I am currently working on a history project and I am trying to find out more about a Lieutenant who was (I think) in the 7th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. He was captured during the surrender at St Valery in 1940 and was also a POW at Oflag camp VII-B at Eichstatt. His name was Everard Miles Hill Beckingham (also known as Peter) born 1909 in the Newcastle area and he was a Lieutenant. At some point it is believed that he also lost a leg in action. He was prisoner number 1141. Can anyone help? Many thanks...
Hi Reporta, I have an EMH Beckingham of The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers with the Military number 68005 Stefan.
just to say I have a list of prisoners who were at v11b and the subject of your project is there. Unfortunately it does not give much details other than name (no rank) regiment - as per what you say= profession Coal and Shipping address in 1949 c/o 33 Clayton Road, Jesmond Newcastle. hope this help abit? RN
Rupnick Have you got any details with regard to the officer below:- Lieutenant J. Allen Regiment: Sherwood Foresters POW No: 4373 Army No: 293134 Likely captured at Anzio in March 1944 Thanks
Reporta, Peter Beckingham won the MC during the brief campaign of 1940 prior to capture and commanded C Company 7RNF. He was wounded twice during the campaign but remained with his troops despite being wounded. What is your connection with him??
ClankyPencil I do, I have his full service record. He is my Grandfather. Can I ask why you are asking about him. Thanks Steve
Hi Steve I was asking about him because he was in charge of (No.1 or No.2) platoon of 'A' Company of the 14th Sherwood Foresters, during a night attack on Wadi area North of Anzio (near the village of Pontoni) on 13/14th March 1944. Your grandfather and most of the 27 men he was in charge of never returned. My great uncle who was in the same battalion went MIA in that same night attack, and his fate was not known (his body was never recovered). I originally thought he was one of the men with your grandfather that night. Further research later confirmed he in fact with 'B' Company (who were just to the west of 'A' company) during the attack. I got quite a bit info regarding that night attack, like an aerial map of the area (courtesy of a thread off this forum by Paul Reed), the war diaries (field returns, appendix etc) and missing personnel file for the 14th Foresters which mentions your grandfather (and the fate of the men with him). I collated all the above info into a pdf document which details everything known and what i've researched about my great uncle. If you pm me your email address, i can send you the document if you wish, as it should partly explain what happened that night. Also, if you want the original files which i used (War diary, Missing personnel file, aerial map etc), i can arrange via email about getting them to you. If you want an idea of what info i've got then have a look at this thread (posts 13 onwards) in the meantime http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/40740-help-required-regarding-soldier-killed-in-italy/ Cheers Scott
I don't often revert to the younger peoples expressions but OMG, thank you so much!! My Father often spoke about my Grandfather getting shot and his men most of which died. I am very grateful to you for this and will PM you my email address. Many many thanks Steve
