In 1943, in my tiny city, Ferrera Erbognone (Pavia, Italy) there was a prison camp (n.146/3) with one houndred POW's from South Africa. In September 1943 many of these POW's escaped and were hidden and were helped to escape in Swizerland by the family of my city including my mom. I'm writing a book about this story and i need to know many names of these prisoners. Now i found 7 of this name. Can anyone help me with names, stories of facts, happend in my city? Thanks for your attention.
Hi pino1947 Welcome to the forum I have a problem at present in that I cannot paste info I have copied on this forum site, however I would suggest you go to the forums page and select the section on POW's, there are several threads on Italian POW camps and even some on Italian partisans helping POW's escape to Switzerland. Good luck TD
Hi Welcome, Interesting post as the camp you mention on your post above does not appear on the site which is the most detailed I have come across so far in Italy Campifascisti however neither is the camp PG62/51 at Plemo which I am interested in http://www.campifascisti.it/mappa.php?nazione=Italia Was it a satellite camp ? of a main camp Where did you find the seven names you have obtained so far from MI 9 Escape and Evasion reports held at Kew ? Trevor
To Stefan, Td and Trevor, thank you so much for your welcome. The work camp of Ferrera Erbognone was the satellite camp n.3 of 15, of the transit camp in Mortara (Pavia) n.146 For the name of the prisoners founded: -3 have left a statement of gratitude to my mom, with address -2 have left only the address -2 I found them on this site 4 people i got documents of the National Archives UK with the interrogation in Switzerland. They belonged at the ''Umvoti Mounted Rifles'' at 7 South African Artillery Regiment and at 1st Transvaal Scottish Regiment All were captureat Tobruk 21/06/1942, their prison camp were Tarthuna (Lybia), Capua, Fara Sabina, Mortara, Ferrera Erbongone. They Escape from the camp 10/09/1943 and were helped by italian families including the priest of my town, who hid 3 in the bell tower of the church. These 7 reached the Swiss safely between October and December 1943. These are the information gathered, but i hope to find other names to help me find other families who helped them in Ferrera Erbognone. Pino
Link Are you still looking for information on south African pows in Ferrara erbognone? I think my relative was there. Thanks
LKCR Hi & Welcome Not sure what happened to pino, perhaps he will be back (last seen 3 Feb 2016). You could always start a new thread for your relative - we do have a number of Italian based members who could help out possibly with information on your relative. Do you have their service records from the military archives in South Africa? TD