Sgt. George Piercy 2nd batt. Cameron Highlanders

My great uncle recently passed away and when we were attending to the estate, we came upon a suitcase full of paperwork and momentos from his war experiences. His name was George Piercy and he was with the 2nd battalion of the Cameron Highlanders. He was captured in 1942 at Tobruk and sent to POW camp 53 in Macerata Italy. The letter to his family advising them that he was missing in action and the subsequent letter stating he was a POW were in the suitcase. There is also a letter home from the camp to his family. Sgt Piercy escaped in Sept 1943 with a Cpl named P.B. Kerr who I think was also a Cameron. They were taken in by an italian family and hidden in between 2 walls of their house. They started a partisan group and fought from the mountains near Sarnano. I have a letter from an officer that came across the partisans in 1944 stating that these 2 NCO's are heading a group of patriots in the area. My uncle was mentioned in despatches but I am not sure why. I found a letter dated 1948 from a german soldier he took prisoner in June of 1944 in the mountains. He states that he felt it to be his duty to write my uncle because he feels he is alive because of him. The letter goes on to talk about the soldiers experience in a POW camp at the Suez Channel and of being expelled from CSR to Bavaria after he returned home.
Another item in the case was a cloth map of italy and I believe it to be a POW escape map. It is a silk material. I believe it was somehow smuggled into the POW camp by the Brittish army and my uncle used it to aid in his escape. The area around Sarnano is soiled more than the rest of the map.
I would like to find out any more information on my great uncle or Cpl P.B. Kerr. Where would I look to find out why he was mentioned in despatches and has anyone else come across one of these silk maps?

Thanks

 

I wonder if this is your Great-Uncle:

NOTICE is hereby given that by deed dated 1st August 1940 and enrolled in the Supreme Court of Judicature on 2nd August 1940 GEORGE PIERCY of 69 Blanchland Road Morden in the county of Surrey abandoned the names of George Piazzi and adopted the name of George Piercy.

(181) GEORGE PIERCY.


(Just curious, doesn't really help much)


Oh, and does any of the paperwork have his service number on it?? Might make searching for the MiD easier.

 

History -
if it helps at all - the 2nd Cams were in the 4th Indian Division - and just before Beda Fomm in early '41 they were sent to Ethiopia - back to Syria then again into the desert....might be able to start from there...
Cheers

 

I have a Sgt G.K. Piercy 2928145 Cameron Highlanders in PG 53 August 1943.


PG 53 Sforza Costa 43.18N - 13.22E.

 

2nd Camerons as Foreign Office service battalion in India, mobilised in Ahmednagar in July 1939. They moved to Egypt with 11th (Indian) Infantry Brigade of 4th (Indian) Division and trained for Desert warfare. When Italy entered the war in June 1940 They joined General Richard O'Connor's Western Desert Force.
The Italin advance started in September 1940. The first Infantry action in the western desert was a raid by 2nd Camerons on the Italian camp at Maktila, 22nd-23rd October 1940. The Camerons first major operation was taking part in the attack on Nibeiwa camp, and the capture of Sidi-Barrani the next day.
They sailed and landed at Port Sudan January 1941. seeing action at Kassala and Agordat. They took part in the actions breaking through at Keren in February 1941. losing 209 casualties, 41% of their strength.
April 1941 they returned to Egypt, 2nd June they took part in the battle at Halfaya pass, followed by defensive actions as General Sir Claude Auchinleck prepared to take the offensive against Rommel with operation Crusader.
During the fighting to relieve Tobruk 2nd Cameron took part in the attack on El Gubi, December 1941.
When Rommel hit back in January 1942, 4th (Indian) Division withdrew to Gazala, the 2nd Camerons fighting successful rearguard actions at Maraua, El Faida and Carmusa.
May 1942, 2nd Camerons were holding a 3 mile stretch of the Tobruk perimeter. 21st June the garrison surrendered but 2nd Cameron fought on, surrendering the next day 22nd June. Lt-Col C.S. Duncan ordered every fit man to try to escape to Alamein, 500 miles away. He then agreed to march his battalion out of Tobruk into a prisoner of war camp. not as a defeated battalion, but under its commanding officer and headed by its Pipers.
I have 2928145 Sergeant G. K. Piercy listed here Cameron Highlanders Honours and Awards

 

Apply for his service records first. You'll know what year to start your research and what year to finish it.

You'll be glad to know his MiD is online at the National Archives.

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

DO NOT PAY FOR IT - SOME MEMBERS KNOW HOW TO GET A COPY FOR FREE. I'LL GET IT FOR YOU AFTER WORK IF NO ONE ELSE HAS.

Cheers
Andy

 

There was a L/Cpl P C Kerr 2752521 of the Cameron Highlanders listed as PG 65 Gravina 40.49N - 16-28E

 

I wonder if this is your Great-Uncle:

NOTICE is hereby given that by deed dated 1st August 1940 and enrolled in the Supreme Court of Judicature on 2nd August 1940 GEORGE PIERCY of 69 Blanchland Road Morden in the county of Surrey abandoned the names of George Piazzi and adopted the name of George Piercy.


(181) GEORGE PIERCY.


(Just curious, doesn't really help much)


Oh, and does any of the paperwork have his service number on it?? Might make searching for the MiD easier.
Quite a famous Italian name.

Was he of Italian extraction?

 

WOW.. Thanks all.
Spidge. My uncle did not change his name. He was born a Piercy.
Owen. How do I get copies of these documents? Are there any other documents I should request?
My great uncle was quite a man. He attended the Duke of Yorks Royal Military school at Dover from 1928-32. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion (4th Indian division) of the Queens own Cameron Highlanders from 1932-46. He attained the permanent rank of Colour Sergeant. He was injured by shrapnel sometime during his service. I am not sure where he was injured.
He was awarded the following.

Mentioned in despatches
General service Medal
Palestine medal
Africa Star
1939-1945 Star
Italy Star

I believe he was awarded the Italy star for his work with the partisans after his escape. It is very interesting to hear about his being told he had received the MM when in fact it should have been MiD. You are right Owen. I bet he was devastated.
After being shipped back to the UK, he spent the rest of the war training Officer Cadets for the Japanese war. He was required by British Intelligence at HQ to write a report covering his actions in Italy. Where would I find this report?

I have a few photos of George and his buddies in India, Egypt and Palestine.

I have Cpl P.B. Kerrs military number from the letter the officer wrote about their actions in Sarnano. It is 2452521. I would like to have more information about this man to possibly speak to his relatives.

Thanks again
Shawn