Hi I am looking for information on Bandsman Frank Handford, Army No: 554648 of Reconnaissance Corps. He was taken prisoner (don't know which year) and held at Stalag IV-F, Hartsmannsdorf, POW No: 251524. If anyone has any info, photos etc, I would be most grateful Thanks Chris
hello Chris welcome to the forum do you have his service records this would assist you gaining more info Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel regards Clive
Hi Chris, I note Handford is shown as RAC in the WW2 POW roll but I can find no evidence that he served with the Recce Corps. Could you tell me why you think he did and I can double check my sources. Best wishes, Jawan
Bandsman Handford, Frank, 554648 Reconnaissance Corps Hi Clive Unfortunately we do not have his service records. He is still alive but suffering dementia so we cannot get him to apply for his records. As it refers to WWII I believe that the records are still held under closure? Thanks Chris
Bandsman Handford, Frank, 554648 Reconnaissance Corps Hi Jawan Information came from Ancestry POW Records Name:F. HandfordRank:BandsmanArmy Number:554648Regiment:Reconnaissance CorpsPOW Number:251524Camp Type:StalagCamp Number:IV-FCamp Location:Hartmannsdorf, SaxonyRecord Office:Royal Armoured Corps and Reconnaissance Corps Record Office, The Drill Hall, Barnet, HertfordshireRecord Office Number:3 Name:F. HandfordRank:BandsmanArmy Number:554648Regiment:Reconnaissance CorpsPOW Number:251524Camp Type:StalagCamp Number:IV-FCamp Location:Hartmannsdorf, SaxonyRecord Office:Royal Armoured Corps and Reconnaissance Corps Record Office, The Drill Hall, Barnet, HertfordshireRecord Office Number:3Name: F. Handford Rank: Bandsman Army Number: 554648 Regiment: Reconnaissance Corps POW Number: 251524 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: IV-F Camp Location: Hartmannsdorf, Saxony Record Office: Royal Armoured Corps and Reconnaissance Corps Record Office, The Drill Hall, Barnet, Hertfordshire Record Office Number: 3 Regards Chris
Chris, Many thanks for this which is very clear but puzzling! His Army number indicates that he was a member of the Royal Armoured Corps, probably pre-War, and as a bandsman was probably one of the RAC musicians attached to the newly formed Recce Corps in early 1941 when it was agreed they should have their own band. I have searched my roll of around 20,000 who served with the Recce Corps but there is no sign of him! And how did a Bandsman end up getting captured!! One might say careless!! Anyway if you manage to get an indication of which Recce Regiment he served with I can do more and I will also trawl another source for information. He or his direct next of kin, if granted power of attorny, can apply for an extract from his service record (see veterans agency website) which, as you say, are not in the public domain. Do keep in touch, best wishes, Jawan