26752 Major John DUTHIE, 74th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: POW

Army Number: 26752
Rank: Major
Name: John DUTHIE
Unit: 74th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery


London Gazette :

 

PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

1. No. - 26752
RANK - Major
SURNAME - DUTHIE
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - 74th Field Reg. R.A.

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 50 Div

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 13th March 1905

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - T.A. 1923

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - Representative

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - c/o The Midland Bank Lt., 27 Haymarket, London S.W.1.

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - Mersa Matruh

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? No.

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
Campo PG 21 Italy 8/42 - 3/43
Campo PG 49 Italy 3/43 - 9/9/43
OFLAG VIIIF Germany Jan 44 - April 44
OFLAG 79 April 44 - 12/4/45


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
No

12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
No

12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
Yes


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. - 26752
RANK - Major
SURNAME - DUTHIE
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN


2. LECTURES before Capture:
( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
Gave lectures
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom).
Yes, before going to M.E. by officer from Div. H.Q.

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
No

4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did you make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)
Attempted to escape from ITALY after armistice to SWITZERLAND by train for Piacenza. Ran into Fascist patrol & could produce no documents. Companions were Major C. DOWNING & Capt Roy CONWAY.


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? (Give details, places and dates.)
No

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 agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
No

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.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coming under this title.)



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
I wish to mention the aid & assistance give to me & Capt. CONWAY by Mrs Giannetta Ongeri, Arda di Pedina di Piacenza Italy who sheltered & fed us for nearly two months after other British officers had had to clear from the district owing to Fascist authorities. We only left when we discovered that her relations were posting sentries all night in the snow to warn us of approach of Fascists. No words of mine can adequately express this woman's help & assistance & I submit that she should be given some official recognition.
I should like to submit a field report on this subject.


SECURITY UNDERTAKING
I fully realise that all information relating 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 25/4/45
Signature John Duthie

 

Thanks Diane. I think I have managed to work out the words where you have put the ?.

Escapes
the train for Piacenza

Any other matter.....
sheltered us after other British officers
all night in the snow
adequately express

Janet

 

Excellent Janet. Thanks so much. Have edited in your corrections to my transcript.

 

With pleasure. I never get tired of reading these reports.

 

See also:

• Same helper Gianetta Ongeri, Arda di Pedina, Piacenza, Italy, mentioned
• WX 3380 Captain Raymond Albert Edward CONWAY, 2/28 Battalion AIF: POW
•