A countrywide search is on for a Cape Town World War II hero or his descendants after he was commemorated in France for his bravery.
Soldier Ebrahim Adams, born in 1916, was remembered on Wednesday in France at the 75th anniversary of the freeing of the Fréteval Evaders.
Adams fought in the war as a Sapper in the 1st Field Company, South African Indian and Malay Corps, which was part of the South African Engineer Corps (SAEC).
At that time, he lived at 158 Long Street in the Cape Town CBD, reports the Cape Argus.
He escaped from the Italian prison camp on 7 May 1944, and hid with other soldiers in the forest at Fréteval until they were rescued in August 1944.
Author Rob Belk and his wife, Caire, living in France have been researching a relative’s part in the rescue of Evaders from Fréteval near Paris.
The author states that all the escapees were taken back to Britain for debriefing.
Their reports were kept top secret for decades, but were later declassified.
In the report of the Fréteval camp commander, Lieutenant Berry, there is a note saying he wished to commend Private Adams.
“His morale, spirit and discipline were very fine the whole time. He never complained and would immediately stop anyone else he heard complaining. He showed-up many white men by his cheerfulness and fine example.”
Belk said: “With the 75th anniversary of the freeing of the Fréteval Evaders and in honour of private Adams, I would like that this story be known to the people of Cape Town and Ebrahim’s descendants.”
Cape Argus