Cameron Highlander, Tobruk. POW PG10/PG68/PG55 1942/3

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by alistair wilson, Oct 15, 2017.

  1. I'm new to this so all help (and patience) appreciated!
    My grandfather was L/cpl Alexander Wilson 293226, of Clydebank, Glasgow. Recruited into Cameron Highlanders and passed out in early 1940.

    I have telegrams stating missing in action 21/06/42 (Tobruk), confirmed as POW in Italy on 19/09/42.
    A letter home from PG 10 dated 06/02/43
    A telegram stating relocation to PG 68 dated 09/03/43 then another stating location at PG 55 dated 02/04/43.

    At some point after this he escaped with others into Switzerland. I have some letters dated from 11/03/44 from various British Legation/Camp d/internment militaire in Switzerland including Caux and Adelboden.

    His letters/address book mention various names which may be of interest both military and in Switzerland including'
    Jock Forsythe POW from Duntocher (had malaria)
    E.H Fitzpatrick, 1691862, RAF, Lincolnshire.
    A. Fitzpatrick, 14528658, Ormskirk.

    and from Switzerland?;
    Brigette Noscote, Zurich.
    Alice Naegel, Grindelwald.
    Hanni Schmoker, Merringen
    Frau Norton... possibly Morton... looks like a ski instructor! Bad handwriting.

    I'd love to build up a better picture of his life through those times from his time in training at Inverness, to his time in service, in camps, and in Switzerland.
    I have quite a nice little archive of pictures, letters and telegrams which i'd be happy to upload if anyone's interested.
    thanks,
     
    CL1, amberdog45, Guy Hudson and 2 others like this.
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Welcome to the forum and good luck with your research
     
    alistair wilson likes this.
  3. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    My reading of 4th Indian Division tends to start where yours will leave off--around the time off the loss 11th Ind Bde at Tobruk, but I'd still be most interested to see the material you mention.

    I suppose you have/have seen the standard/official 4th Ind Div publications? If not, drop me a line.
     
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  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Welcome aboard Alistair.
     
    alistair wilson likes this.
  5. BarbaraWT

    BarbaraWT Member

    Sounds fascinating! Yes please :)
     
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  6. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Would like to see those letters and anything else. Apply for his service record from MOD in Glasgow and you should find him in the casualty lists at findmypast.

    Also apply for his POW info from the Red Cross. I believe enquiries are now closed for this quarter and will be taking new enquiries in the New Year, if I remember correctly.

    Welcome to the forum too.
    P.S. if you select the Watch Thread on top right, you will be alerted to any updates to your thread.
     
    alistair wilson likes this.
  7. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    alister, has & when you get chance, can you post up the info that you have? It can be some what rare to see such documents...

    Welcome to the forum by the way & good luck with your research.. It does look as if its going to be interesting. There are enough smart cookies on here to find the answers.

    Regards
    Stu.
     
    BarbaraWT likes this.
  8. I have a quite a lot of files, so i'll start with a few tasters!!
     

    Attached Files:

  9. the chap in the middle of the photo is my grandad, think one of the other two might be Jock Forsythe.
    any help in deciphering the handwriting in the frau skiing letter would be helpful.
     
    BarbaraWT likes this.
  10. theres a few more, i also have his grade card, a couple of other letters, his pay book which is surprisingly empty, his discharge forms, and an address book with some leads in.
    as far as i can find out, the poem is his original work. i read it at his funeral in 1992. cant believe it's taken me this long to realise resources like this site now exist!!
     

    Attached Files:

  11. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Alistair, these are some exceedingly interesting documents and papers. There are several forum members who will find these of great interest and use. Thank you for posting.

