Private John Christopher SPADEMAN
Northamptonshire Regiment 5887400
John was the son of Marian Ellen Spademan who, when she returned from nursing in World War I, moved to Woodnewton from London, where John had been born in the Hackney District in 1919.
At the time of the 1939 Register, his mother Marian was living in Essex Street, Northampton as a Housekeeper. However, John cannot be found in this Register, which means that he was already in the regular army serving with the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. (Registration of members of the armed forces was dealt with by the military authorities, so the 1939 Register does not include service personnel in military).
John, was held in a prisoner of war camp in Poland, and died on Tuesday, 17th September 1940. He was buried in grave 6.A.14 at the Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery in Poland.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission tells us that most of the Second World War burials at the Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery relate to men who died while prisoners of war in the nearby camps. When hostilities ceased the graves from the local burial grounds were brought into the Malbork Cemetery.
The town of Malbork (formerly known as Marienburg) lies in the north of Poland approx 60kms south east of Gdansk. From the main A1 GDANSK to LODZ take the exit for the Road 22 MALBORK / GNOJEWO Continue for approx 24kms and immediately after crossing the river at Malbork Castle turn right following Road 55 GRUDZIADZ (CWGC sign). This road is called ALEJA ARMII KRAJOWEJ. Continue for approx 2kms (road name changes to 500-LECIA) and the cemetery can be found on the left.