Driver "Johnny" Myers RA

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by tedfromscrubs, Dec 7, 2014.

  1. tedfromscrubs

    tedfromscrubs Junior Member

    Evening All

    Having obtained the entire file on Signalman Sidney Smith

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/51822-signalman-sidney-seymour-smith-pow-italy-died-march-1944/

    I am intrigued by the attached letters from a J Myers to the powers that be about Sidney, his Italian helpers and his murder.

    Whilst researching Anthony Swingler

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/53437-anthony-swingler-doris-and-gino/

    I was sent an interview with Gino Antognozzi, who was 17 at the time of these events. In this interview he refers more than once to a "Johnny" who was tall with blue eyes, well built and lots of women fell in love with him :wink: . Clearly Gino and the other local Italians looked up to him as some sort of commander and he seems possibly to have been involved with the local partisans.

    This is all in the hilltop town of Montelparo in Le Marche region of Italy.

    I would like to find out a bit more about this Johnny. He could have been an escapee like the others and I'd be grateful if someone could check the PoW lists for Servigliano, Sfozacosta and Monte Urano. Or alternatively he could have been dropped in to assist the Resistance after the Armistice in September 1943.

    You'll see he signs himself 856460 Dvr Myers J.W. RA

    Others will understand much better than me what that all signifies and any tips and suggestions very welcome

    Many thanks and Merry Christmas

    Anne
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Anne,
    This may take some research as there is little to go on, perhaps?


    John Myers
    Birth 5 Jan 1921 in Bradford, West Yorkshire
    Death Apr-May-Jun 1978 in Bradford, West Yorkshire


    Marriage to Evelyn GREEN
    1943 Age: 22 Bradford, West Yorkshire

    Myers does seem to be a North East UK name, so there are quite a number born & married in that part of the world. It may be worth considering finding out if he completed a liberation questionnaire as that may provide more personal details to aid your search.

    TD
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Assuming his service number is correct, he survived the war.
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Anne

    It should be possible (others will have better info) to obtain a basic service history for him, unless he is still alive, which again would provide more detailed info.
    I could be totally wrong on that of course, - it has been known :(

    TD
     
  5. tedfromscrubs

    tedfromscrubs Junior Member

    View attachment 190.pdf Thanks both. It was easier than I expected since his E&E report was online at the NA (attached)!

    He was a Gunner not a Driver, and clearly is the Johnny of Gino's memory. He certainly was an accomplished escape artist!
     
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  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Anne

    There are 3 born in Yorkshire in that time period of his birth of July 1918:

    John W Myers
    Jul-Aug-Sep 1918 Bramley Yorkshire West Riding

    John W Myers
    Jul-Aug-Sep 1918 Wharfedale Yorkshire


    John W Myers
    Jul-Aug-Sep 1918 Skirlaugh Yorkshire North Riding

    As I said earlier - its a 'common' name in them there parts

    TD
     
  7. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    TD, Anne,
    MYERS John William, he enlisted in the RA in 1936. Transfered to the Military Police in 1945.



    Regards

    Guy
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    TD, Anne
    I found a mention of Gunner John William Myers in the Yorkshire Evening Post in December 1942. A radio broadcast confirmed he was a POW and he was fit and well. It was addressed to Miss Ann Kitchen. After his repatriation, John Myers and Ann Kitchen married in Bradford in late 1944. There are three possible daughters and I have found a current address for one.
    Regards
    Guy
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Well found Guy

    The daughters would be :
    Brenda, Shirley & Jacqueline

    TD
     
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  10. tedfromscrubs

    tedfromscrubs Junior Member

    Thanks so much TD and Guy. I don't know how you do it! You're much better at this than me which is why I keep mithering this site :)

    I would love to contact John's descendants to learn more. Guy, do you think I could make an approach??

    Anne
     
  11. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Anne,
    I'll pm the daughter's address.
    Guy
     
  12. tedfromscrubs

    tedfromscrubs Junior Member

    Hooray! Having written to the address given me by Guy last December, I yesterday received a reply which I copy below plus the subsequent correspondence. It seems pretty clear to me that Johnny was the father of the 3 daughters named above. I am in touch with Jacqueline, and this has now turned into a search for her and her sisters as much as it is about finding out more about Johnny himself.

    As you'll see from the email correspondence below, Jackie knows absolutely nothing about her Dad, and doesn't even have a photo. She was never told what happened. I am going to put together a file of documents for her from info I have about Johnny and others he must also have known whilst hiding out in Italy.

    Meanwhile I wondered if you good people could help Jackie with advice on where to look for further info. I'm guessing she will need step by step guidance.

    Given that we have his Service number and know he was in the RA - who should she contact and how for his Service record?

    Any other info in the Yorkshire Post or other local papers? We know he returned to the UK on about 22nd Sept 1944 and given his escape stories there might have been an article....

    Did he have any brothers or sisters who had children?

