James W. Garner - POW from 1943

I am posting this in the hope I can shed some light on my Grandad's war experiences. What I do know is his Service Number: 6022791 - James William Garner - Buff's (East Kent Regiment) and that he was taken prisoner in Italy in 1943. I have a Postcard from the German authorities, dated December 22 1943 (from Transit Camp for POW FP. Nr. 31979) and I know he was moved to a Prisoner of War Camp in Germany. He never ever mentioned the war or anything about his experiences. I am planning to request his full Military Service from the Ministry of Defence, which I believe I can do? My aim is to find any Testimonies or Books written by anyone who was a prisoner with him in 1944 / 45. I would be extremely grateful for any help or advice on how to find more information.

 

You can indeed apply for his official records, and you should, that is the only way to get a full picture of his service.
Get a copy of military service records: Apply for the records of someone who's deceased - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You will need his death certificate.

You should also bear in mind that his service number (presume you are 100% certain?) means that he enlisted with the Essex regiment, only his records will confirm his transfers. The 5th Bn Buffs, served in 36 Brigade of the 78th (Battleaxe) Infantry Division.

Casualty lists state he went 'missing believed POW' on 21/11/43, seek out the war diaries for that day. They were in the River Sangro area.

His POW No. was 125571, Camp 7A Moosburg (Isar)

 

Page 99 from Algiers to Austria by Cyril Ray.
The 78th Div history, 5 Buffs lost a few men the night of 19th/20th November 1943.

 

Hmm, for some reason the files keep getting shrunk on when uploading them.

But these are the WD pages from 21st November. Major D Milton and 37 ORs lost.

 

See Adam's post from Feb.
Adding Images

 

Too late.

I've transcribed it and the page before. Grammatical errors in original.

19th November

A composite company under command of Major D Milton and consisting of 1 platoon Y Coy (Capt. E.H. Body), 1 platoon B Coy (Lt. Webster), 1 platoon D Coy (Lt. Mumford) crossed the river at dusk and took up positions in area 4103 with Y Coy platoon forward on left, D Coy platoon on right and B Coy platoon at rear. Coy HQ was situated in a farmhouse between Y Coy platoon and D Coy platoon with 1 section of Y Coy in the same building.

20th November

Was uneventful except for some enemy mortaring in the area of Lt. Mumford’s platoon causing some casualties.

It was by this time evident that the enemy were aware of the location of the composite company and Major Milton reported that enemy had been seen in a house some 200x away. During the night the area was mortared and machine gunned from fixed lines.

21st November

0730 Composite company were attached by a patrol which afterwards retired.

1100 Composite company was attacked by infantry which had approached Coy HQ, with which was also a section of Y Coy, using grenades thrown into the windows and receiving covering fire from their own machine guns. At the same time Mr Mumford’s platoon were being heavily mortared and unable to come to the assistance of Coy HQ. In fact, their position finally became untenable and they were forced to withdraw to a gully where they were joined by Capt. Body and the remainder of his platoon and some of Lt. Webster’s platoon.

A small party under Capt. Body attempted unsuccessfully to bring back some of the wounded. This party in the gully were by now the main body and they withdrew to the river crossing, where they re-crossed under Capt. Body whilst Lt. Webster remained to assist the badly wounded men across the river.

The area was close enough for the enemy to be able to work round the flanks, fighting was in some cases hand to hand and because of this, together with the fact that for some reason wireless communication with Battalion had failed, it was impossible to give this isolated company any support. Especially since immediately after their initial crossing the river rose to such a depth as to become unfordable. From this operation Major D Milton and 37 ORs failed to return.

22nd November

The level of the river had now fallen and the 5th Northants sent forward their four rifle coys to re-occupy the area across the river. Whilst plans were being made for this Battalion to similarly take over from 6 RWK, who had in the meantime been occupying positions across the river on our left flank, which had not been attacked.

 

Kevin, I would post the map with the location marked but the image sizes mentioned won't make it worthwhile. If you contact me separately I will send it.

 

Thank you so much for the information! I recall an aunt telling me that he was with a guy with the first name of Ron. They were tracked down by the German army to some sort of building and knocked loudly on the door. My grandad and Ron tossed a coin to see who would open the door. Ron did, and in doing so was shot in the arm (so badly, he lost his arm!). Looking at details on POW Camps I noticed a 'mugshot' from a Camp that someone had posted. I do know the Germans were meticulous record keepers (they even kept photograph record cards for Concentration Camp internees). My hope is I can track down my Grandad's photograph holding up his prison number. I just need to work out where to start contacting for this (maybe a museum or something may be in possession of this?). Thanks again for all your help, I really do appreciate you taking the time to help.

