1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS - North Africa, Missing Personnel file COPY 2721600 Lance-Sergeant J. ROBERTS, IRISH GUARDS, No. 1 A.S.C. Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. 11 January 1944 The Under Secretary of State The War Office, LIVERPOOL 15. Dear Sir, Ref: MNA/54 (Casualties L.) Re the enquiry on 2721128 Lance-Corporal DUCKWORTH. I was taken prisoner on 24/3/43, four days before DUCKWORTH was declared missing, and can therefore supply on negative and hearsay information. The custom in the IRISH GUARDS was publish details to the battalion of any incidents which occurred on patrols. Therefore the survivors of an action made by No. 2 Company IRISH GUARDS who joined me in a P.O.W. Transit Camp in TUNIS, on about 30/3/43 were able to tell me that DUCKWORTH had failed to return off patrol and was believed to have been killed. I was in this Transit Camp until about 6/4/43 and during that time DUCKWORTH was not brought in as a prisoner of war. Later during my captivity I met more IRISH GUARDS who had been wounded and were P.O.Ws. in action. None of them knew anything about DUCKWORTH beyond the account published to the battalion. I have never since met anyone who had either seen or heard anything of the missing man. This is all I know on the subject. Yours faithfully signed J. ROBERTS, L/Sgt. Original filed MNA/OR/119333 L/Cpl DUCKWORTH.
Casualty Lance Corporal DUCKWORTH, ALAN Service Number 2721128 Died 28/03/1943 Aged 23 1st Bn. Irish Guards Son of John and Ivy Duckworth, of Failsworth, Lancashire. Commemorated at MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL Location: Tunisia Cemetery/memorial reference: Face 14.
