2720023 Guardsman William Joseph CRAIK, 2 Irish Guards: POW

WO 344-76-1


PART I
General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

1. No.: 2720023
Rank: Guardsman
Surname: CRAIK
Christian Names: William Joseph
Decorations: -

2. Unit (Army): 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS
3. Division (Army): -

4. Date of Birth: 3 June 1917
5. Date of Enlistment: 5 February 1940
6. Civilian Trade: Railway Porter
7. Private Address: 26 Haddon Avenue, Aintree

8. Place of Capture: Boulogne, FRANCE
Date of Capture: 23 May 1940

9. Were you Wounded when Captured: No

10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
Camp No. Location From & To
Stalag XXA Thorn 9 June 1940 - 5 October 1941
Stalag XXB Willenberg 5 October 1941 - 2 May 1945

11. Were you in a Working Camp?
Location From & To Nature of Work
Bromberg July 1940 - November 1940 Road work
Conitz February 1941 - October 1941 Road work
? October 1941 - December 1941 Sugar factory
? December 1941 - October 1943 Road work
? January 1944 - February 1945 Barrack building

12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
Yes
Nature of Illness Cause Duration
Pneumonia Exposure Lack of food One month

Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
No



PART II

2. Lectures before Capture
(State where, when and by whom)
(a) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave in the event of capture?:
No
(b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
No

3. Interrogation after Capture
(State where, when and methods employed by enemy)
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?:
No

4. Escapes attempted.
Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
-
(Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when captured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to our companions?)
-

5. Sabotage.
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc., when employed on working-parties or during escape?
-
(Give details, places and dates).
-

6. Collaboration with enemy.
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy against other Allied PoWS?
-
(Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
-

7. War Crimes.
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of “Form Q” on which to make your statement.
-

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
-

SECURITY UNDERTAKING.
I fully realised that all information relating to the matters covered by the questions in PART II are of a highly secret and official nature.
I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.


Date of Signature: 7 May 1945

 

Army Number: 2720023
Rank: Guardsman
Name: W J CRAIK
Unit: 2 Irish Guards
Theatre: France 1940
POW Number: 7670
Date of Capture: 23/05/1940
Place of Capture: Boulogne
Camp: Stalag XXB
TNA Reference: WO 344-76-1