Page 13 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 64

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

We were taken into many of the blocks and SS departed but the building still there. Someone
see many of the sights in the camp. There are three asked where the bodies were buried, the answer was
areas where no pictures are allowed, first is the two ‘you are walking on them’. Horrible thought.
ton of human hair and the second the pile of shoes, The huts had no solid floors, people were sleep-
read on for the third… Yes two tons of hair. This ing on the ground come rain, snow or shine. The
was used to make socks etc for the soldiers. The ruling was the only way out of this place was via
wo ton is what was left and preserved. You learn the gas chambers.
all about blocks 10 and 11, the punishment cells Negative to this trip to these two places
are intact along with the ‘hanging bar’ at the roll
1st – if you can’t walk far then it’s not for you.
call area, and much more. I won’t spoil it if you are
The average person does 19,000 steps accord-
intending to go by stating all of it. ing to those watch things that people wear.
They explain the hospital block, what went on This is an original intact There is no access to many places by wheelchair.
and by whom, you don’t go in there. The worst part guard tower behind the
electric fence, one at each 2nd – you are rushed around Auschwitz and don’t
of this visit was the at the end and the third place
end of the main ‘streets’ get to read many of the plaques and information
of no photos, and that was the gas chamber. You in the camp. Prisoners boards. You end up taking pictures and reading
were walked through this building and trust me often walked into the stuff later. This is because of the number of people
that place sends a shiver down your spine. Once fence to die.
that visit there.
through the other side people said they wished they
‘Those who do not remember the past are con-
hadn’t walked through it, that is for you to decide
demned to repeat it’ GEORGE SANTAYANA
when and if you go!
Think I will finish it there!
Part 2 of the tour
Birkenau, 5 minutes away and the first thing you
see are the rail lines!
These are to the rail head where the ‘selection’
centre is situated. If you were directed left you were
This was the view all
in the gas chambers, if directed right you were
around the Birkenau
situated in the huts to work to your death. There camp. The building with
was a saying that the only way out of Birkenau was all the chimneys on the
through the gas chambers. left is the kitchen where
This camp is huge, the total size when in full appalling soup was served
once a day.
swing was 150 hectares, you get to walk the left
The electrified razor wire
side from the rail head to the Polish memorial, the
is all round the camp, this
gas chambers, the huts. The huts on the left are
is as it was in the war.
intact many on the right were destroyed but being Yes, some replaced, but
rebuilt. The gas chambers were blown up as the all as was

3/79 & 1/80 reunion Owens Platoon By Steve Roney

Nearly 45 years to the day that a group day ‘App…Owens Plt, AAcol, ACC, St It felt like we were back in the old
of 16 year olds arrived at St Omer a Omer bks, Aldershot, Hants ‘ block discussing the usual topics as well
small group of 3/79 Owens plt met for Currently there are 31 members and as what happened to…where is…
a reunion. we managed to bring together eight The attendees were:
We have only recently started to of us for the reunion in Lichfield, not l Paul Ricketts
link up via a Facebook page based on to mention the FaceTime link to the
l Steve Roney
our postal address issued on the first Falklands.
l Ian Ferguson
l Kev Lambe
l Ian Goodall
l Kev Hammond
l Via the video chat – Pete Bull
l Guest from 1/80 Alan Chalmers
The next reunion is already being planned
to be in York for 20th September 2025.
More details will be available in due
course.
We are now looking for more of
Owens 3/79 and have also invited those
from 1/80 as their intake was so close
to ours.
SECRETARY@ACCASSOCIATION.ORG | WWW.ACCASSOCIATION.ORG PAGE 13