 

Dates should read November.

 

Sorted, I've edited the month.
I didn't notice until you mentioned it.
Doh.

 

It is now 2025 and I am picking on my search for information. An application for my Grandad's full military service record was submitted in August 2024. Subject to The Freedom of Information act, I am hoping they will let me have a copy. Meanwhile, I am looking into the possibility of tracing his journey. From landing in Sicily to ending up in a Prisoner of War camp just outside of Munich. With the Germans being meticulous record keepers, would they have recorded prisoner transports? they did for the transport of Jews to camps. Also, I did see somewhere that each prisoner of war had their photograph taken on arrival at camp, for a record card. I think these may have been taken into the possession of the Allies when they liberated the camp. Would I be able to ascertain if my Grandad's record still exists?

 

My Grandad was a Prisoner of War (POW) and never spoke about his experience, apart from one comment that he was made to clear up bomb damage in Munich.
I applied for his full Military Service back in August 2024 and I gather I am in for quite a wait!
He was in The Buffs and went missing during attack on River Sangro, on 21st November 1943. In a previous thread on here, some years ago, I was given a copy of the War Diary which detailed the action he took part in.
Is there any way I can trace his journey from the point of capture? I would imagine he was in an Italian Camp before being transferred (by train?) to Germany and Camp Stalag VII A, Moosburg (Isar). All I have is a postcard sent from Germany on 22nd December 1943 to his wife, informing her that he was a POW (copy attached). My mother also has a photograph taken of him in the camp. Would a Prisoner Record Card have survived somewhere, or did the Germans destroy the Camp's records prior to Liberation? I have done some research trying to find if he completed a Liberation Questionnaire, but it would appear there is no record online.
If anyone can help me with more information, I would be extremely grateful.

 

Source: Ancestry.com

 

Hello Kevin,

Here is a partial reply to your answer.

Italian prisoners of war camps were emptied after the Italian armistice of 8 September 1943. The prisoners were either sent straight on to Germany or escaped. Those escapers who were recaptured or newly taken prisoner were held in transit camps - sometimes more than one. No registers have survived from these camps.

The postcard has the address Feldpost in the top left hand corner. According to Prisoner of war lists WO 392/21 - compiled August 1943 so doesn't inlcude your father - this was a transit camp somewhere in northern Italy.

Have looked for it once without success but will have another try,

Regards,

Vitellino

 

I have found your grandfather's route in Italy, Kevin, assuming that those captured on 21st November on the Sangro stayed together, at least until they got to Germany.

I inserted The Buffs 21 November 1943 into the Ancestry search engine showing liberation reports. These were compiled at the end of the war by the released prisoners but not everyone filled one in. I couldn't find one for your grandfather, for example. A list of names came up and I read all these men's reports.

Private Harold Sharp's report gave details similar to what you told me about your grandfather - both were sent to Stalag VIIA Moosburg, for example. I have posted P.1 of his report below.

It appears that the prisoners were taken to ex-pow camp PG102 at Aquila, which I have to assume was Feldpost 31979, before being sent on to Germany. You can read about this camp here.

Regards,
Vitellino

 

Thanks for the above, Temujin, but if I have understood Kevin's original post correctly he knew that his grandfather was in Germany. What he didn't know was his journey there after having been captured on the River Sangro. I hope I have answered that question, though I know that he might also have been held in other camps for a short while in Italy. However, given that Harold Sharp, who was captured with him, was in PG 102 at Aquila and was also in Germany in December 1943 I think it is fairly safe to assume that they were together at this time.

I am very familiar with the Casualty Reports in the series WO 417 and they never show interim camps or even final camps, for that matter. I have also discovered that if there were indeed temporary lists for the transit camps they were nothing other than loading lists and to my knowledge these lists have never been found. The only way to trace the interim camps is from the liberation questionaires. Harold Sharp clearly states that he was in Aquila, which I know was PG 102, in Nov--Dec 1943.

Kevin, I hope you are happy with my earlier reply. If not, please let me know,

Best wishes,

Vitellino

 

Thank you so much. Private Sharp's Liberation Report seems to match up with the one comment that he made, about being made to work in Munich clearing up Allied Bomb damage. The only piece of information I had from his sister, was that he was captured hiding in an out-house or shed. He was with another Private and they tossed a coin when the German's knocked on the door. The other Private lost and opened the door, promptly being shot in the arm. This led to an amputation. They remained firm friends through the war and after, I have pictures of him attending family weddings. I only knew him as Ron. But today I hunted through notes I took when speaking to an elderly relative some years ago. It would seem his surname was Herman (or Hermann)