still liquid. So we set off almost straight away. The mountains were lower here with no snow and the going was not difficult. We got to within sound of shellfire at St. Vito Romano and were crossing a road when a lorry went past. The German Feldwebel in the lorry stopped and asked us for our papers. We said we had left them at home but he was very suspicious. He called 2 Italians over and asked questions through them (we spoke good Italian by then). The Italians told the Germans that we were genuine Italians and the Feldwebel was apparently about to release us when he thought of taking us to the HQ in St.Vito. After a long interrogation there our identity was revealed and we were prisoners again. This was on 30th January 1944.
We were taken to an old Italian prison near Rome and from there in lorries to a camp near Florence. I made 2 attempts to escape from there – on both occasions with officers whose names I have forgotten. In neither case did we clear the wire and beyond, getting thoroughly drenched in the rain and bullets past our ears on both occasions, we gained nothing. Then I went to Germany and Munich to Stalag VII A. Then Oflag IX A/2 at Rothenburg near Cassel.
At the end of March 1945 as the Allies were drawing closer to Rothenburg we were assembled and marched about 15 miles a day for 7 days. On the 7th day, a friend of mine, Captain Michael Leaky RA (late 68th Med Regt, my old Regt) and I stole a German handcart to carry our kit, for it was very heavy. Unfortunately its owner recognised the cart as we marched off in the column that morning and recaptured it from us. We (Leaky and I) were very truculent at the thought of carrying our kit again on our backs and decided to escape if possible. After the lunch pause that day the column was a little spread out and I pointed out a small copse lying just off the road with some bushes even closer to the road; behind which we could leap as we passed it. As we came up with the bushes a glance over our shoulder told that the sentries were not particularly alert, and a leap took us behind the bush, and a few quick steps into the copse. The sentries did not notice us go and we lay in the copse till night fell and then started walking across country in the direction of the Allied troops – South West – aiming for a village we had passed through 3 days before. This was the night of the 4th April 1945. At about 4 or 5 in the morning after walking about 30 miles we heard some bursts of machine gun fire coming from the direction in which we were travelling. We continued walking towards the sound until, as we were coming over a crest, some bursts of tracer passed to one side of us. There were tank tracks twisting in every direction over the ground and, as there was a good road running close by, it appeared to us that a tank battle had taken place there recently. Moreover, white cardboard boxes littered the ground and, though they bore no printing, they appeared to be of Allied rather than German manufacture. We therefore decided to take pot luck and walk straight for the machine gun, for we were in base ground which yielded no possible hiding place for daytime which was not far off. As dawn began to break we had not come across troops though we knew they must be nearby. We therefore looked for cover and eventually (for it was still not light) saw what looked like a tank. We drew closer and it took on the shape of a tree. We were about to move away when I thought it looked like an armoured car, side on. We took the bull by the horns and walked towards it again. It was a tank facing us and as we approached a 50mm started round and we were challenged by an American sentry. Our identity was soon proved and we went home under our own steam.
Additional details which you have requested but which I have not included in the above description are:
1. Whilst at large in Italy Captain Gardner and I were joined by 2 other British officers with whom we spent the majority of our time at large, and
with whom we were recaptured as above stated on Jan 30 1944. They were:
Lt J. Garrard, Royal Worcestershire Regiment and Lt. H.W. Bommello, Royal Artillery. Army numbers unknown.
Both were, like ourselves, ex-prisoners captured originally in the Western Dessert.
2. Names and addresses of helpers in Italy and assistance rendered by them:
Filippo Caroli – assisted in feeding us from Oct 1 – Nov 22 (approx.) and from Dec 20 (approx.) – Jan 25.
Made an effort to contact the British Ambassador in the Vatican and took to the Vatican a letter which we addressed to the British Ambassador
there asking for general assistance in regaining allied occupied territory, particularly assistance in travelling by sea, and for money. Caroli brought
back the Ambassador’s reply (if such it was) in the form: "Have a good Xmas, do you want any money?". We sent Caroli again to Rome for money but on
the second occasion the man who had actually taken our note inside the Vatican (a Roman Catholic priest) had left the capital and our letter never
reached the Ambassador (priest’s name or identity uknown). Caroli also kept us in the cellar of his house for about 7 days.
It should be mentioned that Colli di Monte Bove was on the main Rome-Pescara road and was continually used by German transport – the drivers of which
were lodged in the houses of the village; and particularly often in Caroli’s, rendering the assistance of Allied prisoners more hazardous. Caroli
also gave us about 600 Lira when we set off for Anzio. He also exchanged my uniform for civilian clothes (self and Capt H.H. Gardner RASC).
Filippo Caroli lived in Colli d Monte Bove Obbruzzi.
Pasquali Carroni of Colli di Monte Bove – assisted in feeding us from Oct 1 – Nov 20 (approx.) and carried food up the mountains to our cave for most of that period.
