Escape and Evasion Assistance Certificates

Has anyone come accross any thing about these at Kew?

I happened to come accross this one in a book about English POW Work Camps in the Steirmark region of Austria. Unfortunatly the book is written in German so quite hard going.



Cant seem to find if there is a list of these held at Kew, or any where else for that matter.

My interest is my late Grandfathers Work Camp in Austria, the whole camp of 17 POW's escaped from their camp on the 1st April 1945 when they were advised that they were about to be marched into Germany. They all found their way the Russian Lines and then on to Odessa. In the 12 Liberation Reports that we have found they all mention the assistance given by the camp cook in their escape by name, which has been marked in red as passed onto "A.S.C (Italy)" by an official, so I am wondering if some further information resides some where in the archives, and if a similar certificate to the above was ever issued.

An account of their time at the work camp by one of the POW's can be found at 934L, Glashutten. I am currently working with an Austrian contact to try and find the location of the camp ahead of a possible visit to the area during 2010.

Any pointers gratefully received.

Chris

 

Liberated PoWs were also given the opportunity to bring to official notice any other matters, such as courageous acts by fellow prisoners or details of civilians who assisted them during escape and evasion activities. Sometimes the servicemen attached additional information like letters and reports on conditions in PoW camps.

Source : http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/2jan2005.pdf

Like you say doesnt appear to be any record of the the actual certificates

 

I know that certain Dutch civilians were awarded a British medal (need to check the exact title) for helping evaders escape......one of my research asssitants has found brief details at Kew but in one instance the citation is 'restricted' and we are currently appealing the decision.......

 

Two medals could be awarded.....



The King's medal was issued in two versions: The King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom and the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom. Both medals were silver and 36 millimetres in diameter.
The King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom was introduced on 23 August 1945, to mark the acts of courage by foreign civilians in the furtherance of the British Commonwealth in the Allied cause. It was primarily intended to reward those foreign civilians who had assisted British escapees in enemy occupied territory. The medal's obverse has the crowned profile of King George VI, with the text "The King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom" on the reverse. The medal's ribbon was white with two narrow blue stripes in the centre and two broad red stripes at the ribbon's edges.
The King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom was introduced on 23 August 1945 to mark the acts of foreign civilians in less dangerous roles, but who nevertheless contributed to the British effort. An example of this type of role would be fund raising activities. The medal's obverse had the profile of King George VI, while the reverse had a medieval knight carrying a broken lance, receiving food from a women. The ribbon was white with a central red bar, with a blue stripe on either side.

 

What The National Archives expert hasn't mentioned was Form "Q" which was filled in by former P.O.W. who had information to give regarding help given,War Crimes and Collaboration.

These forms were not kept together but were passed to various departments such as J.A.G. who were investigating various incidents.
Saying that there are three Files in WO208 that contain extracts from Forms"Q".

Appendecise to E & E Reports that give information regarding routes taken and any help given were released a few years ago. These are only the ones which "survived".

Awards given to Civillians who assisted Escapees is not something I have seriously looked into but I am sure there are files covering the subject.

 

All POWs were debriefed on liberation where ill treatment,conditions etc, contrary to the Geneva Convention could be highlighted. All POWs returned to a medical examination and any medical requirements were met.Virtually all Far East POWs spent a period in hospital as their phyical condition required specialised recovery.

However, some might remember the plight of Pvt Pooley who was repatriated in 1943 on account of serious wounds inflicted during the massacre at Le Paradis in 1940.(Fortunately his captives did not know he was a survivor of Le Paradis).His account was disbelieved until the incident was confirmed by another survivor when he was liberated in 1945 (Again not known as a Le Paridis survivor to the Germans)

Declarations of aid, said to be offered and given to Allied personnel and presented to the Allies by the individual as "to whom it may concern" could be flawed.Many a German "V man" protected himself with these notes when German occupied countries fell to the Allies. The Duitch resistance movement was riddled with such "V men" who eventually were brought to book after exhausting post war investigations.

As regards access to the official records,there are some submissions made by freed or successful escapee British personel with adverse comments against other nationals which are closed to the public for 100 years (I think.) Why this so,I do not know as many were able to publicly relate their experiences in situations where they had been betrayed and were able to identify and name such other nationals.

 

T.N.A. Hold the following Files on awards given to people who helped anyone who had escaped or was Evading.

WO208/5451 to 5460 which are just numbered reports or lists of names. However 2,331 appear to be missing.
WO208/5461,5462 & 5463 Cover Belgium and Luxemburg
WO208/5464 Denmark
WO208/5465 to 5474 are A to Z list for France
WO208/5475 Greece
WO208/5476 & 5477 Holland
WO208/5478 Hungary and Jugoslavia
WO208/5479 Italy
WO208/5480 Poland.

As I haven't read these can't be more specific regarding what form of award was offered or given.

In 1948 much information including award claims made by helpers were transferered to NARA at the request of Eisenhower.

 

Brian

Thanks for the references, some times trying to pin point files at Kew is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

My contact in Austria has just enlisted the help of an Officer at the local Municiple Office in trying to locate the camp, so it will be interesting to see what comes to light.

Chris

 

Brian

Thanks for the references, some times trying to pin point files at Kew is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

My contact in Austria has just enlisted the help of an Officer at the local Municiple Office in trying to locate the camp, so it will be interesting to see what comes to light.

Chris

Chris,
T.N.A. search Engine is of the Female Gender so try to be a little more obscure.

Only joking Diane