2717660 Guardsman George Alphonsus COONAN, 1 Irish Guards: POW

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Mar 6, 2013.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    WO 344-71-2


    PART I
    General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

    1. No.: 2717660
    Rank: Guardsman
    Surname: COONAN
    Christian Names: George Alphonsus
    Decorations: -

    2. Unit (Army): 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS
    3. Division (Army): -

    4. Date of Birth: 22 April 1914
    5. Date of Enlistment: 12 July 1932
    6. Civilian Trade: -
    7. Private Address: c/o Mrs G. COONAN, R.E.C.I. Garden House, Colchester, Essex

    8. Place of Capture: Rognan, NORWAY
    Date of Capture: 25 May 1940

    9. Were you Wounded when Captured: No

    10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
    Camp No. Location From & To
    Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf Silesia 22 July 1940 - 21 August 1940
    Stalag IIIA Brandenburg Area 20 May 1944 - 10 February 1945
    Stalag XIA Magheberg 10 March 1945 - 12 April 1945

    11. Were you in a Working Camp?
    Location From & To Nature of Work
    Niklasdorf 24 August 1940 - 20 November 1941 Building (Huts)
    Sternberg 25 November 1941 - 15 May 1944 Iron Ore Mine
    Liepe/Brandenberg 7 September 1944 - 12 November 1944 Farm

    12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
    Nature of Illness Cause Duration
    Ulcers, Under Nourished, 6 months
    Fractured Skull, Blow

    Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
    No


    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?:
    Yes. Wellington Barracks, London SW1, C.S.M. GERRARD
    (b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
    Yes. Wellington Barracks, London, SW1, C.S.M. GERRARD

    3. Interrogation after Capture
    (State where, when and methods employed by enemy)
    Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?:
    No
    Yes. Lamsdorf Stalag VIIIB. All Irish recalled and told by Germans that Ireland had been invaded by England and hoped for volunteers to fight for Germany.
    -

    4. Escapes attempted.
    Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
    No
    (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?)
    -

    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).
    Yes. Two small air machines for driving purposes in 2 line caused by carelessness.

    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?
    (Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), 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.
    -

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

    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: 2 May 1945
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2019
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Army Number: 2717660
    Rank: Guardsman
    Name: George Alphonsus
    Unit: 1 Irish Guards
    Theatre: Norway
    POW Number: 13146
    Date of Capture: 25/05/1940
    Place of Capture: Rognan, Norway
    Camp: Stalag IIIA
    TNA Reference: WO 344-71-2


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    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019

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