Hi I have been researching my family tree and I have been struggling to find any information with regards to my Grandad. I have found some old letters from WW2 with the following information. This is all I have as my family never really spoke much about my Grandad and I was only 2 when he died. Alan Geoffrey Neale Gunner 1527980 Royal Artillery Pow Number 153959 Stalag 398 They was living in Pye Bridge, Alfreton, Derbyshire of the time of the war. Many Thanks Ricky Neale
Hi Ricky, and welcome to the Forum. Stalag 398 was in a lovely part of Austria (see below) and quite often the POWs had to work in the vinyards which made their life barable, despite being a prisoner. If you want to visit the place, let me know. Do you speak/understand german/Austrian? Stefan. Pupping - Wikipedia
Hi Thank you. At this stage I know very little with regards to my Grandad. I would love to visit at some point in the future, unfornutaly I know very little German. My Dad doesn't really know much because after the War my Grandad was very ill and this was never really spoke about in the house. Thanks Ricky
Hi, Welcome to the forum. Your starting point ought to be to apply to MOD for your grandfather’s service papers using the forms in the below link. It will cost £30 and takes 4 to 6 weeks to get a reply. You should also apply to the Red Cross for his POW record when the next enquiry window opens 14th September 2018. An online application form will pop up that morning. You need to be quick off the mark as the enquiry window will close due to the limit being quickly reached within 48 hours. It’s a free service and it takes about 4 months to get the papers from your application. The annoying feature of the ICRC system is that you don’t get an email receipt acknowledging safe receipt of your application. Get a copy of military service records Requests for information about people held during Spanish Civil War or the Second World War: Quarterly limit reached A member may be able to turn up his RA Attestation and his details from the official Casualty lists which are available on Findmypast site. You may need to return to the forum for some help to interpret the documents you receive from MOD & ICRC. Good Luck Steve
Ricky, Your grandfather was serving with the 72nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery when he was posted as missing on the 4th June 1942. The Ripley and Heanor News 11th September 1942 reported that he was now a p.o.w. in Italy. In Italy he was held in PG 65 Gravina - Altamura He would have transferred to Stalag XVIIB (398) when Italy capitulated. Good luck with your reserach Guy
Thank you for this Information, The picture is my granddad as the exact same picture was kept on my grandma's bedside table. Again Thank you for this. This will really help with my research.
Guy beat me to it re: Gravina. There is a useful thread on the forum about this camp. It may be of some interest as background reading. Campo 65 Gravina Report
