Hi again everyone, I have received the service records for my great great uncle Norman Greenhowe and thought i would update a couple points that we now know. If you have seen my previous post you will see that me knew he was in the 56th Recce and had died on the 23/9/43 and buried in Padua cemetery in Italy. Now it turns out he was captured in Tunisia and taken as a P.O.W to Italy. He was reported missing on the 26.02.43 then captured on the 28.02.43 and then later died as a P.O.W in Italy on the 23.09.43. But there is then an entry to show when the regiment were given the confirmation he was a P.O.W, this is shown as the 20.04.44 so they never knew he was captured and a P.O.W until a year after he had died. There are no details on how he died. I am now searching for the closest Prison of War camps to the cemetery he is buried in. That then opens another question, would he actually be buried in Padua or would it just be a named headstone? Thanks everyone for the help so far, it has been great and now i have a few more answers and also a few more questions to keep me searching. Does anyone have the war diaries for around the following dates? i would be greatful for any more so i can see what was taking place in Tunisia at the time of his capture. Dates of Interest. 26.02.43 28.02.43 Thanks again. Chris.
Chris-would you like to post the army records on here if you don't mind, I am sure others will be very interested. What a shame his unit didn't find out until a year after that he was a POW. Lesley
Sorry Chris-can't for some reason e-mail you with diary. I am sure when Paul Mitchell comes along he will post them up for you. Please post everything you know as someone may be able to help you with POW camps. Lesley
Sorry Chris-can't for some reason e-mail you with diary. I am sure when Paul Mitchell comes along he will post them up for you. Please post everything you know as someone may be able to help you with POW camps. Lesley Hi Lesley, Thats no problem at all, thanks anyway. Chris.
Here are a couple pages from the service records that i received, there are a couple other pages but they dont have much on them these are the main 2. So here is a series of events that i can gather so far. 26.02.42 - Reported Missing 28.02.43 - Date of capture in Tunisia 23.09.43 - Died as POW in Italy 20.04.44 - confirmed to regiment that he was a POW I have checked the Italian POW camps and have found one in Verona (buried in Padua) P.G 148 "Near Verona. Labour camp for 250 prisoners, mostly New Zealanders, but also English, Scottish, Egyptians, South Africans, Americans, Indians. 14 satellite work camps at Isola della Scala, Lazise, Mozzecane, Vigasio at San Bernardino, Montecchia di Crosara in the Cava Basalti stone farm, Legnago/Vangadizza at Rosta, Zevio at Villa da Lisca, San Martino Buon Albergo, Bonavigo, Oppeano in the Mazzantica Village, Mozzecane near the church, Angiari. Closed following the mass outbreak of prisoners in the days after the Italian Armistice was announced on 8 September 1943.[9]" I dont know if there is any way to confirm if this would have been the camp he was at, if so then there seemed to be a lot of prisoners escape after the 8th of September but he then died on the 23rd. Here are the scans. NormanGreenhowe-1 by chrisgrieve, on Flickr NormanGreenhowe-2 by chrisgrieve, on Flickr Thanks Chris.
Hi Chris here are the diary pages for the dates you specified, hope they are helpful. I have included a day or so either side of the dates specified. Have also edited ROH from KIA to POW Dates of Interest. 26.02.43 28.02.43 Cheers Paul
Paul-Thank you very much for posting diaries. Chris-Thanks for the scans of his service record. What his family must have gone through not being told of his death for well over 2 years. Must have been awful for them. Lesley
Name Albert John Crutch Rank: Acting Lance Serjeant Service No: 6093913 Regiment: 56th Reconnaissance Regiment Theatre : North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia) Award: Military Medal London Gazette: 23 September 1943 ReferenceWO 373/2 This is my is my great uncle, does anyone have any idea where I can pull anymore information on him. I am trying to trace his history and his father who was given a distingushed medal in WW1 Many Thanks Martyn
Any chance of a photograph? Have you seen the short history of 56 Recce or obtained his service record?
Martyn welcome to the forum. He is mentioned in these 3 publications Only the Enemy in Front – Richard Doherty This Band of Brothers – Jeremy Taylor The Regimental History of the 56th Recce Regt He is also mentioned in the 56 Recce War Diary 6093913 Sgt Crutch A J (MM) “C” Sqn On the 19th November whilst on patrol to the North of the village of Djebel Abiod this NCO was ordered to approach a known enemy position to ascertain its strength. When within 800 yards of the enemy position he came under heavy machine gun fire. Whilst under fire he moved an enemy light tank which was disabled and was blocking the road by butting it out of the way with his carrier, and then continued his patrol towards the enemy position. On reaching a position some 400 yards from the enemy and having drawn fire from enemy A/Tank guns and tanks he covered the withdrawal of his patrol and then withdrew himself. If it had not been for the great coolness and determination displayed by Sgt Crutch, the required information regarding the enemy would not have been obtained. WD 29/10/43 In the Field 22nd October 43 51. CONGRATULATORY The Commanding Officer congratulates the under mentioned personnel on their awards. Capt W A L Michell MC “A” Sqn 6093913 Sgt A J L Crutch MM “C” Sqn 647 4239 Sgt L E Whatley MM “RHQ” 2698717 L/Sgt A Buchanan MM “C” Sqn 6469275 Tpr J Donovan MM “B” Sqn 3445917 Tpr H H Howard MM “A” Sqn WD 22/10/43 Cheers Paul
Hi Martyn and welcome. Don't know how much you have looked around but the following may be of interest, my father was also C squadron. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/recce/33751-new-photos-56-recce-2.html#post378010
Hello and welcome Martyn. My father was also in C Squadron- . Great to have another Recce on board. Would you like to post any photos you may have? Lesley
I will post some pics when I have been through all the information I have that has been handed down. I am so happy that I now know what happend for to him to recieve this medal as Albert only told family that he was "playing silly buggers" Martyn
Hi Martyn Cannot see where you have marked the photo. Is this your photo or one which was posted here by myself (check out my albums) and Tony56. I think Albert is front row, on the right. My father is second row seated, 2nd from right. This photo was taken of 56 Recce, 15 troop, C Sqn. Adrano, Sicily on 22/8/1943 Lesley