SAS 2SAS soldiers captured near Dijon late August 1944

[388thFS]

Hello:
Searching for information for 2 SAS soldiers cited in my father's escape report. Dad was shot down while strafing the Dijon airfield on Aug. 23, 1944 and while he was held at Dijon, 2 British SAS soldiers were interred with him. Their names being Lt. Dodds and Corporal Walsh. My father, 1stLt Wm McChesney, escaped several days later while being transported by train presumably to a POW facility. The Free French led him to Allied forces several weeks later. Dad never learned the fate of Lt Dodds and LC Walsh.
Your website did indicated Lance Corporal Stanley Lawton Walsh, being 2SAS, C Squadron, Award 7622054. Any additional information for these gentlemen would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely with Best Regards
Scott McChesney

 

[pickles]

Lt Dodds

Hello:
Searching for information for 2 SAS soldiers cited in my father's escape report. Dad was shot down while strafing the Dijon airfield on Aug. 23, 1944 and while he was held at Dijon, 2 British SAS soldiers were interred with him. Their names being Lt. Dodds and Corporal Walsh. My father, 1stLt Wm McChesney, escaped several days later while being transported by train presumably to a POW facility. The Free French led him to Allied forces several weeks later. Dad never learned the fate of Lt Dodds and LC Walsh.
Your website did indicated Lance Corporal Stanley Lawton Walsh, being 2SAS, C Squadron, Award 7622054. Any additional information for these gentlemen would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely with Best Regards
Scott McChesney

Hi Scott - Lt Ralph Dodds was my Grandfather.

From what I understand LC Walsh also escaped from the train whilst Grandpa was unable to escape due to having been shot and wounded by shrapnel during his capture. Grandpa was sent to Oflag 79 (possibly the intended destination for your father also) where he spent the rest of the war. From the little research I have done I believe LC Walsh returned to the UK and soon after went on to serve in Italy, although I may be wrong about this.

To answer your question as to what became of Lt Dodds - He survived the war and returned to England when Oflag 79 was liberated, he married, raised a family and had a successful career in British Intelligence before retiring from the army and returning to England.....in short...he made it!

If possible I would very much like to get in touch directly with you as I would like to hear more regarding these events which your father may have passed on and there may be elements of this event which I can relay to you also.......would be great to hear back as this is such an important part of my families story, and no doubt yours too.

Kind regards

Chris

 

[388thFS]

Hello Chris: Thank you so much for responding to my post and I also wish to thank Mr. Robertson for his website and for helping me along. I too would welcome the opportunity to share memories and information regarding our families’ crossing paths under difficult circumstances in August 1944.
The snap shot - I hope that it uploaded - is from Dad’s escape report filed after his return to Britain. Note that Lt. Dodds and LC Walsh were placed on a train “to a prison camp at Frankfort”. Apparently my father was placed on a later train.
Please follow up with me, email is fine.
Best Regards
Scott