WO 344-28-2 PART I General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War 1. No.: 2720504 Rank: Corporal Surname: BILLAM Christian Names: John William Decorations: Africa Star 2. Unit (Army): 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS 3. Division (Army): 1st BRITISH DIVISION 4. Date of Birth: 23 December 1919 5. Date of Enlistment: 4 April 1940 6. Civilian Trade: Coal Mining, and Glass Maker 7. Private Address: 2 Back Crown Street, Worsop, Notts. 8. Place of Capture: Anzio, Italy Date of Capture: 26 January 1944 9. Were you Wounded when Captured: Yes 10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned Camp No. Location From & To Latarena North of Florence 27 Jan 1944 - 25 Feb 1944 Stalag IXB Muhlburg on Elbe 28 Feb 1944 - 23 Apr 1945 11. Were you in a Working Camp? No Location From & To Nature of Work - 12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?: - Nature of Illness Cause Duration - Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?: Yes 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, by Lieutenant HASTINGS, Northwood, Middlesex. (b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?: - 3. Interrogation after Capture (State where, when and methods employed by enemy) Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?: No 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). 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 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? - 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: 26 March 1945
Army Number: 2720504 Rank: Lance-Corporal Name: John William BILLAM Unit: 1 Irish Guards Theatre: Italy POW Number: 278511 Date of Capture: 26/01/1944 Place of Capture: Anzio Camp: Stalag IVB TNA Reference: WO 344-28-2
Army Number: 2720504 Rank: Guardsman Name: J BILLAN Unit: 1 Irish Guards Theatre: Italy Missing Personnel file: 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS - Italy, Missing Personnel file TNA Reference: WO 361/784 Notes: POW