Hunt is on for the (Oldham) men who captured Himmler

TWO Second World War soldiers from Oldham could have been part of a group of five who captured the architect of the Holocaust, Heinrich Himmler.

Amateur researcher Chris Mannion is determined to recognise the five British men instrumental in the arrest of the tyrannical Nazi SS leader as he fled Berlin in disguise at the end of the war.

Gunner T Howard, from Galland Street, and Gunner J Lowe, from Hawksley Street, were part of the 196 anti-tank battery that fought through France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany, arriving just outside Bremen around the same time as Himmler.

On May 21 1945, Himmler was stopped by five suspicious 196 battery soldiers. Mr Mannion, from Merseyside, is determined to discover who the five were.

Mr Mannion said: “My interest peaked when I saw the arrest report and discovered that my grandfather, Lance Sergeant Patrick Mannion, has been the arresting officer.,” he revealed.

Mr Mannion has since discovered the identities of two more of the five, one from Manchester and the other from Liverpool, and is determined to find the remaining two.

The details of Himmler’s capture remain largely unreported, though his suicide by cyanide two days later has been documented thoroughly.

The actions of the five brought Himmler to the British 31st Civilian Interrogation Camp near Luneburg on May 23 1945, and itwas here the allies discovered who they had captured - the most powerful man in the Third Reich after Hitler.

Mr Mannion said: “It would be great if anybody who recognises or knows the names of Gunner T Howard or Gunner J Lowe could get in touch so we can properly honour these men who did so much.”

Contact the Chronicle, or Chris at antiank73@hotmail.com.