Army Air Corps (formerly East Lancashire Regiment).

The Burnley Express of 10 February 1945 reported: -

ARNHEM P.O.W. BACK HOME.

Landed with the first wave of Airborne Troops at Arnhem, Private Richard Leigh Rockcliffe, whose wife and three children live at Tuscan Avenue, Burnley, arrived home on Thursday, repatriated after four months as a prisoner of war in German hands. He has been in the army four and a half years.

The first landing took place on September 17th and after four days bitter fighting Private Rockcliffe was taken prisoner on the 21st whilst laying wounded in a casualty clearing station. His first few days were spent at a large house which was shelled by both the British and Germans. As a result of his wounds his left arm was amputated at the elbow. All the time he was tended by the Royal Army Medical Corps,who looked after officers, men and some Germans, all who were treated very well. As a member of an airborne unit he was respected as a "good" soldier.

During his captivity he was in several camps before being taken to Stalag VII A. In that camp he said there was 70,000 men - Russians, Americans, Britons, Colonial Troops and sevicemen of all other Allied Forces.

Private Rockliffe arrived at Liverpool on Monday on board the "Arundel Castle" after a journey via Switzerland and France, where their reception was a signal for celebration. The Swiss people would do anything for us and gave us everything we could possibly want. He spoke very highly of the work of the Red Cross, from whom he received several parcels during his four months of captivity.

SICILY ADVENTURE.

All the repatriated men evidently felt the same way about the Red Cross, and on the way home they held several efforts and raised about £100 in aid of the organisation.

The Arnhem landing was not the first action in which Private Rockcliffe took part. During the invasion of Sicily his glider landed in the sea, and after five hours on the wing of the plane he was picked up along with other men by a rescue party, one of whom, we understand was Sick Berth Attendant Wilfred Burton, of 377, Briercliffe Road, Burnley. On Thursday he was met at the station by Mrs. A. Heap, MBE, (secretary of the Burnley POWRA and Red Cross searcher and liason officer), and Tuscan Avenue was beflagged in his honour. His parents Mr. and Mrs. William Rockcliffe live at 55, Harold Avenue, Burnley. Mr. Rockliffe has been a sergeant-major in both the present war and the last.