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
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
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
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!
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
TD, Anne, MYERS John William, he enlisted in the RA in 1936. Transfered to the Military Police in 1945. Regards Guy
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
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
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
Hello Ted link below for applying for service records https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview regards Clive
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
TD, I have found no further information yet. Your three JW Myers in # 6 are the possibles. PM sent Guy
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
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
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