Yes, thankyou Kai. I thought I should have just asked you directly. That link is full of great information too.

I didn't mean to mislead in my "new member" post by saying my grandfather was one of a few to survive but its been a while since I talked to him. The story he told was pretty harrowing however.
The link states: "The last delay group of 40 men suffered losses in air attacks while swimming away from the island. Of the last six men left behind enemy lines four were captured and two escaped by swimming". Interesting.
He told me that he and another man swam to the next island(the smaller one to the west of Melansaari maybe?) towing a wounded man along with them. They tried to 'borrow' a boat from some German soldiers there but were denied and had to swim to the mainland from there. I dont remember him saying what became of the wounded man.
My grandmother is living and knows the story but she doesn't like to talk about it. She was 15 when the russians ran her family off their farm near Viipuri. She's still bitter about it to this day. Who could blame her.

I hope you dont mind me bothering you for more info in the near future

Thanks