2612888 Serjeant John William NAYLOR, 5 Grenadier Guards, PoW: Looking for Information or photos

Army Number: 2612888
Rank: Serjeant
Name: John William NAYLOR
Unit: Grenadier Guards

 

Name: John W Naylor . Date of Birth: 27/05/1911 . Place of Birth: Nottingham . ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/268/469
Name: John W Naylor.
Date of Birth: 27/05/1911.
Place of Birth: Nottingham.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Sergeant.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: Grenadier Guards.
Service Number: 2612888.
Date of Capture: 08/02/1944.
Theatre of Capture: Italy.
Camp Name/Number: Stalag IVB Muhlberg.
PoW number: 279156.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 1.
Number of Fingerprints: 1.
Number of X-rays: 1.
Number of Cards: 4.

 

2612888 Sgt. John William Naylor.

My great grandfather

 

You've mixed up the ribbons on the 39-45 Star & the Defence Medal.

 

Hi Dannyw824, I was in two minds whether or not to post but...just in case you want to. If your great grandfather wore those medals as they are pictured, then, I, personally, would them leave as is.

However, if you wanted to correct them, there are three medals that are incorrect. The 39-45 Star, Defence medal and War medal are all mixed up. Also, the 39-45 Star ribbon is the wrong way round (dark blue stripe first). For reference:

Best,
John.

 

Thanks Owen and John. I'm not sure if he wore them like that or it was just a mix up when a relative was framing them. Does anyone know where I could maybe find more information on him? I've just put in a request at the national archives for his POW paperwork.

Thanks Danny

 

Hi , I'm looking for any infomation on Sgt. John William Naylor 2612888 5th Battalion Grenadier Guards.

 

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

You ought to apply to Swiss Red Cross next Monday - 20th January 2025 - for a copy of the information held in their files via this link -


Requests for information about people held during Spanish Civil War or Second World War: Quarterly limit reached


Check the site promptly at the given opening time and a pop up online application form will be visible. Complete and submit the form speedily as the application window can close within 90 minutes due to the limit being reached.


It’s a free service and you can expect a reply by email within 3 months. You may be lucky and get a copy of the capture card postcard he completed on arrival at his first camp. The Red Cross document you will receive should list all the camps where he was detained.

Good Luck

Steve

 

Thanks mods for tidying this up. I didn't want to post anymore, for fear of hijacking dbf thread,

 

Danny.

If you ever want to go to Anzio and see where you grandfather was captured on 8 Feb 44, do get in touch with me through my website www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk.

The night of 7-8 Feb 44 was a crushing blow for 5 GREN GDS - their four Rifle Companies were completely overrun by the Germans and the fate of the beachhead hung in the balance. The courage of Maj Philip Sidney, and a few others, in a gully effectively stopped the Germans reaching the critical Anzio-Albano road. In doing so, he and his fellow Foot Guards blunted and stalled the German assault for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. It was quite some action and I include the exact spot in my guided tour.

5 GREN GDS had a bruising time at Anzio.

Regards

Frank

 

POW Questionnaire from 1945

 

Thank you just sent off for this , Will post here if I get any infomation back

 

Pow card from the national archives , IVB Muhlberg

 

Certificate of education from Windsor in 1933 signed off from Lt col. Frederick Beaumont-Nesbitt

 

Hi,

He likely obtained his Third Class Certificate of Education whilst a recruit at The Guards Depot. I have my father’s 3rd & 2nd Class certificates from Caterham 1937 & Alexandria, Egypt 1938.

Many recruits - who had left school at 14 years of age without any qualifications - took advantage of the opportunity the army offered to study to obtain qualifications during their army service (3 or 4 year enlistments in the Brigade of Guards were the norm) that would be of use in securing post service employment.

Possession of a 2nd Class Certificate and an Exemplary or Very Good character at discharge would support an application to join a Police Force or secure a “public sector ” type job opportunity ie Post Office, London Transport etc.

Steve

 

I was able to find his soldiers release book and it does have a note of good character in, As for the 3rd class certifcate it doesn't look like we have it or its hiding somewhere.

 

I was able to find out he was in 3 coy from his paybook, It also says HMT Almanzora was this ship used to transport troops to Italy , It's dated 15th Janurary 1944

 

Hi,

He wasn’t necessarily in Number 3 company of his Battalion on active service in Italy.

The document shows he was likely in Number 3 Company of Grenadier Guards Training Battalion in early 1943. At some point later in 1943 he likely went to GG Holding Battalion and was then selected for a reinforcement draft to Italy.

Steve

 

Hi,

He likely had at least 6 weeks leave on his repatriation to UK but it could’ve been further extended (my father had 10 weeks at home). During that time he would’ve been called for a medical at a 45 Division Medical Board at a military facility near his home address.

At the end of the period of leave returning Brigade of Guards personnel from all Regiments went to Number 2 Selection & Training Unit RAC at Paxhill Camp near Haywards Heath Sussex for 2 weeks for an assessment of their military fitness and evaluation of their suitability for a further posting.

I’m not aware of the location of Number 90 Transit Camp other than it may have been at Fairford - the location of the officer who signed his testimonial.

The family may also have his soldiers red book - B108 Regular Army Certificate of Service - that ought to have a discharge testimonial from an officer in GG Record Office.

Steve