New member - Crete POWs

New member from NZ. Research interest in ~800 allied servicemen who were processed as POWs on Crete, as opposed to being processed elsewhere

 

Welcome Andrew,
I to am an amatuer NZ researcher mainly with POW captured in North Africa and sent to Italy , but happy to help as over the past 10 years I have found my way around 2NZEF resources, happy to help

 

Thanks Geoff. I've found a general lack of information in this. Most of the Crete POW info relates to the general narrative of capture/capitulation at Sfakia, forced march back over the white mountains, experiences at Galatas, then shipping out by August 1941 for processing at camps in mainland Europe. 'My lot' were on Crete, in and out of captivity until January 1942, and were processed as POWs on Crete (Kr. Gef. Lager Kreta). I've been active(ish) in FB forums, and have some info online (google: tymbakion shorts), but always looking for more sources,

 

Are you aware of NZ Official History that covers POW in Crete? https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/...a.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Pris-_N75380.html

 

Welcome to the site

 

Hello Andrew.

You will have a great guide, a great mentor there in Geoff.

Very recently, as an example:

Looking for help please to trace Serviceman called Don Holmes.

And on the small chance (very small I think!) that you have not read "Dare to be Free" by the late W B "Sandy" Thomas, or seen this previously, from the man himself (he has come up in numerous threads on the forum before, and deservedly so).

His life touched that of so many others, and not just New Zealanders ( Roy Farran for example).

For you Andrew, and Geoff, Jonathan Ball and all. This is truly a great watch:

Dare to Be Free | Television | NZ On Screen

Good luck with all your research. You will find what you are looking for.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

EDIT 09:38hrs 05/08/2025:

Caveat on the documentary video. Part three will not play all the way through for me, having tried and tried all sorts to rectify and have it play to it's conclusion.

I've put my two 'penneth in. Fingers crossed.



Found on YouTube, complete episode, and plays through to it's full length.

Hoorah!

 

Another NZ Official History for Crete
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/....victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Cret.html