About 10 months ago I wrote to the Red Cross in Geneva and requested any information they had on my husbands Grandad who was captured in Crete. Today I got a reply! It is only basic information, but it is more than we had known. We knew he had been in Stalag IV-A for the majority of the war, as this is what his photographs were stamped with on the back, and what I had found out by using the Ancestry website. The information they sent says he was captured on 1st June 1941,and had given them two different dates of birth. He was taken from Crete to Thessalonica, and then from Thessalonica to Stalag IV-B (arriving 20th August). In the November he was moved from Stalag IV-B to Stalag IV-A where he stayed for the rest of the war. They had no records on his release. I wonder how they got from Thessalonica to Stalag IV-B? By railway perhaps? Or by road? He used to tell a story about them trying to blow up a railway, to try and help with the war effort even though they were then prisoners, but I never got any details from him on this. I wonder whether this would have been in either of the POW camps, or on the way between Thessalonica and Stalag IV-B. Were they just shifted around the camps as they became full, or moved for some other reason? I'm quite pleased to have received this little piece of paper today
Hi South, Is that date of capture correct, 1 June 1918? If we're talking about a WWII POW rather than WWI, it would be worth checking the POW liberation questionnaires at the National Archives. If he completed one, he may have mentioned attempts at railway sabotage on it. All the best, Lee
Haha no it isn't, that's me writing his birth year instead of the year he was captured. 1st June 1941 he was captured. Got confused in my excitement!! Thank you, we move soon so once we are settled, I will have to take a trip to the National Archives and have a dig around.
Excellent, if you need help locating the file reference for the liberation questionnaire just give me a shout. Lee
Thanks, I may well do that in a few weeks time - currently surrounded by boxes and about to do our 4th move in 4 years, not much fun(!!)
I went to Thessalonica for a over nighter when I was in Kosovo. It has a big port/docks etc and has been traditionally used by the forces (shipping) in that area from as far back as WW1 that I'm aware of and probably a lot earlier than that-It was a dive in 2001/2. We drove through the town with Turkish flags on our vehicles which really upset everyone after the Sqn's rough arrival reception a few months earlier. Bassingbourn and 4 moves = a squaddie wife or husband. Good luck with the research and the move ! First choice posting?
Bassingbourn and 4 moves = a squaddie wife or husband. Good luck with the research and the move ! First choice posting? Wife He put in his posting preference form and I think they looked at it, laughed and then sent us somewhere totally different - always the way! Although we are moving nearer to the National Archives at Kew, so perhaps they knew about my research, haha!
I can still hear the moans-I always remember a mate putting in for 2 Sigs in York and saying he didn't want to go to a armoured unit (learn to drive a 432 and you stay in armour for the rest of your life!). He got 20 Armd Bde in Germany - Whallop Anyway I digress - Good luck with the research. As Lee mentioned check out the POW Q. - if he did it may answer some of your Q's. There is a section on the form to write any attempts at sabotage, escapes etc.
I can still hear the moans-I always remember a mate putting in for 2 Sigs in York and saying he didn't want to go to a armoured unit (learn to drive a 432 and you stay in armour for the rest of your life!). He got 20 Armd Bde in Germany - Whallop He asked to go back to 33 in Essex...they are sending us to Berkshire! PM me his details and l will pull it out for you next week. Regards, Nick Thank you so much, what a kind offer! I shall PM you shortly.
Details are:- Charles Frederick Cox, Enlisted 2nd February 1939. Lists unit as Bedfs and Herts, Captured: Greta 1st June 1941, not injured. Camps 508 Erika 16th December 1941 to 18th April 1945 (He would have been liberated here based on this date) this was also a work camp. This would have been based on memory if they had not kept a record and will vary from the Red Cross info. Liberation Questionnaire completed 18th May 1945 but apparently discharged in 1947 because of ill health. The second and third page are mostly blank. Can anyone add anything about this camp, who and how the POW's were liberated and of course how this unit was captured. Regards, Nick
Guys, South just having moved house is waiting for BT or MOD to connect the internet, not sure which is going to be faster!!!! She has asked me to add that since her Father in Law states that he was serving with the Bedfs and Herts on his Liberation Questionnaire, how does that link up with 7 Commando in which she believes he was serving whilst in Crete. She wil be back on shortly, any help would be gratefully received. Regards, Nick
Thanks Nick, I now have internet again (hoorah!). The Beds and Herts Capbadge book has Charlie's name in the back in the list of Soldiers who volunteered for the Commandos, and the Red Cross record I was sent from Geneva also states he was with 7 Commando. Just curious as to why he put Beds and Herts but I suppose he may have done because 7 Commando had been disbanded by the time he came out of the POW camp. I'm waiting on his Service record to come through so hopefully that will give me a bit of extra info too.
