In January 1945 the Pows in the camp were brought together by the Germans and advised that the Russians were progressing forward from the western front and that they would be overunning the camp in a matter of a few weeks. The Pows were given the option of remaining at the camp and being liberated by the Russians. The Germans recommended to the POWs that they should be marched to the german border where the british and americans would release them.Bill and all of the others, 200 or so, decided to be taken to Germany. Although they realistically did not think they had a choice. So they started on the Death March as it was later to be named. They were told that they could be marching up to 1000 miles. They had little if any food or equipment or decent clothing. In fact some of the POWs did not even have any shoes. It was now the middle of winter and the cold tore at their bodies and many of the POWs did not survive a march that would have been a struggle for even the fittest of men under these conditions. Along the route there were times that they did not have any food and they tried to gather the meagre berries and produce that may have been left in the fields. Their only other source of food was from the civilians who took pity on their plight.
No one trusted them enough to allow them to share their houses so the only places that they could rest at nightime was in farm buildings and sheltered vineyards.
As they were being marched towards Germany another group was being marched towards them to join up as they started to merge together bill looked up to see that the man marching beside him was his Brother in law and good friend Jimmy Hall. He hugged and kissed him and was so happy to see him. He gave Jimmy a loaf that he had, to allow Jimmy to eat. In future years Billy would always say to Jimmy when he saw him with the family, “you owe me a loaf of Bread”.
They continued the walk and were marched towards Bavaria where they were discovered by American troops. The Americans fed them clothed them and looked after them and arranged for them to return to England in Flying fortress bombers. Bill said they had no seats, they rattled like hell and were cold. This was the first and last time he had ever been in a aircraft. They landed in Kent and were taken to an army base at Sidcup in Kent for debriefing.
Doris in the meantime was at home carrying on with life when she got a telegramm to advise her that Billy had been released from the POW camp. The telegramm said that a letter would follow in the very near future. Whilst she knew that he had been released she did not know when she would see him again. Everything was hectic in the latter days of the war as all resources were committed to the allied push through Germany.
Every Wednesday Doris went to see her Parents in law Solomon and Sahra Jane. Solly asked Doris if she wanted to go down to the railway station at Newcastle to see if there are any troop trains coming in. She agreed, Solomon. Jenny. Billys sister and Doris went down to the station and waited.
They were sitting on a large luggage trolley watching the trains come and go. Doris spotted a lady dressed in her Red Cross uniform and she continued to look at her and realised that the woman was talking to Billy who was standing on the platform. He turned to the woman and said thank you, my family had come for me. He turned and smiled at Doris and quickly made his way over. When Doris looked at him he looked different his nose was broken and he looked rough.
They left the station and they took Billy to see his mother at their house at 62 Stanhope Street Newcastle, she was so pleased to see him. They then went home to her mothers house where they were living. He had been given a months leave and in fact it was extended.
After the leave he returned to his temporary attachment and remained in the army until January 1946 when he was discharged after completion of service.
Bill Lemin joined the ambulance service in 1946 where he worked caring for others until his sudden death in 1970.
