A BIOGRAPHY revealing the experiences of a Warrington veteran who guarded infamous Nazis Rudolf Hess and Albert Speer at a Berlin prison during the war has been released.
Latchford lad, Derek Vernon, 89, has given the writer of the newly released book a ‘personal account’ of his extraordinary time working as a prison guard at Spandau Prison.
The biography, titled Derek Vernon: A Cold War Veteran In His Own Words, follows Derek’s story as a ‘young man in the 1950’s’ who was called up for national service and stationed in Berlin.
Providing a summary of the story, the book teases: “In this candid and deeply personal account, Derek reflects on military life, friendships forged in uniform, and the experiences that shaped the man he would become.
A German artist drawing made of Derek while he was working in Berlin (Image: Supplied)
“Beyond the history and the headlines, this is a story of character, of humour in the ordinary, unwavering loyalty, and above all, a deep love for his wife and family.”
The former prison guard’s son Derek, also from Latchford, told the Warrington Guardian of how his dad worked as a guard in the notorious prison – famously used to hold top Nazi war criminals convicted at the Nuremberg Trials – between the years of 1955 and 1958.
Derek told of how his dad guarded both Rudolf Hess and Albert Speer, high-ranking Nazi officials who were serving time after being convicted at the trials – Hess was serving a life sentence for his role Hitler’s Deputy Führer.
“The guards were told that they had to turn their back on Hess,” Derek said, recalling his father’s account of that time.
“He once said under his breath to my dad ‘English swine’.”
Derek Vernon and his son Derek visiting Spandau Prison in Berlin where Derek worked as a guard in the war (Image: Supplied)
Derek told that he and his family make regular trips every year to go back to Berlin with his dad to visit the places his dad was stationed.
“Last year, an American radio station interviewed dad live from his old guard box in Berlin,” he said.
During Derek’s time completing national service, he was also stationed at RAF Gatow, a former airfield in the south-west of Berlin.
His son revealed how Derek was good at working with electrics and helped to rewire the airbase.
Upon returning to the UK after completing his national service, Derek returned to working at Richmond’s factory in Warrington where he met his wife Cath and went on to have three children; Derek, Carol and Glenn.
Derek working at Richmond’s factory post national service (Image: Supplied)
He is still to this day a passionate Warrington Town FC fan and attends all the matches, Derek’s son tells, and is ‘well known and loved’ by many in the area.
Speaking on his dad’s thoughts on the release of the biography about his life, Derek added: “He is absolutely made up about it. He is signing autographs, he is love by a lot of people so it is wonderful to see. He is very proud.”
Derek Vernon: A Cold War Veteran In His Own Words can be purchased now on Amazon.
Derek is a life-long Warrington Town FC fan (Image: Supplied)