255444 Bill (William?) Norton, South African Sapper

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by GeoffMNZ, Jul 22, 2016.

  1. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    I will ask the Italian author of www.campifascist.it, whom I have been helping with some research regarding the transfer of troops from PGs 82, 73 and 53 and to Lamsdorf and elswhere in July 1943, if he knows how the Italians chose the names for their camps. The interestesting point is, why did the Protecting Power/Red Cross not stick with these names, using other names in some cases? It causes a large amount of confusion (see my post on Camps 53 and 56) to all of us involved in research into Italian camps.

    Regards

    Vitellino,
     
  2. GeoffMNZ

    GeoffMNZ Well-Known Member

    The Allied list of POW in Italy from August '43 calls Chiavari - "Chiabari" - which is still more confusion!
     
  3. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Chiabari si definitely wrong. See Wyn Edwards' account of being marched to Chiavari Station in
    I Was In Dachau

    Regards,

    Vitellino
     
  4. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Geoff,

    This is what I found out from the owner of website www.campifasciti.it.

    Up to 7 January 1942, the Italian Ministry of Defence had not given a number to their POW camps and they were simply known by the name of the place where they were located. Then, for reasons of secrecy, to prevent the enemy from finding out the exact location of the camps, they were identified only by the number which had been assigned to each.

    Regards

    Vitellino
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  5. GeoffMNZ

    GeoffMNZ Well-Known Member

    DianeE,
    Thanks for the info of how to contact SANDF for Bill's info. They got back to me today (3-4 weeks, not bad?). They confirmed that Bill lived in Jo'berg before his war service and returned to his job as a bus driver there after being discharged on 12/08/46. He was born in Zeerust, Transvaal on 26/03/02, so he went war aged 38.

    Thanks
    Geoff
     
  6. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    Hi Geoff, glad to hear that the SANDF replied to you. I have been unable to find out anything more about Bill Norton. I can tell you that Marriling Mansions no longer exists.

    Diane
     
  7. GeoffMNZ

    GeoffMNZ Well-Known Member

    Diane,
    Thanks to you all I am a lot further on than a month ago!
    Geoff
     

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