Assistance!

[Scaramooch]

Well here goes, lets see what assistance I can get. My Father had always told me that he was a fighter pilot in Egypt and Europe. I tried to find his name in all the books I could lay my hands on, nothing. I contacted a gent and he found my Father's military record. He was in actual a Anti Aircraft gunner. He was captured during the battle of Sidi Regezh, 23 November 1941. He was a POW right to the end of the war. The records I have point to the following camps, Camp 66, Camp 52 and possibly Germany Stalag 7A. Now my question: How can I confirm how he got to Italy? Why I ask this, I was informed he could have been aboard the Sebastiano Venier. Where or how can I get any type of manifest that will show me what ship they used to get him to Italy? The German record keeping was impecable but I dont know where to get it. My Father's name and number was Pieter Andries Kruger, P6025 and he was with the 3rd AA Regiment (S.A.A.) when he was captured.

[penderel]

Hey Howzit. I believe that my Grandfather was in the SA Army and was captured at Sidi as well. I have POW letters from Campo 52 in Italy and Stalag 3B.
I am on a similar hunt to you. Will gladly share info and so forth. I believe after Sidi POWS would have gone to a holding place Benghazi and shipped out from there to Italy. The deal with the Germans and Italians was that any POWS from Africa were to be handed to the Italians. What city was he from in SA.

Funnily I was in the 10 AA unit.

I have a book with pictures of POWS from South African forces in Germany and Italy. The letters also mention blokes that he knew and some that did not make it.

[penderel]

Here is something for you to read about Sidi,

Battles 1941

Good bit of info, My Grandfather had just joined the 5th brigade, who got hammered there on the 23rd of Nov, ironically his B'day.

[Scaramooch]

Hi penderel,
As mentioned I had no idea of my dad’s whereabouts during the war. It was a total surprise to find out that he served as an AA gunner. Since I found out I have been placing a lot of things together. For me, I think the main reason for the blank out of that period, Nov 1941 to Oct 1945, was all the hardships he had to endure. This was, maybe, his way to deal with the situation. I have found a tremendous respect for him to be able to survive those 4 years. I picked up on a document from Germany that he was listed as a medic on a roll call list for a work group out of Unterfohring. I was told that it originated out of Stalag VIIA. I have record that he had a tunic of a lieutenant of the medical core. His way of surviving? The list has names of Indians, Colored’s and Blacks, very interesting reading. The link you gave, found it and read it as well. I have found a number of interesting facts, but, I unfortunately did not save the links. From today on I will be saving the links as well as the story.
Regards
Peter
PS. Not sure if it is allowed. If you supply me with your mail address I can pass on what I have so far.

[von Poop]

Originally Posted by Scaramooch

PS. Not sure if it is allowed. If you supply me with your mail address I can pass on what I have so far.

Of course it's allowed mate, if both parties agree .
You now have 'registered user' status Scaramooch and can contact people by PM or the sites email system.

Cheers,
Adam.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by penderel

Here is something for you to read about Sidi,

Battles 1941

Good bit of info, My Grandfather had just joined the 5th brigade, who got hammered there on the 23rd of Nov, ironically his B'day.

The website is well written and an easy read. It even names my Dad's 6th Division as Australian and not "Commonwealth troops". His 19th brigade is also mentioned.

[penderel]

Here is another link, about SA South African Military History Society - Journal - SOUTH AFRICAN PRISONERS OF WAR ON THE LONG MARCHES 1944-1945
That might explain some more to you about your Dads experiences.

My e mail is my username @hotmail.com (penderel).

I keep wanting to post up the POW cards I have here, but I have to get organized on that, and not sure if I can post pictures??

[von Poop]

Originally Posted by penderel

I keep wanting to post up the POW cards I have here, but I have to get organized on that, and not sure if I can post pictures??

You should have no worries on that score Penderel.
In case you have any trouble there's a 'how to' here.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Greetings guys and welcome to the boards

[Scaramooch]

Good afternoon friends,
Sorry for the bit of a delay. I have read a bit up around the battle at Sidi Rezegh, it must have been hell for most of chaps fighting out there. Whith the battle going one way then the next it must have been very confusing. In one, the story was told of a staff car riding into the middel of a German held defensive and visa verse. At times it was a ridge seperating the forces. What I really would like to know, if possible, in what area my Dad found himself when he was captured. Common sense tells me he should have been at the airfield but then I read of vechiles patrolling the route with AA guys actually riding on the back of the trucks manning their guns. There was mention of a train as well that had these types of defences on them. Is there anybody out there that could maybe place me a bit closer than somewhere in Egypt. Like I said he was with the 3rd AA Regiment, S.A.A. I have a copy of the actual notification that was sent to his sister on the 14 December 1941. I also wonder if he had been part of the "Thirst march" that so many was involved in. I will be adding a picture of my Dad and some of the records that I have.

Till later
Cheers
Peter