I've just found reference in a newspaper article from 1946 to a man who died as a POW in Germany, and it states his place of burial. However, he is only listed on the Athens memorial to the missing. Is this worth raising with the CWGC?
Mathsmal, If you have enough details you can search the CWGC site for Germany and see if it comes up. If not, then yes, contact the CWGC and provide as much information as you possess. Good luck Regards Tom
You may need assistance in providing sufficient evidence for CWGC to revise their records. Why not state his Name, so that others who specialise in that area may be able to offer advice and assistance? It is also possible that the CWGC DID go to the known burial site, but that no remains were found, so that's a possible explanation for him appearing on the Athens Memorial.
OK So this is the details of him as a POW: J W McLaney in the UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: J W McLaney Rank: Gunner Army Number: 804034 Regiment: Royal Artillery POW Number: 91271 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: 344 Camp Location: Lambinowice, Poland Record Office: Royal Artillery (Light Anti-Aircraft) Record Office, Ibex House, The Minories, London, EC3 Record Office Number: 6 and this is his CWGC detail John W McLaney in the UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 Name: John W McLaney Age: 38 Birth Date: abt 1907 Death Date: 23 Mar 1945 Cemetery: The Athens Memorial Part II (Lac-Zuh) Burial Country: Greece Father: N E McLaney Mother: Mrs McLaney Regimental Number: 804034 Region or Memorial: Memorial Register TD
All information found on Ancestry, Findmypast, Google and this Forum. John William McLaney was born in Burnley. 804034, Gunner originally joined the Royal Artillery in 1930 and was discharged in 1935 under Regulation Para 199 (1) TAR. He was re-enlisted into the Royal Artillery TA (Territorial Army) on Coastal Defence and Anti Aircraft (CD & AA) duties on 04/05/39. At the time he died he was serving in the 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (52 LAA). It states he was serving in the Balkans/Greece Theatre of Operations. Extracted from Dryan67s forum entry in 2013 52nd (East Lancashire) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) HQ, 155th (East Lancashire) Bty: Burnley 154th (East Lancashire) Bty: Church 156th (East Lancashire) Bty: Clitheroe The battery was sent to Greece under HQ 2nd Heavy AA Regiment. It moved to the Aliakmon position on 6 April [1941]. During the withdrawal the battery moved back to Larissa and the supported the New Zealanders in their withdrawal along the coast. Later in April, one troop helped defended the Cornith Canal while the rest supported the withdrawal of troops. It later withdrew from Greece with considerable losses. Only 4 officers and 90 men escaped. More info at: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/45755-52nd-light-aa-regiment-ra-ta/ Gunner McLaney was probably one of those captured. He was detained at Stalag 344 at Lambinowice, in Poland. He died of Dysentry, sometime between 23/03/45 and 07/04/45, aged 38, in ITZUM, which is south of Hildesheim in Germany. His capture in Greece and subsequent death whilst a POW could therefore explain his entry into the Athens Memorial. Hope this helps Gus