If any further particulars are required from me will you please note that my address has changed from Military Hospital, York to Tor Na Die Sanatorium, Murtle, Aberdeen, Scotland.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant
S Russell Gurney
S. RUSSELL GURNEY
LT. RA. EX POW P155836
Late 68th Med. Regt. RA.
Stephen Gurney's exploits were reported in the Yorkshire Post on the 25th April 1945, after Stephen's final escape;
After being captured just before the fall of Tobruk, escaping, being recaptured, and escaping again, Lieut. Russell Gurney (21), youngest son of Mr. E. Russell Gurney, the Recorder of Pontefract, and Mrs. Gurney, of "Redgarth", Collingham, near Wetherby, has just returned home.
"During 15 months' imprisonment in Italy we were treated worse than at any time while under the Germans." said Lieut. Gurney.
"After the armistice in Italy we were put on a train for Germany but with three other officers I got away an we kept hiding in the Apennines. At 6000 feet up we got caught in a blizzard, and in trying to get through to the Anzio beachhead we got captured again. It took us six weeks getting back to Germany and life in verminous camps was our wosrt experience.
It was while on the march that Lieut. Gurney escaped by rolling into a ditch, and, after hiding in the woods by day and walking at night, suddenly came under fire from what proved to be an American Sherman tank attached to the 6th American Armoured Division, about 10 miles from Mulhausen.
One of the fascinating aspects of Stephen Russell Gurney's time as a Prisoner of War was that during his imprisonment he continued his studies towards his Final Bar Examination in Law. More details are given in a 1945 newspaper article:
The official list of the Bar Final Examinations contains the name of Lieut. Russell Gurney, R.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Gurney, of Red Garth, Collingham Bridge, who passed Division I. The circumstances of Lieut. Gurney's examinations are unusual, and possibly unique. He passed the Intermediate Bar examination with papers sent to England from Oflag IX. A/Z whilst he was a prisonr in Germany, passing with firsts in Roman Law, Constitutional Law, and Contracts and Tort, and a pass in Real Property. Division I of the Final he has taken while in hospital in Scotland, by special permission of the Council of Legal Education. Lieut. Gurney served in the early days of the African Campaign, and helped to cover the return of the Infantry near Bir Hakheim, where the Free French made so gallant a stand. He struck South with his guns under orders, and then again North-East, but was unlucky to strike an enemy minefield. He was captured and taken by air to Italy.After some months of captivity, Lieut. Gurney escaped, and was free for eight months. He and three other officers lived as best they could in the mountains, until they were ultimately recaptured by a German Staff-Car. Taken to Germany, he escaped after D-Day, and, taking possession of a German Military Car, reached the advancing American columns. He was first fired upon by the Americans, they being under the impression that he was a German soldier, and then most hospitably treated by our Allies. After travelling through France, Lieut. Gurney reached England safely by air.
With his newly passed Law examinations, Stephen Russell Gurney was probably hoping for a long successful career in law. Sadly his health deteriorated. The story can be taken up in an article published in The News and Reporter in January 1950:
The death took place in London on Monday, at the age of twenty-seven, of Lieut. Stephen Dudley Russell-Gurney, youngest son of Mr. E. Russell-Gurney, Recorder of Rotherham, and Mrs. Gurney of Red Garth, Collingham. Lieut. Gurney, who was educated at St. Michael's College, Leeds, Radcliffe College, Leicester, and Leeds University, was only nineteen when he was taken prisoner of war in North Africa, and he was a prisoner in Italy and Germany for more than three years, except of a spell of eight or nine months during which he evaded re-capture after one of his half-dozen attempts at escape.
He read for the Bar during his captivity, and continued on his return despite ill-health that required constant treatment, and he was called to the Bar in 1947. Physical disability, however, prevented the fulfillment of the promise of a brilliant career in the legal profession.
The funeral took place at Wetherby yesterday, when his remains were laid alongside the grave of his brother Basil, who died after the war from the effects of service. The Rev. Fr. H. T. Callally officiated at the graveside and at a service at St. Joseph's Church, where the coffin lay covered with the Union Jack.
Family mourners were Mr. and Mrs. E. Russell-Gurney (father and mother), Miss Caroline Gurney (sister), and Mr. Kenneth Gurney (brother, also representing other relativs and Mr. Gafton). Others present included Mrs. T.I.E. Spilmont, Leeds (also representing Mr. Spilmont), Mr. W.J. Finnerty, Mrs. Keogh, Mrs. Norman Smith, Mrs. David Dalby, Mrs. Oddy, Mrs. Driscoll, Mrs. Cotton (Harrogate), Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Kelly (Leeds), Mr. and Mrs. H. McDonnell, Mrs. Ryan (also representing Dr. V. Ryan, Knaresborough), and Mr. C. Hutchinson (also representing Lt.-Col. and Mrs. J.A. Dixon).
Stephen Russell Gurney is buried alongside his brother in St. James on the Corner Cemetery in Wetherby.
Biography last updated 17 January 2024 00:40:57.
If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info