From POW Camp to Civil Internment Camp: PG 52 and PG 73 Italy

Hi,

I Have recently been trying to trace my grandfathers movements and have come across a picture which may indicate he was in PG52
We have no records for him and have really only just started the search but wondered if you could shed some light on this picture. The picture is of 9 servicemen and a women. On the back is a name we cannot make out and PG52PM3100 Hut 35 Italia. My Grandfather name was Cornelius Bradley. Also known as Neil. I have attached the picture for your records and hopefully this can help others.

Sean

 

Hello Sean,

Thank you very much for this information.

First of all, the numbers on the back of the photo.

PG 52 - the number of the prisoner of war camp.

PM - postal region 3100. A number of camps were in this postal region, not only PG 52. It is of no help to anyone in tracing the actual camp if they don't already know its number - which, fortunately - you do.

You are very fortunate to have the number of the hut. These numbers do not appear in official records - only in the correspondence to and from the individual prisoner.

I will post the photo and hut number on the website and add in the contact form again, hoping that someone will then contact you through me.

Secondly, what was you grandfather's nationality, service number, regiment etc.? With this information we can help you further. In any case you should send to the International Red Cross in Geneva for his prisoner of war record.

Best wishes

Vitellino

Edited - just noticed that he was a Sapper. If he was in the Royal Engineers then WO 392 21 shows him as being in PG70, Monturano. If he was a New Zealander, the same register shows him in PG 57 at Grupignano.
The men were moved between camps - this is why you need his record. I won't post the photo until you confirm his nationality.

Edited for the second time - the name on the back of the photo doesn't look like Bradley to me!!

 

Good afternoon Vitellino,


Sorry to say no. He was a British soldier from Scotland. We are sure this is him under the cross in the photo but the name doesn’t seem to add up. We haven’t been able to find his regiment numbers as of yet but are looking into it currently. We do think he was a royal engineer but really only have this picture and one more to go on as of yet.

Sean

 

Just to add,

this is the other photo I was referring to. Obviously not taken in the camp. He’s the one lying down in the front I believe the rank on his arm is corporal. I will add the regiment and service numbers as soon as I find them

kind regards

sean

 

As soon as you find out something, post it here and I will add him to the website,

Vitellino

 

Hi Sean
Do you have any idea when he was in PG52. My Grandfather was there, he was a stretcher Bearer with the NZ2EF and was in hut 40 around October 1942. I don't have exact dates as he went from PG66 to PG52, then to PG201 where he was in the hospital as a patient for a while before taking on orderly duties. We only have 2 photos of him before he left for war, on his own outside his home and one official one with the regiment. Good luck finding the information.
Belinda

 

Hi Sean
My Grandfather was a stretcher Bearer with the NZ2EF and was in PG52 hut 40 around October 1942 - don't have exact dates as he was in PG66, then PG52 and then PG202, in hospital and then working there as an orderly (he was a POW about 18 months before being repatriated - he came back a pretty sick man and died within a year of the end of the war). It is great to have photos. We only have 2 photos of my Grandfather and one was taken in his garden (in uniform) before he left and one is his regimental group photograph. Good luck finding out any information.
Belinda