    I will keep looking too but you guys are the specialists and may be able to provide short-cuts or just clear advice on any admin steps Jackie will have to take. I've already sent her a link to this thread so she will probably drop in from time to time.

    Many thanks in advance for any further info

    Anne

    Here's the email trail:

    Hi I am Jacqueline white I received a letter on the 11th December 2014.I wasn't able to answer you earlier as I couldn't find my birth certificate to verify my fathers middle name and it is William.I am not able to tell you very much as we grew up with my mother not telling us much about him at all.what she did say is that I was called after him as I was born on his birthday. I also have 2 older sisters, I never even saw a photo of him. I also know he was a wagon driver as it is written on my birth certificate.i am very sorry I can't tell you anymore information and still don't know if he is indeed my father,you know a lot more than I do.It is very important to me that if he is I would like all the information I could get.

    I sent Jackie a link to this thread

    Hi again Ann indeed you have found my dad my mam was Anne kitchen and I am the 3rd of 3 daughters I haven't told my sisters yet for fear of misleading them. I would be eternally grateful if you can share with me anything that you have.

    Code:
    Hi again I read this information on the link you sent me it was under Guy Hudson 8th dec 14 saying he had married Anne kitchen which is my mother and the next one is Tricky Dickie dater the same date and says they had 3 daughters Brenda Shirley and Jacqueline which is me and my two sisters 
    I wrote asking if Jackie could tell me what happened to her Dad :

    Hi gain Anne
    It's fine by me to update things. I have no idea what happened to him I only know what I got told which is pretty much nothing it was no point in asking as it wasn't answered we were brought up by my mum and grandma they were very strict as it was in those years
    Sent from my iPad Very best regards.....Jackie
     
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  13. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  14. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Anne,
    Great news, I have sent you a pm.
    Guy
     
  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Guy & Anne

    Have you sorted any further info? - I ask as I dont wish to spend time tracing info you already have.

    One thing I have just found searching for Myers born to a mother with the maiden name of Kitchen is :

    Brenda K Myers
    Oct-Nov-Dec 1947 Bradford Yorkshire West Riding

    Jacqueline Myers
    Jul-Aug-Sep 1952 Bradford Yorkshire, Northumberland, Westmorland

    Melody Myers
    Oct-Nov-Dec 1956 Bradford Yorkshire West Riding

    Shirley A Myers
    Jul-Aug-Sep 1950 Bradford Yorkshire, Northumberland, Westmorland

    The 'fly in the ointment' here is Melody who we have not spoken of before and wonder if she is part & parcel of the family - or not ????

    TD

    edited to add:
    From post 6 above - do we know yet which one is the John W Myers we are searching for?? - that info is needed to try and trace any siblings of John.
    Thanks TD
     
  16. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    TD,
    I have found no further information yet. Your three JW Myers in # 6 are the possibles.
    PM sent
    Guy
     
  17. tedfromscrubs

    tedfromscrubs Junior Member

    Jackie has confirmed her sisters' names and dates of birth and that Melody died on or shortly after birth
    I think I've captured all the known details in the table below. We don't know his place of birth, only the date


    John William Myers


    Service Number


    856460
    Gunner, 175 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery


    Enlisted


    10 July 1936


    Transferred to Military Police


    26 November 1945


    Post war occupation


    “Wagon Driver” on daughter Jacqueline’s birth certificate in 1952


    DoB


    6th July 1918


    Address (1944)


    955 Bolton Road, Bradford


    Returned to UK


    Liverpool; 23rd Oct 1944


    Wife


    Ann Kitchen


    Married


    Late 1944


    Children


    Brenda DoB 23rd September 1947
    Shirley DoB July 18th 1950
    Jacqueline DoB July 6th 1952
    Melody DoB 1956 either stillborn or died soon after
     
  18. tedfromscrubs

    tedfromscrubs Junior Member

    Sorry - table didn't survive the copying - I'll attach it instead
     

    Attached Files:

  19. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    The trouble here is that there are 3 x John W Myers all born in Yorkshire (as post 6), and all registered in the quarter Jul/Aug/Sep, so it could be anyone one of them, the differentiating factor would be his mothers maiden name, or if we knew his fathers name then perhaps we can find the marriage of his parents and hence his mothers maiden name.

    If I had to guess which one then I would plump for:
    Name: John W Myers
    Mother's Maiden Surname: Knowles
    Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1918
    Registration district: Bramley
    Inferred County: Yorkshire West Riding
    Volume Number: 9b
    Page Number: 327
    That is because Bramley is between Leeds & Bradford, the others obviously being further afield - its a guess though

    Also if we knew his fathers name and possible date of birth then we can trace other arms of the family as they should appear on the 1911 census.


    TD
     
  20. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    TD,
    Myers / Knowles Bramley Yorkshire

    Leslie G born 1912
    Edwin born 1913
    Lily born 1915
    John W born 1918
    Joseph H R born 1922

    Guy
     
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