2716886 Serjeant Patrick Francis COSTELLO, Irish Guards: POW

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  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    WO 344-74-1

    PART I
    General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

    1. No.: 2716886
    Rank: Sergeant
    Surname: COSTELLO
    Christian Names: Patrick Francis
    Decorations:

    2. Unit (Army): 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS
    3. Division (Army): 24 GUARDS BRIGADE, 1st ARMY

    4. Date of Birth: 25 January 1903
    5. Date of Enlistment: 28 November 1928; Recalled 1 September 1939
    6. Civilian Trade: Salesman
    7. Private Address: 256 Croxted Road, Herne Hill, London, SE 21

    8. Place of Capture: Recce Ridge, TUNISIA
    Date of Capture: 30 March 1943

    9. Were you Wounded when Captured: No

    10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
    Camp No. Location From & To
    PG 66 Capua Naples Italy 9 April 1943 - 15 Jun 1943
    PG 82 Latrinia Italy 16 Jun 1943 - 17 Sep 1943
    Stalag IVB Muhlberg Germany 21 Sep 1943 - 13 May 1944
    Stalag IIA Luckenwalde Germany 13 May 1944 - 4 May 1945

    11. Were you in a Working Camp?
    No
    Location From & To Nature of Work
    -

    12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
    No
    Nature of Illness Cause Duration
    -

    Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
    No. Spasmodic

    PART II

    2. Lectures before Capture
    (State where, when and by whom)
    (a) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave in the event of capture?:
    Ordered to give Name, Rank and No. only. No other Lecture re POW life.
    (b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
    No

    3. Interrogation after Capture
    (State where, when and methods employed by enemy)
    Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?:
    Yes. By Italian Officer in Camp 66, Capua, Italy, about 12 April 1943. Verbal interview, re Strength of Division, Guns, etc.

    4. Escapes attempted.
    Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
    (Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when captured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to our companions?)
    Escaped from Camp 82. After Italy capitulated on September 1943. Endeavoured to make way to Allied lines on foot. Re-taken by Germans and taken back to Camp 82. Mass escape from Camp. Names unknown. Not physically fit.

    5. Sabotage.
    Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc., when employed on working-parties or during escape?
    No
    (Give details, places and dates).
    -

    6. Collaboration with enemy.
    Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy against other Allied PoWS?
    No
    (Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
    -

    7. War Crimes.
    If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of “Form Q” on which to make your statement.
    -

    8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
    Yes. General bad treatment by Italian and German Camp Officers. Bad food, conditions in Huts and dirty clothing, etc. No baths for weeks, violence towards prisoners who were too weak and ill to work.

    SECURITY UNDERTAKING.
    I fully realised that all information relating to the matters covered by the questions in PART II are of a highly secret and official nature.
    I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.


    Date of Signature: 12 May 1945
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Army Number: 2716886
    Rank: Sergeant
    Name: P COSTELLO
    Unit: Irish Guards
    Theatre: North Africa
    POW Number: 222864
    Date of Capture: 30/03/1943
    Place of Capture: Recce Ridge, Tunisia
    Camp: Stalag IIIA
    TNA Reference:

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    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019

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