By Rosemary Bailey
This article was published in the August 2025 edition of Soul Search, the Journal of The Sole Society
Albert Sewell, born 7 May 1912, enlisted 2 Feb 1939, captured 25 Dec 1941 in Hong Kong. Birth registered 6/1912 Wakefield (Oxenard).
Albert Edward Sewell, born 14 Jan 1901, enlisted 1 Mar 1938, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore.
Claude Merryfield Sewell, born 18 May 1918, enlisted 15 Jan 1940, Lance Corporal 6019267, married 9/1941 Chelmsford to Gladys M Harris, died 6/1985 Chelmsford aged 67
Edward Sewell, born 25 Apr 1916, enlisted 1 Jul 1935, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore.
Birth of Edward D Sewell registered 9/1916 Edmonton (Teagle).
Leslie Ernest Sewell, born 13 Dec 1911, enlisted 17 Jul 1940, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore. Birth registered 3/1912 Dewsbury (Gallagher).
Leslie Walter Sewell, born 8 Jan 1921, enlisted 22 Apr 1937, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore. Birth registered 3/1921, either Pancras (Dunn) or Sleaford (Gilbert).
Richard Treherne Sewell, born 26 Dec 1918, enlisted 7 Oct 1940, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore. Birth registered 3/1919 Newcastle (Hopkins).
Robert James Sewell, born 12 Feb 1913, enlisted 15 Aug 1940, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore.
Charles Oswald Sewell, born 1 Nov 1916, enlisted 23 Jan 1941, captured 20 Jun 1942 in Tobruk. Birth registered 12/1916 Huddersfield (Harvey).
Ernest Sewell, born 9 Jul 1920, enlisted 1 Apr 1939, captured 12 Jun 1940 in France.
Fred Sewell, born 21 Apr 1911, enlisted 16 Sep 1940, captured 17 Nov 1943 at Leros.
Frederick James Sewell, born 5 Oct 1910, enlisted 2 Jul 1942, captured 22 Jun 1944 in Perugia, Italy.
George Herbert Sewell, born 18 Jan 1910, enlisted 28 Jan 1929, captured 29 Apr 1941 in Greece.
John Richard Sewell, born 15 Aug 1922, enlisted 5 Aug 1941, captured 26 Sep 1943 in the North Sea.
Percy Sewell, born 20 Apr 1907, enlisted 28 Oct 1939, captured 30 Jun 1940 Jersey C.I.
Peter Gordon Fane Sewell, born 10 Aug 1923, enlisted 21 Aug 1941, captured 17 Aug 1943 on Sylt. Death registered 12/1982 Henley.
Roland Sewell, born 23 Feb 1919, enlisted 19 Oct 1939, captured 9 Oct 1944 in Italy.
Ronald Edward Charles Sewell, born 27 Oct 1919, enlisted 9 Jun 1937, captured 4 Dec 1942 Tunisia.
? Ronald E C b 12/1920 West Ham, m 3/1946 Border to Lily Pearcey
Thomas Henry Sewell, born 14 Apr 1914, enlisted 28 Nov 1934, captured 12 Jun 1940 in France at Saint-Valery-en-Caux.
Joseph Sewill, born 16 Apr 1910, enlisted 20 May 1930, captured 25 May 1940 in France.
Albert George Solly, born 15 Jul 1911, enlisted 12 Dec 1940, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore. Gunner 1106388 RA, of 7 St Peter’s Street, Islington, London N1. Changi prisoner from Feb 1942 to Aug 1945.
Harry Solly, born Feb 1919, enlisted 2 Jun 1937, captured 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore. Private 857325 2/East Surreys, of 1 Glenwood Road, Catford, London SE6.
Arthur Thomas Solly, born 12 Jan 1911, enlisted 20 Nov 1940, captured 1 Jul 1942 near El Alamein. of Ramsgate, Kent.
Stanley Reginald Solly, born 9 Feb 1919, enlisted 12 Apr 1939, captured 12 Jun 1940 in France at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. Gunner 901262, 97th Field Regt. RA police court clerk of 6 Old Park Avenue, Canterbury, Kent
Clarence Leopold Solley, born 20 Jun 1905, enlisted 2 Oct 1940, captured 29 Apr 1941 in Greece.
26 Batt, NZEF 8th Army, driver of 14 Hugh Street, Newtown, Wellington, NZ.
George Albert Saul, born 9 Mar 1913, enlisted 11 Feb 1937, captured 21 Jun 1942 Tobruk. Sergeant 2657742, 3rd Batt. Coldstream Guards, butcher and farmer of Liversedge, Yorks.
