2733609 Platoon Serjeant-Major Arthur WOODS, 2 Welsh Guards: POW

Date of Enlistment: 20 April 1933
Army Number: 2733609
Rank: Platoon Sergeant Major
Name: Arthur WOODS
Unit: 3 Company, 2 Welsh Guards

Date of Birth: 12 October 1912
Place of Birth: Chester

POW Number: 10964
POW Camps: Stalag VIIIB, Stalag 357

Date of Capture: 28 May 1940
Place of Capture: Boulogne-sur-Mer, France

 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17994735
Reference: WO 416/400/228
Name: Arthur Woods.
Date of Birth: 12/10/1912.
Place of Birth: Chester.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Platoon Sergeant Major.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: Welsh Guards.
Service Number: 2733609.
Date of Capture: [unspecified].
Theatre of Capture: [unspecified].
Camp Name/Number: Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf.
PoW number: 10964.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 3.
Date: [1939-1945]

 

View Record via Ancestry

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

1. No. 2733609
RANK - P.S.M.
SURNAME - WOODS
CHRISTIAN NAMES - ARTHUR
DECORATIONS - 1939-43 Medal

2. UNIT (ARMY) - WELSH GUARDS

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 20th GUARDS BRIGADE

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 12/10/42

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 20/4/33

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - SOLDIER

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - QUEEN'S HEAD HOTEL, SARN BRIDGE, Nr. MALPAS, CHESHIRE

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - BOULOGNE, 28th MAY1940

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
STALAG VIIIB LAMSDORF 14/6/40 - 5/3/44
STALAG 357 THORN (POLAND) 6/3/44 - 3/9/44
STALAG 357 FALLINGBOSTEL 6/9/44 - 11/4/45


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
MECHTAL (BEUTHEN O/S) 3/10/40 - 18/10/40 COAL MINING


12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
-
12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
-


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. 2733609
RANK - P.S.M.
SURNAME - WOODS
CHRISTIAN NAMES - ARTHUR


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).
TOWER OF LONDON, February 1940 by Capt. W.H. CARTER, Welsh Guards
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom.
No

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?)
Escaped on the 19th Oct. from Coal Mines at MECHTAL BEUTHEN O/S by cutting iron bars out of windows in the billets. Companions Cpl. SANDERS SUSSEX REGT., Sgt. WARD, R. SUSSEX REGT. Captured by German police at MYSOWITZ [Mysłowice] POLAND. I was physically fit.
Escape from March 17th April 1945. Liberated by 11th ARMOURED DIV. at 5 kilos outside LUNEBURG. 18th April 1945


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.)



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 25/4/45
Signature A. Woods, P.S.M.

 

See also:

• TNA Reference: WO 361/52 WG Missing / POW
• Welsh Guards Missing Personnel, BEF | WW2Talk