Welsh World War Two soldier's cigarette case found in Netherlands

A metal detector enthusiast recently uncovered a World War Two soldier’s silver cigarette case in the Netherlands, nearly 370 miles from the location where the soldier lost his life. The case belonged to Stan Drew, originally from Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan, who died on the beaches of Normandy on 24 July 1944, a few months after the D-Day landings. This remarkable find, discovered last month in a field in the municipality of Bergeijk, has sparked efforts to trace Stan’s descendants in Wales and return this personal memento to them.

The finder, Filip Krapels, who has been passionate about metal detecting for over 35 years and resides near the Belgian border in southern Netherlands, explained that the cigarette case showed significant wear and damage. It features a bullet hole and bent corners, suggesting a violent past likely connected to wartime events. One corner of the lid appears to have been pierced by a bullet, while decades of farm machinery contributed to further damage. The case’s markings reveal it is made of 92.5% sterling silver, bearing the Birmingham hallmark and was crafted in 1934. The inscription, though partly obscured, reads: “Presented to Stan Drew by the committee of the Penarth Central Boxing Club, in appreciation of his loyal service, April 10th 1937.”

Filip’s initial interpretation of the inscription was thwarted by damage, as he misread the name as “Ian Drew.” After further investigation, including examination of the letter sizes, he realized the capital “S” was missing, revealing the name Stan Drew. Meticulous research into boxing and military archives established that Stan was part of the 5th Battalion of the 1st Welsh Regiment. Born on 27 November 1912, Stan was the seventh of twelve children and assisted in managing his family’s store. He had a notable amateur boxing career at the Penarth Boxing Club, founded by his brother Bert to aid World War One veterans suffering from what was then called shell shock. Additionally, Stan had four brothers who served in World War Two, one of whom had a leg amputated. Though his body was never recovered, Stan is commemorated both at the Bayeux Memorial in France and at St Augustine’s Church in his hometown.

The circumstance of how Stan’s cigarette case ended up so far from where he died remains a mystery. Filip theorizes that the 1/5th Battalion advanced through France into Belgium and the Netherlands, eventually reaching towns such as Den Bosch, Eindhoven, and near Arnhem by late 1944. He suggests that a comrade must have picked the case up and carried it throughout the campaign. Filip remarked, “It proves that not only was it very important to Stan, but also that it was something which his friends must have wanted to return to Stan’s family after his death.” Despite the field where the case was found not being a known battleground, Filip discovered a nearby cap badge bearing the motto “Ich Dien,” which, contrary to his initial assumption that it was German, is actually the slogan of the Welsh Regiment. Filip remains committed to returning the cigarette case to Stan’s family, stating his intent to deliver it personally rather than simply posting it, aiming to honor both Stan and those comrades who sought to preserve his memory

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