In the back of my late father's New Testament are the signatures and army numbers together with one POW number of comrades who I think must have been in the same POW camp. The date by one signature is 19 February 1941. I understand that my late father was captured early on in the war and know he was at Heydebreck O/S, for the duration of the war. Is anyone interested in the names and numbers? Please can anyone tell me whether it is worth sending for his service record when he was a prisoner for virtually the whole war? I need some guidance please. Thank you.
Marguay I see you say: Raoc - r.o.o. Sq In the back of my late father's New Testament are the signatures and army numbers together with one POW number of comrades who I think must have been in the same POW camp. The date by one signature is 19 February 1941. I understand that my late father was captured early on in the war and know he was at Heydebreck O/S, for the duration of the war. Is anyone interested in the names and numbers? Please can anyone tell me whether it is worth sending for his service record when he was a prisoner for virtually the whole war? I need some guidance please. Thank you. You are the only person who would know whether or not it is worth sending for his records. I can only quote from my own experience. Have a look at this short piece on the subject: BBC - WW2 People's War - Getting your Army Records If you want to know accurate dates, his records are invaluable and even though, as you point out, he was a POW for many years, I am sure it would fill in many blanks for you. With regards to the POW details in his bible I would suggest that you scan the relevant page and post it here for others to see and evaluate. Best regards Ron
I reckon its worth you putting the details here - my feeling is type them in as text rather than scan - in that way if anyone is searching for their relatives names it will show up on google, whereas a scan wont. Get the records, otherwise you'll never know what it says. Pete
I am thinking about making some enquiries about a POW (not a family member) via the Red Cross site. Has anyone on the forum done this and if so can you tell me what sort of an answer you received. Do you get a photocopy of what they have or is it a letter saying when and where captured? Also is the time scale 6 months plus as they say on the site or is it quicker? Any help/ advice gratefully received Cheers Arnhem
As a researcher & considering service records are only available to close relatives I wish more people would be prepared to apply for & publish them. It helps others as well as perpetuating their memory.
Hello Arnhem, I waited 8 monthe for the ICRC to send me my fathers details. I then had correspondence with a bloke in the UK who had sent them an email and got his relatives details within a couple of weeks. I then sent a 'did it get lost' email and got the details which I have attached as John Moore suggested. You will see they don't say a lot and I have emailed them and asked if I could obtain copies of the documents they quote in their attestation but they have emailed me back to say they are too busy to do that. The email I used was archives@icrc.org I might add that I am eternally grateful for the information they have sent, and they have been nothing but helpful. Now I can continue to wait on the MoD and hope I get his service records before the time comes that I get to ask him directly (hopefully - and hopefully he will tell me more than her did when he was alive). Ooroo, Cliff
I'm with Pete on this one. Transcribing information when possible does help for searching. I often search for my Dad's name, but have never had a hit yet. Cheers, Fred.
