Hello everyone. A newbie here - so be gentle with me! In doing family history research, I have contacted Red Cross in Geneva to trace the final days of my uncle who was last heard of as a POW in Italy in 1942/43. WATSON, Jack Joseph DOB: 27.08.1913 Rank: L/Cpl Unit: RASC No: T/73119 My grandmother received info. from RC in 1943 that he was a POW at Campo PG82. However, subsequent correspondance at the time seemed to call this into question. I have now raised the matter with RC again and received the following: "Prisoner of war in Italian hands according to a telegram dated 24.09.1942 and a list received on 10.11.1942. Missing while onboard an Italian ship torpedoed on the way from Africa to Italy on 17.08.1942 according to a list received on 07.09.1943." Reading postings here, I see reference to POW lists being available. Are these online anywhere? If not, can anyone help resolve what really happened to Uncle Jack?
Missing while onboard an Italian ship torpedoed on the way from Africa to Italy on 17.08.1942 according to a list received on 07.09.1943." Hello Les, welcome to the forum. Sorry I can't help with the pow details but the following give details of the sinking of the Italian transport Nino Bixio on the date you give. NINO BIXIO (August 17, 1942) Italian troop transport (7,137 tons) sunk in the Mediterranean between Libya and Sicily, by the British submarine HMS Turbulent. She was carrying New Zealand prisoners of war and around 400 French P.O.W.s captured in North Africa. The Nino Bixio was hit by two torpedoes, one exploding in the prisoners hold and killing many. The injured were brought up on deck and attended to by medical officers. The badly damaged Nino Bixio was taken in tow by one of its escorting destroyers and towed to Navarino in southern Greece. There the dead prisoners were buried, the rest being shipped, via Corinth, to a prisoner of war camp near Bari in Italy. A total of 118 New Zealanders lost their lives.
welcome to the forum hopefully someone will be able to assist with your query Lance Corporal JACK JOSEPH WATSON T/73119, Royal Army Service Corps attd 9 Lt Field Amb., Royal Army Medical Corps who died age 29 on 17 August 1942 Son of Henry John and Kate Sarah Watson; husband of Marjorie Primrose Watson of Hounslow, Middlesex. Remembered with honour ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
Wow - what service. Thanks for the speedy replies. CL1 (Clive?) - CWGC info! Why didn't I think of that??? There's no mention of a grave on the CWGC data so presumably the 'reported missing' info was used to record his demise. However, this listing should hopefully give me new avenues to follow up. PeterC - there's no mention of UK POWs on that ship. Would there be anywhere to check a passenger list? Paul - thanks for the welcome. The probability is that the Campo PG82 reference back in 1943 was a total red herring!
there's no mention of UK POWs on that ship. Would there be anywhere to check a passenger list? As far as I can make out, there were six members of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the Nino Bixio when she was attacked, having said that, could this mean that there were other UK personnel among the pow's?
Hi Les, I have a list of POW's held by the Italians for 1943 (August). This is the file WO392/21 held at the National Archives. I have no real knowledge about this subject. Attached is the page for Watson and your Uncle is there in Camp 82. Hope this doesn't return the herring so to speak. All part of the fun of researching these things!! Steve.
The CWGC records showing his date of death as 17th August 1942 must have been compiled from information provided.... by whom? If he was still in Camp 83 in August 1943, then was 17th August 1942 when he was reported Missing by his Unit, and only later found by the Red Cross, to have been captured? The invasion of Italy began in September 1943 and a great many PoW camps were abandoned, but whilst some men broke out, others stayed and were then shipped into Germany when the Germans took over. In the confusion that followed, it is possible that he was killed in this turmoil, otherwise there would have been contact from him. Were there no letters following his capture? Has any information come to light (from War Diary, others in his unit etc) as to when he may have been captured? It seems clear that he was alive a year after his recorded death.
Thanks Steve (I think)! There's always the possibility he came back on the third day I suppose! What I think we may be proving is that RC are good with records but the chaos of war meant the 'reports' and 'lists' were not always accurate. I've now found him on the UK Army Roll of Honour for 1942. I guess this and the Alamein references were both made from the 'missing on board ship' report. What is certain is that Marjorie married again in 1946 so must have received confirmation of his (assumed) demise.
Hi Kevin. I referred in my earlier posting to 'subsequent correspondence' at the time. I only have documents from my grandmothers possessions. The first reference to PG82 came in a letter from UK Red Cross in March 1943. It seems Marjorie must have sent a food parcel to PG82 after getting that letter. Having not received any response, my grandmother chased RC again in July 1943. She then received a reply in August saying not to send any more parcels as the Italian RC could not trace Jack!
I have been researching POW's from Rangoon Jail for about 4 years now. There is no rhyme or reason for these documents sometimes, miss spellings, incorrect dates and other errors are very common. But I always feel that all information is useful when researching these circumstances. My Grandfather had no Japanese index card at all and very little detail seemed to exist about him. Then one day at the Archives it all unfolded before me, he had been listed as Harney and not Howney!
As far as I can make out, there were six members of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the Nino Bixio when she was attacked, having said that, could this mean that there were other UK personnel among the pow's? The man we need to answer these questions is Brian (ADM199) all the decent research on this and other PoW losses on Italian ships has originated from his excellent research hopefully he will be along soon or perhaps a PM? Seven DLI were listed as killed on the Nino Bixio in the publication `For You Tommy the War is Over` 4457355 Sgt C L Turner 9th DLI 4919612 Pte J Meakins 9th DLI 4463757 Pte J W Price 9th DLI 4466532 Pte P Morgan 8th DLI 4461386 Pte R W Peel 8th DLI 4458150 Pte W Moodie 8th DLI 4462515 Pte J O`Hara 6th DLI Not any help as far as your search goes but do try Brian. Best Wishes Jim
The man we need to answer these questions is Brian (ADM199) all the decent research on this and other PoW losses on Italian ships has originated from his excellent research hopefully he will be along soon or perhaps a PM? Seven DLI were listed as killed on the Nino Bixio in the publication `For You Tommy the War is Over` 4457355 Sgt C L Turner 9th DLI 4919612 Pte J Meakins 9th DLI 4463757 Pte J W Price 9th DLI 4466532 Pte P Morgan 8th DLI 4461386 Pte R W Peel 8th DLI 4458150 Pte W Moodie 8th DLI 4462515 Pte J O`Hara 6th DLI Not any help as far as your search goes but do try Brian. Best Wishes Jim Very sound advice there!
