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uk
‘70 years – and we didn’t
row when I was a POW’
Platinum couple’s celebrate
with ‘story that must be told’
HE was a prisoner of war, left
behind at Dunkirk and sur-
vived a notorious death march
to be reunited with the love of
his life.
Now, 70 years on, 91-year-old war
hero Jimmy Hunter is celebrating his
platinum wedding anniversary with
sweetheart Cecelia, now 89.
And to make it sweeter his best man
and Cecilia’s brother, 89-year-old Jimmy
Coulton, and bridesmaid May Clucas –
Jimmy’s sister and also 89 – are still
around to celebrate the anniversary of
the momentous occasion.
The couple, from Walmer Bridge near
Preston, married at St Andrew’s Church
in Longton while on four days’ leave in
February 1940.
Immediately afterwards, Jimmy set off
to serve with the 4th Border Regiment at
Dunkirk.
But long after the last Allied soldier
evacuated mainland Europe at the fa-
mous retreat, he was captured and en-
dured five tough years at the notorious
Stalag VIII-B Lamsdorf prisoner of war
camp in Southern Poland.
Today, Hutton-born Jimmy said: “Ce-
celia lived next door and I could dance
and that’s why she picked me.
“It was difficult (during the War) and I
used to look forward to the letters that
came from Cecelia.
“We are just pleased to have got
through it and to be here today.”
Presumed dead back home, he had to
walk most of the way to the camp, where
the conditions were so horrific he suf-
fered dysentery which left him briefly
paralysed.
Despite this he tried to keep his spirits
up by singing in the camp choir.
But as the Soviets advanced from the
East in 1945 he was forced to take part
in the infamous ‘Death March’, endur-
ing brutal wintry weather as the prisoners
were marched westward to Nuremberg
along with retreating Germans.
Most did not make it through alive.
THEN AND NOW: James and Cecelia Hunter with their best man and bride’s brother Jimmy Coulton and bridesmaid and groom’s sister May Clucas. Cecilia’s father Harry
Coulton also appears on the picture from 1940
by Chris Visser
chris.visser@lep.co.uk
Jimmy was one of the lucky ones. He was
finally liberated by the Americans later
in 1945 and returned home to Cecelia –
who had thought he had died.
Cecelia said: “Going through those five
years has made our marriage stronger –
we didn’t have a single argument in that
time!
“We haven’t done so bad lasting this
long –70 years is a very long time.
“We are still plodding on... but not as
fast. I’m looking forward to the celebra-
tion.
“There will be a lot of relations there –
it will be bigger than the wedding.”
Grandson Martin Hunter said: “This
is a story that needs telling.
“This is a little old couple seen shuf-
fling around Walmer Bridge and no-one
knows what they have been through.
“It is lost on the generation today as
they have no idea what happened.
“He (Jimmy) is just my hero.”
The full wedding party met up to rem-
inisce ahead of the 70th anniversary cel-
ebration set to take place at the Walmer
Bridge Inn on February 13.
Bridesmaid Mary said of 70 years ago:
“We went to church and had our photo-
graphs taken and went back. It was a nice
little family gathering.”
Jimmy Coulton had his own survival
battle.
He said he also feels “very lucky” after
surviving torpedo attacks on three ships
while serving with the navy during the
Second World War.
He added: “Friendship has taken the
marriage this far over the years.”
Jimmy returned from Poland to work
for his own poultry farming business and
was also a labourer at Leyland Motors.
Cecelia was a housewife after spending
the war working for a Tarleton factory
making gas masks.
The couple have two children Geoffrey
and Vivienne, three grandchildren and
six great-grandchildren.
STILL IN LOVE:
James and Cecelia Hunter
Life as a Prisoner of War
THE camp was a notorious German Army
prisoner of war camp, later renumbered
Stalag-344. It was located near Lamsdorf,
now called Lambinowice, in Silesia.
Originally a prisoner camp during the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 and First
World War, it was re-opened in 1939 to
house Polish prisoners after the German
Second World War offensive. It later went on
to house around 100,000 prisoners from
countries including Britain, Canada,
Australia, France, Italy, USA and Poland.
Another camp opened nearby in 1941 –
Stalag VIII-F – to house Russian prisoners.
Evening Post, Monday, February 1, 2010 3
NEWSBRIEF
Owls about
that then?
MEET the birds from
Trowden Owl Rescue Cen-
tre at Salisbury Hall.
Learn how to handle a
bird of prey and watch a
close-up display on Febru-
ary 7 at the hall in Preston
New Road, Samlesbury.
Talks will be held at
11.30am and 2.30pm and
will be either indoors or
outdoors depending on the
weather.
Free with normal admis-
sion, phone 01254 812010
for more information.
New mayor of
the Fylde
THE mayoral chains of
Fylde will be handed over to
a Kirkham-based councillor
later this year.
Coun Liz Oades will take
over from Coun Paul Rigby
in May.
She will continue as the
leader of Fylde Council’s in-
dependent group.
Walkers to
round town
WALKERS will be setting
off for a canalside walk
from a Lancashire pub next
week.
The two-hour circular
walk round Garstang, near
Preston, leaves Th’Owd
Tithe Barn in Church Street
at 11am on Friday, Febru-
ary 12. Ring 01253 863100
for more details.
Picture:
David
County fare at
Hurst
town market
LANCASHIRE goods will
be on sale at Kirkham and
Wesham’s county market
Around 1,000 extra prisoners from Allied air on Saturday.
forces were added to a camp within the Foods, crafts and enter-
camp separated by barbed wire in 1943.
tainment will be on offer at
Hospital facilities were impressive with the memorial gardens be-
prisoners performing medical duties. tween 9.30am and 3.30pm.
As Soviet armies advanced into Germany in
January 1945 many prisoners, including
Jimmy, were forced to march westward in
School aims
for cycle club
groups of 200 and 300 in the so-called
‘Death March’.
Most died from the bitter cold and STUDENTS are being en-
exhaustion while those who tried to escape couraged to get on their
were fatally attacked with bayonets. bikes and become sporting
stars of the future.
Specialist cycling coach
Tom Leivers is sharing his
knowledge with youngsters
at Carr Hill High School in
Kirkham, near Preston, dur-
ing their PE lessons.
He said: “It’s really to get
a cycling club set up at Carr
Hill, that’s the long-term
goal.”
Hour’s stroll
around forest
WALKERS will be taking
in the sights and sounds of
the Forest of Bowland next
week. The Walking’ Wyre
leaders have arranged a
one-hour stroll, starting at
The Priory at 2pm on
Thursday February 11. Ring
01995 602125 for more.