Joyce, Reginald W

Name: Reginald Walter JOYCE

Born 24 October 1917

Hometown: St Thomas, Stepney, Tower Hamlets

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 26

Died August 2003 in Havering, Essex, age 85

Service: Royal Air Force

Service ID: 1850911

Service Rank: Sergeant

Duties: Gunner

Air Group: 102 Squadron

Airbase: Pockington, Yorkshire UK

Aircraft: Halifax bomber LW143

Date shot down: 28 June 1944

Fate of crew: 3 KIA, 4 evaded but captured (EAGLE, LESLIE, LEVERINGTON, and Joyce.

Evasion summary: Went to Lyon-le-Fôret and found LESLIE, EAGLE, LEVERINGTON, and HEMMENS there. Then to small hotel by Auteuil Station, met with FFI contact. Went on the Hacqueville, joined by 2 US airmen. One stayed behind, all others to an empty mansion. Spent one night in hotel with 2 US airmen.

Date captured: 8 August 1944

Capture summary: All airmen in the area were loaded in cars and taken to Gestapo HQ. Desoubrie delivered HEMMENS, LESLIE, EAGLE, and LEVERINGTON.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar # with

Buchenwald ID: 78401

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound

Kriege ID: 8100

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag Nord

Notes on internment: Many POWs were marched out by the SS in early April 1945, headed to Lubek. The column was attacked repeatedly by Allied aircraft. Joyce is not on the list of POWs at Lubek, but it does not appear to be comprehensive.

Liberation: Those at Lubek were freed by the British Guards Armored Division on 27 April 1945. Those remaining at Marlag-Milag 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: