High, David
Name: David HIGH, Jr
Born 14 April 1922
Birthplace: Jarrud, Alberta
Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 22
Died 28 April 2008 in Edmonton, Alberta, age 86
Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Service ID: J92346
Service Rank: Sergeant
Duties: Radioman [Wireless Air Gunner]
Air Group: 419 Squadron
Airbase: Middleton St-George, Durham UK
Aircraft: Lancaster bomber KB178
Date shot down: 5 July 1944
Fate of crew: 2 captured immediately, 5 evaded, one of them caught (High),
Evasion summary:
Date captured: 19 July 1944
Capture summary: Picked up in Chartres by Desoubrie/Orsini on the 14th or 15th of July. Arrested with BASTABLE and SMITH.
Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #3 with Richey, Bedford, Martini, Wilson, Carr, Pennell, Perry, Bastable, Grenon, Gibson, Hodgson, Prudham, Sonshine, Robb, R Mills, Whellum, Spierenburg, Taylor, Allen, Harvie, Larson, McLaughlin, Moser, Petrich. Roberson, Stevenson, Vinecombe, Zeiser and, at train change, Lamason, Dauteuil, Watmough, Scullion, J Smith, Head, Watson, and C Hoffman. Escaped shortly after the train change with Stevenson and several frenchmen, but he was recaptured, badly beaten, and returned to the boxcar.
Buchenwald ID: 78422
Notes on Buchenwald internment:
Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III
Kriege ID: 8096
Notes on SLIII internment:
Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag Nord
Notes on internment: Approximately 3000 POWs were marched out by the SS in early April 1945, headed to Lubek. The column was attacked repeatedly by Allied aircraft. High is not on a list of POWs at Lubek, but the list, with fewer than 200 names, is not comprehensive.
Liberation: Those on the march to Lubek were freed by the British Guards Armored Division on or around 27 April 1945. Those remaining at Marlag-Milag Nord were liberated by the British 2nd Army on 2 May 1945, and airlifted to the UK by 15 May 1945.
Repatriation from ETO:
Discharged:
Veteran status:
Notes on Post-War period: Interviewed in the 1994 NFBC documentary, Buchenwald: The Lucky Ones.
