South Yorkshire Times, May 20th, 1944
Five Months “On The Run”
Wombwell Man Caught by Germans
After a wait of nine months, Mr. and Mrs. James Watkins, of 29, Lundhill Row, Hemingfield, have had their anxiety relieved by a message from their son, Guardsman James Watkin (23) who is now a prisoner of war in Germany. He had previously been in a prison camp in Italy and for many months was “on the run.”
His letters indicate that he had been “hiding out” in the hills in North Italy and was eventually recaptured by the Germans who he says are now treating him well. He says the food he had while at liberty was the best he has had since he left England. He was well looked after by the Italian people.
Formerly employed by Messrs. William Johnson and sons, builders, Watkin joined up in December 1940 and was drafted to the Middle East with the Coldstream Guards in December 1941 and taken prisoner at Tobruk in June 1942. Altogether he was at liberty five months. Watkin, who is an old boy of Hemingfield village school, had had four birthdays in the Service, one at Caterham, one in Cairo, one in Italy and one in Germany.
His brother, Pte. Fred Watkin (25), R.A.S.C. who married a Barnsley girl, was in the withdrawal from Dunkirk and is now serving in this country