2621936 Guardsman John C LARKIN, 6th Bn Grenadier Guards: POW, E&E report?

Hello all,

My first post. I am researching the above in relation to an article I am writing for my local History Society. An Italian living in Florence has contacted us in Wigan telling the story of how his grandfather who was anti Fascist helping a British soldier by the name of JC Larkin. He enlisted 11 Nov 1940. He was reported MIA 13 March 1943, just before the Battle of the Horseshoe on the Mareth Line. He was held as a POW at PG 82 at Laterina. On Italy's surrender in Sept 1943 he went on the run and joined a partisan group. He finally reached American lines on 26 June 1944. Does anyone have access to 6 Bn's war diaries for the period June 1942 to March 1943 please, or could help in any way with this intriguing story. I have a copy of his service record but it is of only limited help.

Thanks

 

Welcome. A search on the forum using the tag 6 grenadier guards may be worthwhile, in particular:-
6th Battalion Grenadier Guards, March 1943, Captain Winder, R.A.M.C.

p.s. his service number is 2621936.

 

Thanks for the replies, links, pics and very useful information, especially from Vitellino.

The incorrect army number with the extra digit was just a typo, apologies.

When my article about John Larkin, 6 GG is complete I will post a link on this site.
Cheers Graham

 

Hello all,

I am researching 2621936, Gdsman John Cecil Larkin, 6 Bn Grenadier Guards

He was captured 14 March 1943 on the Mareth Line.

He was first held at PG 78 Sulmona then moved to PG 82 Laterina on 9 April 1943

He absconded in Sept 1943 when the Italians capitulated and made it back to Allied Lines on 6 July 1944

I have the records from Ancestry and ICRC

Are there any other records available to help piece together his escape and evasion story.

Family history is he first joined a partisan group then was sheltered by an Italian family in their farmhouse.

Thank you

Graham Taylor

 

What exactly did you get from Ancestry?

Have you looked at these records held in The National Archives:

Reference: WO 208/5419

Description: Western Europe: Evasion, Escape or Liberation reports: Surname range: Lagomodiere J G - Lyons A R. (Described at item level).

These files relate mainly to those allied personnel who evaded capture, or escaped from POW camps in Western Europe. The records generally contain a single (green) cover sheet; a signed sheet giving name, rank, number and regiment. They may also contain a report, including details on capture, and how they returned to Allied lines. The report may also mention other POWs and names of interest.

Date: 1944-1945

Held by: The National Archives, Kew

Legal status: Public Record(s)

Closure status: Open Document, Open Description


Also, if Guardsman Larkin joined Allied lines on 6 July 1944 this tells me that he was in the zone between Cortona and Arezzo.

The NARA (American Archives) hold the requests for compensation made to the Allied Screening Commission at the end of thee war by families who had helped the escapers. Unfortunately the index shows the names of the families, not the servicemen they helped. I have had a quick look in the Cortona -Castiglion Fiorentino area and there were about 20 requests. These records can be sent for and there is no cost, but you would probably have to send for quite a lot before having any chance of hitting on the right family.

Regards,

Vitellino

 

Hi all,

I am researching 2621936 Gdsman John Cecil Larkin, 6 Bn Gren Gds who was captured 13 March 1943 on the Mareth Line. He went on the run from PG82 Laterina after the Armistice, fought with the Partisans and reached American lines 26 June 1944.

I am interested in accessing his MI9 Escape & Evasion report. The NA search facility is a nightmare, I keep going round in circles trying to find the relevant WO 208 file number. I am too far away to visit so hope to order it by post. Can anyone help.

Thanks

Graham

 

This looks like the same soldier
BBC - WW2 People's War - John C. Larkin's War

 

Hello Vitellino,

Apologies for not replying to your messsge of 14 Sept. I was recovering from a heart attack and have been out of the country for a while since.

He was a PoW at PG82 Laterina, after the Armistice he eventually joined a Partisan group at Roccastrada. An Italian by the name of Lorenzo Ferraro whose family lived south of Florence states that his grandfather (name unknown) an Italian Army officer helped John C Larkin whilst evading. His service records state that he reached American lines on 26 June 1944 but a statement signed by an Italian officer Captain Franco Tessi states that he helped Gdsmn Larkin reach Allied lines on 16 June near Grosseto. The day that it was liberated by the 5th Army. Presumably the two officers are the same person but not sure.

Is it possible to order a copy of the MI9 E&E report from the NA by post.

Thanks

 

Sorry to hear about your health problems - hope you are feeling better.

Will get back to you later today,

Vitellino

 

The escape reports of men who joined Allied Lines in Italy in Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio are among the most difficult to track down in the records at the National Archives. I have been looking for those of ten submariners since 2011 without success.

However, have checked everything again I suspect that the report you are looking for is in the miscellaneous section here:

Miscellaneous interrogation reports: Nos 401 to 843 | The National Archives

OR

PRISONERS OF WAR SECTION > Escape Reports May -June 1944

General | The National Archives


These have not been digitalised and cannot be downloaded. You cannot apply by post. You have to order through the NA website or you can hire and independent researcher.

The researcher will have to look through all the reports in the that section to see if Gdsmn Larkin's report is there.

Best of luck!!

Vitellino

 

Hi Vitellino,

Thanks for your time and the expert advice. Much appreciated. Just to confirm your answer, are you saying it's possible to search the two sections myself and order a copy via email through the NA website. Or is hiring a researcher the best alternative.

Thanks

 

To search them yourself you would need to go to the National Archives.

However, in the past I have used a private researcher who specialises in prisoners of war as they will know where to look. I am fairly expert by now at turning up these records but certain ones still elude me.

I did ask way back what you had found out from Ancestry and it would help if you could give me the source of your information about Captain Tessi together with that about the partisans of Roccastrada.

Regards,
Vitellino

 

Hi Vitellino,

It's a long story, is it possible to pm you as I have a brief written account by John Larkin himself where he mentions the Roccastrada Partisans. Also a five page document of a statement made in 1944 by Captain Franco Tessi who says he helped him cross the lines. I have had these translated into English.

Regards
Graham

 

Hello Graham,

I will send you a PM with my contact details,

Vitellino

 

Cheers

 

1....Vitellino has recommended which POW files to look in at the NA. I have contacted four London based independent researchers from the NA list to look on my behalf, one responded that he was too busy but there have been no reply from the other three. I then put an online request on the NA website for their researchers to look but again after ten days there has been no acknowledgement from the NA. Does anyone know of any reliable researchers or any members of the forum who undertake research, of course they will be recompensed.

2.... In his memoirs John Larkin says after his escape in Italy he was sent to Stone Castle in Scotland before returning to Windsor. I can't find any reference to this, has anyone any idea where might be referring to in Scotland.

TIA

 

Hi,

I think your Stone Palace might be Stobs Camp - mentioned here by another GG

BBC - WW2 People's War - My Lucky War Career in the Grenadier Guards.

It appears to have been used by all Foot Guards Regiments from 1944 into late 1945 for advanced training of recruits and to reform depleted Battalion’s returning from overseas - 2nd Scots Guards, 1st Irish Guards, 3rd Coldstream & 3rd Grenadier - plus as a regimental posting for some (not all) returning POW who could not be posted overseas again to a “fighting Battalion” for 6 months.

Have you tried forum member Gary Tankard for a look up and copying service at National Archives?

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

Thanks very much for the info. Stobs Castle sounds right. The name must have been corrupted in the transcription from his own handwriting. I have contacted Gary re: the look up and copy at the NA.

Cheers
Graham