I’M currently writing a book about the capture of Heinrich Himmler towards the end of the Second World War and I know a L/Sgt W Morris was included in a list of lads that took part in the seizure of the man who was a leading member of the Nazi Party and was responsible for the administration of the Third Reich’s SS.

Lance Sergeant W Morris, of Holly Cottage, Elton – a community on the northern border of Herefordshire with Shropshire – was among the group which arrested Himmler with two others near Bremen Germany in May 1945.

He was using false papers under the name of Heinrich Hitzinger.

The patrol which apprehended him was made up of five men from 196 Battery, 73rd Anti tank, Royal Artillery and one of them was my grandfather L/Sgt Patrick Mannion, of Newton le Willows on Merseyside.

I know L/S Morris was in the party of men who captured Himmler and used his Elton address when he signed up.

I know he was not killed, but little else except that he wrote the report of the capture.

I am hoping to trace any of his living relatives to see if they can help piece together the full story on Himmler’s capture, with information, photos, stories handed down, service records etc. I already have much to share with them.

The Imperial War Museum North will be displaying photos, artifacts and documents about Himmler’s capture as part of the Second World War in Focus exhibition which starts this May and runs until the end of the year.

It would be nice for L/S Morris to get the recognition he deserves and for his family to know the story and be proud.

If anyone can help my research I can be contacted by email at anti tank73@hotmail.com

CHRIS MANNION Newton le Willows Merseyside