(Source: Martin Sugarman – Jewish Historical Society of England)
One of the CWGC burials in the East Ham Jewish Cemetery is that of 20 year-old Private Mark Feld, a cook serving with the Army Catering Corps and attached to No.258 Company, Pioneer Corps, stationed at Marlborough Farm Camp, Burton Dassett, in Warwickshire.
His story, although sadly not unique, is one that reveals the brutality of service life at a point in British military history where the United Kingdom had started to settle into post-war drudgery. The men of its armed forces, who had served across the world during the Second World War, had begun to return to their homes, and their places were now being filled with recently conscripted young men under the national service scheme.
In the Summer of 1946, there was considerable disgruntlement amongst some of these men and, as a result, discipline began to suffer. Urgent action needed to be taken to bring the situation under control. So tough enforcers were called for, one of these being Sergeant Patrick Francis Lyons, a 35 year-old experienced soldier, and strict disciplinarian. He was made the Provost Sergeant at the camp, and it was felt that his presence soon brought about a change in discipline amongst the soldiers stationed there. One of those men for whom Lyons appeared to have a particular dislike was Private Mark Feld, a young Jewish soldier, the son of Harry and Bessie Feld, of Stamford Hill, London.
On the night of the 18 August 1946, Private Feld was asleep in the Cooks hut at Marlborough Farm Camp. At 1am, Private Ivor Davies, laying awake in the same hut, heard the sound of someone trying the door handle at the rear of the hut. This attempt was unsuccessful, so the individual came to the front of the hut and tried the handle, this time it opened. Suddenly, an electric torch lit up the hut, and Davies saw Sergeant Lyons walk up to Private Feld and strike him a single blow with a military police truncheon.
Five minutes after this attack, Private Feld was seen to get up, get dressed and walk out of the hut. Lance Corporal James Kelly, who was on guard duty, saw Feld walking towards him with blood on his face. He spoke to him and Feld stated that he didn’t know what had happened. He reached the Camp Reception Station where Sergeant G. W. Gilchrist, R.A.M.C., put a stitch into a cut above his left ear, then dressed the wound. He described Private Feld as being “in fighting condition and struggled desperately as I inserted the stitch”.
The following morning Mark Feld was found unconscious in his bed. He was seen by Dr. D. S. Williams, of Fenny Compton, who concluded he was suffering from compression of the brain and ordered his removal to Warwick Hospital. When he arrived at the hospital it was decided to move him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. On the way there, as they approached Solihull, Private Feld died in the rear of the ambulance. Dr. J. C. Colbeck, Warwickshire County pathologist, stated at an inquest that the young soldier had a laceration passing right through the scalp, three inches above his left ear. The injury was most likely caused by a truncheon. Death was due to compression of the brain caused by hemorrhage as a result of a fracture of the skull.
Following his death, the Police were called to the camp and Sergeant Henry Storey Crampsie, who had accompanied Lyons when he made the attack, gave a statement in which he said he had spoken to Lyons earlier that evening about Feld, with whom he had had trouble previously. Lyons said, “I will get Feld before many nights.” He accompanied Lyons to Feld’s hut, but denied taking part in the affair, even though he knew what was going to happen.
Sergeant Crampsie later told Magistrates that he left the kitchen of the Sergeant’s dining room with Lyons at about 12.20 a.m. and they went towards the guard-room. On the way Lyons said, “I will show you how I’m going to do up Feld.” Lyons then went into the guard-room and brought out a military police truncheon and an American-type torch. The pair went to the cooks’ hut where Private Feld was sleeping and tried the back door, but it was locked so they went to the front door of the hut. Sergeant Lyon went in and Crampsie followed him. After flashing his torch round the hut he walked to the other end where Private Feld was sleeping. Crampsie saw him go to Feld’s bed, raise his right hand in which he held the truncheon, and bring it down with a thud. He claimed he only heard one blow. The two NCO’s then left the hut and Lyons said, “That’s got that job over. You stand by me and I will stand by you “, to which Crampsie agreed. The next morning, Lyons said to Crampsie, “You look worried. I know by your face you are going to give the game away”.
The Police later confronted Lyons with the statement made by Sergeant Crampsie. After reading it Lyons threw the statement down on the table and shouted “Lies, all lies.” Asked what he did do at the time in question, Lyons said he went for a run round the garrison after leaving the kitchen of the sergeants’ dining room, and then moved a lorry from outside the N.A.A.F.I. Lyons was then arrested and taken to Stratford-on-Avon, where he made a statement after which he was charged with murder.
Lyons was committed for trial at Warwick Assizes on 28 November 1946. A staff biologist from the West Midland Forensic Laboratory gave evidence that he examined the truncheon handed to the police by Lyons, and on its end he found a single small blonde hair which corresponded exactly with Feld’s hair. This was the piece of evidence that sealed his fate. Lyons protested that it was not his intention to kill Mark Feld but simply to “bring him into line”. Following a long deliberation, Sergeant Patrick Francis Lyons was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and was imprisoned for 10 years penal servitude.
Mark Feld’s headstone is inscribed; Mourned By Your Loving Mother, Father & Family. May Your Dear Soul Rest In Peace. A year after his death, his brother, Simeon Feld, was to see a son born, who was named Mark in honour of his fallen uncle. This young man, somewhat rebellious and seeking his own way in life, was not to become a soldier but, instead, would grow to be one of the UK’s most talented artists of the glam rock scene. You may know him better as the lead singer of T-Rex, Marc Bolan.
Remember Them.
Sources:
National Archives – ASSI 13/124
National Archives – ASSI 88/20
Banbury Guardian – Thursday 26 September 1946
In The Frontline 