James Arthur Saul, born 22 Apr 1920, enlisted May 1939, captured 29 Jun 1942 in Africa. Gunner 916215, 64th Medium Regt., Royal Artillery, clerk of 39 Hatherley Road, Walthamstow, London E17
Walter Richard Saul, born 4 Jul 1910, enlisted 28 Sep 1939, captured in 1941 at Lemnos. Captain NZEF 20076, of 25 Powhiri Avenue, Whangarei, NZ
Press cutting, August 31st
News of a small party of New Zealanders and Australians who were captured by the Germans on the island of Lemnos after escaping from Greece is given in a letter received by Mrs W R Saul, of Whangerei from her husband Captain W R Saul of the 21st Battalion. He writes from a prisoner of war camp in Germany and states that there are nine officers of the 21st Battalion with him.
A party of seven New Zealanders and five Australians with Captain Saul escaped from Greece in a 20ft boat, but were captured on arrival at Lemnos.
Captain Saul asks his wife to send clothing to him, as all that the prisoners had was what they were wearing at the time of capture. His address is given as Oflag V B Germany.
Eventually the following item appeared in the Northern Advocate on 7 May 1945.
Captain Saul, Whangerei, Safe in England.
Advice that Captain W.R.C.Saul of Whangerei, is now safe in England has been received by his wife, Mrs Saul, of Powhiri Avenue.
Well-known in Northland as a footballer and cricketer and one of the best of the younger Rugby referees, Captain Saul was a member of the Territorial Forces and went away with the Second Echelon, being promoted captain while on active service.
Cut off from the New Zealand forces in Greece when orders to evacuate were given, Captain Saul and other New Zealanders were found in a cave by Greeks, who gave them succour and procured for them a boat in which they set sail for Lemnos where they expected to find temporary refuge.
After four days at sea they were sighted by the Germans as they approached land and were captured, being sent to Salonika, Yugoslavia and Austria and finally to Germany, where Captain Saul had remained a prisoner until freed by the Allied advance.
Arthur Lawrence Sole, born 19 Aug 1917, enlisted 6 July 1941, captured 1 March 1942, Java Sea. AB on HMS Exeter. Home 1 York Terrace, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Imprisoned Maccassar 10 March 1942, Marose 6 Sep 1942.
Cecil Charles Edward Sole, born 15 Feb 1921, enlisted Jun 1941, captured 15 Feb 1942 Singapore. Pte 5836361 Ist Battalion Cambridgeshire, of 8 Council Houses, Guilden Morden, Royston, Herts. Imprisoned Changi.
Dennis Carter Sole, born 7 Aug 1919, enlisted 16 May 1940, captured 23 Nov 1941 Sidi Rezeigh. Pte 79124 3rd Transvaal Scottish UDF South Africa, malaria for 3 months, locksmith of 79 Church Street, Klerksdorf, Transvaal.
Edward Philip Sole, born 18 Dec 1919, enlisted 4 Nov 1940, captured 21 Jul 1942 Tobruk. Corporal 214191 UDF South Africa, 2nd Div 8th Army, clerk, c/o E W Sole, station master, Graafwater, Cape Province. PG 821 Laterina, Italy 6 Aug 1942 to 17 Sep 1943 Stalag IVB Muhlberg, Germany, 20 Sep 1943 to 6 May 1945.
Clarence William Soles, born 19 Mar 1919, enlisted 28 Feb 1941, captured 7 Dec 1944 near Munster. P/O J 89784, 432 squadron No. 6 Group, farmer, labourer of 74 Fairview Boulevard. Guelph, Ontario. Guardhouse Munster Airdrome and Ober Usel, Frankfurt, but by 27 Dec 1944 Stalag Luft 1.
Cecil Bruce Soul, born 29 Dec 1911, enlisted 15 Nov 1939, captured 26 May 1940 at Calais. RFN 6847295,1st Batt QVR (KRRC), salesman of 65 Holwell Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. Poland Jun/Sep 1940, Bann Arb Batl 21 Warthelager Poland, Stalag VIIA Moosburg, Bavaria. From Sep 1940 to Jan 1945 worked in English Office as Company Clerk.
Frederick Jack Soal, born 24 Nov 1919, enlisted 10 Jul 1939, captured 18 Jul 1941 at Saint-Pol France. Warrant Officer 650186, 21 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, of 22 Reservoir Road, Ruislip Common. Suffered broken leg, taken to hospital in Nieuport, Belgium. 25/7/41 Stalag Luft VII, St Omar, 9/8/41 Stadt Roda Thuringen Stalag, 24/8/42 Stalag Luft 1 Barth Pomerania, 4/11/43 to 9/7/44 East Prussia, 10/7/44 to 20/4/45 Fallingsbostel.