2696599 Guardsman George ANDERSON, 2 Scots Guards & Long Range Desert Group: POW

Army Number: 2696599
Rank: Guardsman
Name: George ANDERSON
Unit: 2 Scots Guards ; Long Range Desert Group


Date of Birth: 13 Dec 1919
Date of Enlistment 5 Sep 1939
Date of Capture: 10 Dec 1942
Place of Capture: Near Tripoli

 

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

1. No. 2696599
RANK - Guardsman
SURNAME - ANDERSON
CHRISTIAN NAMES - George
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - 2nd Scots Guards (ATT) LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP

3. DIVISION (ARMY) -

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 13TH DEC 1919

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 05/09/1939

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - TRACTOR DRIVER

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 248 HIGH STREET, ARBROATH, ANGUS, SCOTLAND

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - 10/12/1942, Near TRIPOLI

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
SWANEE / TRIPOLI / 13/12/42 / 1/1/43
Camp 66 / CAPUA / 7/1/43 / 29/1/43
Camp 70 / PORT ST GEORGO / 30/1/43 / 8/4/43
Camp 55 / PARMA / 9/4/43 / 24/4/43

11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From / Till / Nature of Work
CREMONA / 25/4/43 / 9/9/43 / FARM WORK

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?



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1.No. 2696599
RANK - Guardsman
SURNAME - ANDERSON
CHRISTIAN NAMES - GEORGE


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).
Yes
By Major
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom.


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

4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did yo 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?)
NIL

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 coning under this title.)
NIL


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
NO

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 19/5/45
Signature George Anderson


I escaped on the day 9/9/43. After three days living on the farm where we were working, decided to make for SWITZERLAND. After travelling for a week met two British Officers, who told us it was impossible to cross the Border. So returned to where we were working after having a few days rest, the Fascist troops came hunting after us, we had to escape so we crossed the River Oglio and landed in the prov of Brescia, after living on one farm for two months, were again searched for by Fascist troops. So it was not possible to I've on farms anymore, was living out in huts. The people used to. bring us food in the dark. From Dec 1944 met up with Partisans from Brescia who have been looking after me.
After living with the Partisans till the 8th of May came in contact with Fifth Army troops and reported to the 411 Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps which made out a temporary Identity Document and told us to make our on way to MILAN.
Arrived MILAN 11th May. Stayed two days there. Sent to BOLOGNA 14th of May, after sent to ANCONA, two days there, after ROME, arrived NAPLES 19/5/45.



CASUALTY INFORMATION

1. Number 2696599
Rank GUARDSMAN
Name (BLOCKS) ANDERSON
Initials GEORGE
Unit 2nd SCOTS GUARDS (ATT) LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP
Private Address 248 HIGH STREET, ARBROATH, ANGUS, SCOTLAND

2. If you personally witness the death, wounding, or serious illness of any other PW since the Armistice of SEPTEMBER 1943, please write below whatever details you can. If you know any information of this sort from some other reliable source (e.g. the Partisan leader in our area), put this down as well, giving as many particulars as you can of your information and any witnesses. If you do not know the full particulars of the POW concerned - i.e. his full name, unit, and last PW Camp - then give as many of these as you can, and any other details which may establish his identity, e.g. home town or personal description. If you know his Regal No, give that too. In the case of death, state place of burial and how the grave is marked, if known.
NIL


APPENDIX "A"
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE
PART III

Number 2696599
Rank GDSMN
Surname and Initials ANDERSON GEORGE
Unit 2nd SCOTS GUARDS ATTD LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP

Give such names and addresses as you can remember of those persons who helped you during your escape journey ( s ), with the approximate dates of their help to you and your companions (if any), a very brief summary of service rendered, amount of money or approximate value of clothing supplied (list of items of clothing and footwear to be stated if possible) and degree of risk incurred.

If you cannot remember the names of your individual helpers, state the plan where you received help, and what details you can about such help. State also if you or your companions did or did not leave "chits" with each helper, acknowledging assistance given by him, or her, or did these "chits" take the form merely of your name and home address? A specimen of what is required is given below.

Dates and period of help / Name and address of helper (put Christian name FIRST and give Province if possible). / Type of Help given.


10 DEC 43 - 27 FEB 44
GUISEPPE MIGLIORATI
FIENILE BIANCO
ALFIANELLO
Prov. BRESCIA
"Looked after us for the period of two months, fed us and ? us". with the risk of their lives, as Fascist troops were looking for us


20/11/44 - 8/5/45
BOSA SCAGLIA
CASCINA BUDA
ALFIANELLO
Prov. BRESCIA
"Sheltered us in the farm all the time of snow mended our clothes and darned our socks for the period of six months and also fed us for about two months. Having father and brother die within two weeks Looked after us like sons at great risk"

 

George Anderson and another Scots Guardsman (J Wilson), both of G1 Patrol under the command of Captain Alastair Timpson, were captured whilst on road watch near Wadi Zebaui.

Of the original twenty-two men who set out on this patrol from Kufra on 20th November 1942, only eight returned.

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.