South Yorkshire Times, October 30th 1943
Flag Decked Street
Marks Mexborough Prisoner’s Return
Wood Street, Mexborough, was this week gay with flags, Union Jacks predominating, but with a few survivors of the Coronation celebrations taking an unexpected airing, and above all, a strip banner, tethered at one end to the upper storey of number 24, and stretching right across the street. On it was the word ‘‘Welcome.” The welcome was for Lance-Sergeant Cyril Bennett (28), whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Bennett, live at number 24. Lance Sergeant Bennett was among the prisoners of war who have been repatriated. The display of flags was the neighbours’ way of showing their pleasure in this happy restoration. From this street three lads in all have endured the privations of the same prison camp in Germany.
First to manifest their feelings were Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Severn whose 23-year-old son, Sapper Ronald Severn, is still a prisoner. He was among the first 6,000 prisoners to be taken by the German armies advancing through France in 1940, and has spent three years in Stalag VIIIb. They hung out a Union Jack from the bedroom window on Sunday. Mrs. Severn told a reporter “We thought we ought to put the flag out for him.” As my eldest son said “He is worth it, he has done his bit for us.” It was not long before others in the street followed suit.”
Lance Sergt. Bennett’s wife, who lives at Rotherham, received official news of her husband’s homecoming last Thursday and on Monday evening a telegram from Lance Sergt. Bennett himself which said “arrived safely in England. Going into hospital for medical examination, Cyril.” Apart from the fact that he has injuries to his right leg, his relatives do not know his condition. He was taken prisoner at Arras in 1940, when his tank was the first of a section of the East Riding Yeomanry travelling with a supply column through the forests near Arras. They encountered a German patrol and his tank was seen to be hit. Subsequently he was reported killed in action, but in December 1940 his wife had a letter from him and the Red Cross informing them that he was in hospital in Belgium. He was moved to a German hospital, then Stalag IXc and quite recently to Stalag VIIIb. Lance Sergt. Bennett joined the Army five years ago, leaving work at Denaby Main Colliery. He served with the Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and was with them in Palestine during the trouble between the Jews and the Arabs. Wood Street’s other prisoner in VIIIb is Gunner Charlie Deakin (21), son of Mrs. Deakin, a neighbour of Mrs. Bennett. He went to France in March 1940 and was taken at the time of Dunkirk.