Private Walter Lynes
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Walter Victor Lynes was captured and taken prisoner of war after fighting the German troops in and around Le Paradis. He was part of the Allied attempts to halt the German advance towards the French coast.
Walter was born in Arminghall, Norfolk, on January 18th, 1919 - the fifth of seven children. The family moved to Salhouse when Walter was just six months old after his father took a job as a farm labourer.
Walter and his brother George, who were firm friends as well as siblings, got up to lots of mischief together as they grew up, but they both loved nature and spent a considerable amount of time in the nearby woods. Woodland and trees were in Walter's blood.
Walter left school at 14 and got a job as a delivery boy for Roy's of Wroxham on a wage of 7/6d (just over 37p) a week. He then trained as a carpenter at one of the local boatyards before joining Boulton and Paul in Norwich as an apprentice at the age of 16. Walter then signed up for the Royal Norfolk Regiment and saw active service in France, which is how he came to be fighting in the area around Le Paradis in May, 1940.
Walter wasn't involved in the massacre but was captured and spent the remainder of the war as a German prisoner-of-war, being sent to Poland where he was incarcerated in Stalag XX1B. It is possible he may have come across Bill O'Callaghan who spent some time in the same camp.
Walter later told stories of being kept in an old damp cellar for six months but accepting the situation with the words: "You have to expect that sort of thing when you are a soldier in war. We kept each other going and it wasn't all that bad." Walter, like many prisoners of war, were also forced to march.
Walter remained a POW for the remainder of the war before being repatriated after the German surrender. He left the army in 1946 and met his wife to be Joan at a dance in Swardeston just outside Norwich. They were married in April 1948 and his daughter Heather was born in 1957. Sadly his beloved Joan died in 2001 and Walter passed away seven years later on March 21st, 2008. Walter and Joan had two grandchildren who now have children of their own.
Walter was an enthusiastic member of the Norfolk and Norwich Branch of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association. He was renowned as a practical joker and a natural storyteller and loved cooking. He also had a strong Christian faith and caring nature. His niece Linda Forder remembers him as a jovial uncle:
"He was always happy and never moaned. He was very popular and had a great love for his daughter Heather. He loved playing cards with the family and having family around him, " Linda said. Walter was also described by many as "the life and soul of any party." As he grew older, Walter maintained a wonderful head of white hair.
On returning to civvy street after the war, Walter rejoined Boulton and Paul and worked there until his retirement. The photograph below shows a presentation to Walter to mark his retirement.
Walter was born in Arminghall, Norfolk, on January 18th, 1919 - the fifth of seven children. The family moved to Salhouse when Walter was just six months old after his father took a job as a farm labourer.
Walter and his brother George, who were firm friends as well as siblings, got up to lots of mischief together as they grew up, but they both loved nature and spent a considerable amount of time in the nearby woods. Woodland and trees were in Walter's blood.
Walter left school at 14 and got a job as a delivery boy for Roy's of Wroxham on a wage of 7/6d (just over 37p) a week. He then trained as a carpenter at one of the local boatyards before joining Boulton and Paul in Norwich as an apprentice at the age of 16. Walter then signed up for the Royal Norfolk Regiment and saw active service in France, which is how he came to be fighting in the area around Le Paradis in May, 1940.
Walter wasn't involved in the massacre but was captured and spent the remainder of the war as a German prisoner-of-war, being sent to Poland where he was incarcerated in Stalag XX1B. It is possible he may have come across Bill O'Callaghan who spent some time in the same camp.
Walter later told stories of being kept in an old damp cellar for six months but accepting the situation with the words: "You have to expect that sort of thing when you are a soldier in war. We kept each other going and it wasn't all that bad." Walter, like many prisoners of war, were also forced to march.
Walter remained a POW for the remainder of the war before being repatriated after the German surrender. He left the army in 1946 and met his wife to be Joan at a dance in Swardeston just outside Norwich. They were married in April 1948 and his daughter Heather was born in 1957. Sadly his beloved Joan died in 2001 and Walter passed away seven years later on March 21st, 2008. Walter and Joan had two grandchildren who now have children of their own.
Walter was an enthusiastic member of the Norfolk and Norwich Branch of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association. He was renowned as a practical joker and a natural storyteller and loved cooking. He also had a strong Christian faith and caring nature. His niece Linda Forder remembers him as a jovial uncle:
"He was always happy and never moaned. He was very popular and had a great love for his daughter Heather. He loved playing cards with the family and having family around him, " Linda said. Walter was also described by many as "the life and soul of any party." As he grew older, Walter maintained a wonderful head of white hair.
On returning to civvy street after the war, Walter rejoined Boulton and Paul and worked there until his retirement. The photograph below shows a presentation to Walter to mark his retirement.
Below is a photograph of Walter with Peddler Palmer and Bob Brown during a visit to Le Paradis. Peddler Palmer and Bob Brown are also featured on this web site.
Below is a gallery of family photos including Walter and Joan's wedding day and the couple with their daughter Heather. We are very grateful to Heather Ashworth and Linda and Trevor Forder for permission to reproduce these images. Click on the images to enlarge them.
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