    Steve
     
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  12. tandmcolley@gmail.com

    tandmcolley@gmail.com Junior Member

    Alistair I know you have contacted me via E- Mail but in the meantime look up your Grandfathers POW records on Ancestry .com.I know you will have to pay but if they are on there you will get all the info from when he was first captured and all the way to his repatriation to England. Each escapee had to provide details once they got back. They had to give info on all who had helped them and what they had given them ie clothes and money. It was invaluable in our research. Every step of the way back was recorded including the names of all the partisans who had helped the men. My brother even obtained a book written by one of the camp internees giving a day to day account of life in Camp 55 Busseto and 55/6 saterlight camp at S Antonio La Costa.It was out of print but he managed to get a copy on the net from an antique book shop.Hear from you soon hopefully.Good Luck !
     
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  13. tandmcolley@gmail.com

    tandmcolley@gmail.com Junior Member

    "Nothing Better To Do "by Bombardier Arthur James Charles Wallis,Royal Engineers,Eighth Army ,4th Indian Division
     
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  14. Thanks, I have sent some enquiries! Doesn't seem like an easy book to find.
    In the meantime I will have a look on ancestry.com.
    thank you. Did you ever go to Barreto?
     
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Ancestry.co.uk POW records will only provide you with minimal details

    About UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
    This database contains a listing of World War II British Army, Navy and Air Force prisoners of war (POW). Information provided about them includes:
    Name

    Rank

    Branch of the armed forces

    Regiment

    POW number

    Camp type

    Camp number

    Camp location

    Record office

    Record Office number

    Notes

    If you can obtain his liberation questionnaire from The National Archives it will fill in more details of all the camps they were in including the sub/work camps.
    Archive Research - www.arcre.com this is run by another member and if you check out the site you will see liberation questionnaires as a specific subject in the right hand list.

    TD
     
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  16. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Alistair,
    First name(s) A
    Last name Wilson
    Service number 2932266
    Rank Lance Corporal
    Regiment 2nd Btn Cameron Highlanders
    Unit or regiment 2nd Btn Cameron Highlanders
    Year 1942
    Date of capture 1942-06-21
    Interviewed in Switzerland 1943-10-10
    Series WO208/4276
    The National Archives series WO208
    Series name POW - Escape via Switzerland - report
    The National Archives piece number 4276

    PM Drew5233 or PsyWar.Org who will copy the report for you.

    Guy
     
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  17. that's amazing, Guy, thanks, is that through findmypast? Is there a report for J T Forsyth (2932248) and R Baptist as well??
     
  18. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Is this your man, 8th D.L.I., he was also interviewed?
    Baptist R.
    Service number 4455336
    Rank Private
    Regiment 8th Btn Durham Light Infantry
    Unit or regiment 8th Btn Durham Light Infantry
    Year 1942
    Date of capture 1942-06-21
    Interviewed in Switzerland 1943-10-09
    Series WO208/4240
    The National Archives series WO208
    Series name POW - Escape via Switzerland - report
    The National Archives piece number 4240

    There is a reference to J.T. Forsyth in Stalag IV F, no escape & evasion interview.

    J. T.
    Last name Forsyth
    Service number 2932248
    Rank Private
    Regiment The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
    Camp type STALAG
    Camp number 4F
    Camp location Hartmansdorf Chemnitz
     
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  19. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
    Name: J T Forsyth
    Rank: Private
    Army Number: 2932248
    Regiment: Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
    POW Number: 228934
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: IV-F
    Camp Location: Hartmannsdorf, Saxony
    Record Office: Infantry Record Office, Perth
    Record Office Number: 16

    R Baptist will not show on the database at Ancestry as he was not in a POW camp late 1944/early 1945 when IRC did their last run around all the camps

    TD
     
    alistair wilson likes this.
  20. Thanks. I have the prisoner of war list that JT Forsyth was in pg 70 and my grandfathers letter from pg70 sounds like he was with Forsyth at that time. Is it fair to assume that Forsyth was transferred to Germany after the armistice... what evidence might be available to try and find out whether or not he came home?? I can find no death certificate on ancestry. Maybe he died in captivity?
     

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