Andreas Sihler

On 16 Jan 1944, when Klagenfurt was being subjected to a bomb raid, a bomb fell on a work party that was clearing snow from the Lend Canal. Mick Cister, a POW in Klagenfurt, died from wounds as a result of the bombing. Mick's story appeared in my third blog in June.

Also killed was Andreas Sihler, a camp guard.

Andreas Sihler, Camp Guard

Sihler was born on 8 March 1900. He had been a soldier in the German army since 1922. In 1940, his regiment was sent to Finland. The harsh conditions led to him becoming ill. He was repatriated to his hometown of Klagenfurt and was assigned to guard prisoners in the POW camp in Klagenfurt. From time to time he was charged with guarding work party prisoners. On the day that Mick Cister was fatally wounded in the bomb raid, Andreas Sihler was killed.

Sihler was married with a 4-year-old son, Horst. I had the opportunity to meet Horst in Klagenfurt in 2015. He told me that the only thing he remembered of his father was his funeral. Horst, then aged 75, was a published poet and a former film critic. For a time he ran his own cinema in Klagenfurt. Oddly enough, it was located on the Lend canal. Horst and I exchanged photos of our fathers and he presented me with his most recent book of poetry. 

Note: My meeting with Horst was arranged by Klagenfurt historian, Paul Angler.

Horst Sihler and Self meet in Klagenfurt

The Lend Canal photographed in September, 2015

Pre-war postcard of the Lend Canal from Kevin Byrne's collection. The previous photo was taken from the bridge in the background.

From Carol Armstrong last week

My father, Tom Hornsby, was installing telephone cables for the Olympic rowing regatta at Lake Wendouree [Ballarat] in 1956. Some German rowers were nearby sharing jokes. Dad laughed and they wondered how he knew what they were saying. When he explained that he had been a POW in Austria they were really surprised and interested. Dad never really did hold a grudge against the ordinary German soldiers or people.

The orchestra for Aladdin, the 1943 Christmas Pantomine. Note the faux ceiling and the stage light. Left to Right: Frank Murray, Reg Holford, Jock Woods, Johnny Dawson, Mick Lanham, F.L. Lynford, Stuart Spooner, and J Harvey

Back: JH 'Jock' Woods, F ‘Blossom’ Linford, Don Winter, Johnny Dawson, Frank Woods, Ken Kewell, Front: John Samuels , R 'Kinder' Bartlett, Reg Holford. 1943

Musician Profiles

Dawson, John

Driver Johnny Dawson was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. He was a piano accordianist in the orchestra.

Harvey, J

Driver J Harvey was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. He played trumpet in the camp orchestra.

Holford, Reginald

Driver Reg Holford played drums in the camp orchestra. Born 0n 10 Mar 1916, he was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. Reg died in 1993 at Haverfordwest, Dyfed, Wales.

Kewell, Kenneth

Gunner Ken Kewell was a member of the Royal Artillery.

Lanham, Ivo

Private Ivo 'Mick' Lanham was a member of 6th Division Petrol Company, Australian Army Ordinance Corps. Mick was born at Launceston, Tasmania on 7 Nov 1919 according to his enlistment records however his family records clearly state that he was born 07 Nov 1921 which means that he was 19 when he enlisted, not 21. After his repatriation from Army Service he undertook to return to study under the Australian Government's Retraining programme. He went to University in Hobart, becoming an accountant. His niece Gaele Arnott repots that the psychological damage from his years as a POW continued to plague him until his death in Launceston, Tasmania, in 1976. He was 57.

Lynford, F.L.

Driver Frank Linford was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. He played violin.

Murray, Francis William

Francis Murray was captured at Crete. He was a member of the 2/3 Field Regiment,
Royal Australian Artillery. Francis enlisted in Western Australia but was born in Newcastle, England on 19 Sep 1911.

Samuels, John Robert

Private Johnny Samuels was a member of 28 Maori Battalion, New Zealand Infantry. 

Spooner, Stuart Bernard

Private Stuart Spooner was a member of the New Zealand Army. He was a saxophinist in the orchestra. 

Woods, F.B.

Driver Frank Woods was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. 

Woods, James H.

Driver Jock Woods was a member of the Royal Engineers. Jock played violin in the camp orchestra. He was born in Glasgow in about 1915. He emigrated to Australia in 1949.