Branch of Service

Air Force

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

31/01/1942

Date of Discharge

13/02/1946

Place of Enlistment

Melbourne, Victoria

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

21/06/1922

Place of Birth

Sydney NSW

School(s) Attended

Burrinjuck Public School, Leeton High School, Canberra Grammar School

Occupation

Grazier

Next of Kin

Roger Ansell (father), Yanco NSW

Service Number

410615

Final Rank

Warrant Officer

Final Unit

2 Medical Rehabilitation Unit

Ansell was a Wireless Operator in a Lancaster bomber crew which had completed 16 successful missions over Germany. His aircraft left on a mission from RAF Skellingthorpe in Lincolnshire on 26 February 1944 to bomb Augsburg in Germany when his plane was hit by enemy fire and the crew had to bale out over France. Ansell was rescued by the French Resistance and hid in local farmhouses until the Underground devised a plan for his escape through Spain. However Ansell was betrayed by one of his guides and captured about one mile from the Spanish border. He became a prisoner of war and, because he was regarded as a spy, he was interrogated by the Gestapo at Fresnes Prison in Paris. Over the next 18 months he was imprisoned at Stalag Luft III and then Stalag Luft VII. A keen jazz musician, Ansell formed a band while imprisoned. His father received a letter from another POW who was on a march with Ansell who apparently carried a piano accordion to keep up the spirits of the men. Ansell died on 18 December 1998 and was buried in Wagga Wagga General Cemetery. His name is included on the Ex-Prisoner of War memorial at Ballarat.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
The Canberra Times - 14 December 1933, 15 May 1944
Image from 'The Canberran : Magazine of Canberra Grammar School', 1937 (p.34)
AWM Collections Record : P03075.001, P03075.002, P03075.003, P03075.004
NAA RecordSearch - Series A705 166/5/448