Hi, A few months ago I was asked to help a gentleman trace his fathers journey as a POW I was unable to give him more than the most basic of facts but as I rooted around I came upon a part transcript of what I believe to be someones attempt to record events during their time as a POW.Way back in 1978 (Yes I`m that old) I bought a few military items at a `Fleamarket` in Newcastle amongst the items was a large shell case at the bottom of this shell case were some tattered papers with pencil notes scribbled on them barely legible.I was told the items were souvenirs from the War brought back by a former-member of The Durham Light Infantry(No idea if this was true or not but I like to think it was) who had since died.I remember my father telling me to write out what was legible for the papers were in very poor condition and in years to come there would be nothing left.Dads prediction was right the original papers have long since gone.All that remains is my attempt at recording the details which may or not be accurate due to the difficulties in reading them. I`m posting them here now I cannot say if they are in any type of order,theres no dates hardly and nothing to identify the author so make your own minds and draw your own conclusions;- TEXT ILLIGIBLE AND BROKEN UNABLE TO REPRINT DUE TO MISSING/LOST/DELETED FILES
What a lovely fascinating story. I would be inclined to break down the facts that are above and see if individually they can be researched & try to peice the bits together. BENGHAZI A quick google reveals that Benghazi is in North East Libya, which in 1942 was under British Control Benghazi http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-grave-photographs/16218-libya-benghazi-war-cemetery.html Caravanserai Tours - Libya - Benghazi CWGC :: Cemetery Details North Africa, WW2, Tobruk, Benghazi, Torch, Malta, Suez, Egypt, Greece, Crete, Alexandria, Med Fleet, 8th Army, Montgomery YouTube - Benghazi Commonwealth War Cemetery, Libya The Wartime Memories Project - Benghazi POW Camp - the details provided by Arthur Johnstone are fascinating. World War 2 Timelines - War in the Desert 1941 - Worldwar-2.net BRINDISI http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/basic/raf-148-squadron-based-brindisi-italy-7014.html Brindisi from the air on Flickr - Photo Sharing! HowStuffWorks "World War II Timeline: September 8, 1943-September 20, 1943" BBC - WW2 People's War - My First Prison Camp - Part 1 NgaToa: Campo 85, POW Camp at Tututano, Brindisi, Italy. DA-11727-G POW Camps in Italy List_of_POW_camps_in_Italy The Wartime Memories Project- POW Camp PG 70 Guides to PoW Camps - Campo 78, Sulmona, Italy - Stalags IV-B, Muhlberg and IV-D, Torgau, Germany As you can see I became just slightly engrossed in researching around the bits from above, and stumbled across various bits that will enable my own research to progress.
Hi. Thanks Julie a few years back I did attempt to fill in the missing pieces but I have not posted that version I have stuck with what I could make out of the original scraps.The soldiers/authors reference to " Granty who was with the 9th.." leads me to believe that this soldier did belong to the DLI (There must have been another date mentioned for me to arrive at the two soldiers I named).My original attempt at filling in the blanks gave me someone who was captured in possibly North Africa,spent time in an Italian POW camp then transported to possibly eastern Germany and was evacuated/force marched near to the end of the war.I know its all speculation and I will never know for certain but I bet the whole diary would have been a cracking read. Regards Verrieres <SUP></SUP>
What a shame the whole diary has not survived. I have also spotted a reference to Jock Campbell from Morpeth, which I had missed in my original reading of the above. Is there a Museum for the DLI? who may be able to flesh this out futher.There may even be other diaries written by colleagues in the DLI. Thanks for posting a fascinating account. In amusing myself, I located several things that assisted in my own research.
Hi, Certainly is a DLI Museum, but all their documents are now in the records office in Durham they have a mountain of information and their catalogue is now online archives I am certain that this description will mirror many more similar journeys.I did find a similar account some years ago but that related I believe to an officer of the regiment(DLI) If I come across it I`ll post it if it will help. Regards Verrieres
