2696900 Serjeant Frank Arthur LEACH, MiD*, 1 Scots Guards & Long Range Desert Group: POW

Army Number: 2696900
Rank: Serjeant
Name: Frank Arthur LEACH
Unit: 2 Scots Guards attached Long Range Desert Group

Date of Birth: 17 Aug 1912
Date of Enlistment: 30 Oct 1939
Date of Capture: 2 Sep 1944
Place of Capture: Yugoslavia


London Gazette : 24 June 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36065/supplement/2858/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period 1st May, 1942, to 22nd October, 1942: -
S. G'ds.
2696900 Lce.-Corpl. F. A. Leach.

London Gazette : 11 January 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36886/supplement/325/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy:—
2696900 Sergt. F. A. Leach.

 

London Gazette : 24 June 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36065/supplement/2853/data.pdf


https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36065/supplement/2858/data.pdf

 

London Gazette : 11 January 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36886/supplement/315/data.pdf


https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36886/supplement/325/data.pdf

 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17046878
Reference: WO 416/219/76
Name: Frank [A] or Jean K Leach.
Date of Birth: 17/08/1912.
Place of Birth: London.
Service: British Army
Rank: Sergeant.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: The Scots Guards.
Service Number: [2696900].
Date of Capture: 02 September 1944.
Theatre of Capture: Yugoslavia.
Camp Name/Number: Stalag XVIIA Kaisersteinbruch.
PoW number: 156167.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 2.
Date: [1939-1945]

 

View Record via Ancestry

PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

1. No. 2696900
RANK - SGT.
SURNAME - LEACH
CHRISTIAN NAMES - FRANK ARTHUR
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP (PAR. UNIT 2nd SCOTS GUARDS)

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - G.H.Q. SPECIAL SERVICE

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 17. AUG. 1912

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 30th OCT. 1939

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - METAL WORKER

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 28 CLEVLAND PARK AVENUE, WALTHAMSTOW, LONDON

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - JUGO SLAVIA, 2. SEPT. 1944

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
CIVIL PRISONS JUGO-SLAVIA 3/9/44 - 1/11/44
STALAG 17A KAISERSTEINBRUCH, AUSTRIA 8/11/44 - 1/1/45
STALAG 383 HOHENFELS, BAVARIA 6/1/45 - 16/4/45


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
NO

12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
NO

12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
YES


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. 2696900
RANK - SGT
SURNAME - LEACH
CHRISTIAN NAMES - FRANK ARTHUR


2. LECTURES before Capture:
( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
YES. PALESTINE JAN. 1944, I.O. NAME UNKNOWN

( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom.
YES. PALESTINE. JAN. 1944, I.O. NAME UNKNOWN

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
YES. MOSTAR, YUGOSLAVIA. SEPT 1944.
SOL. CONFINEMENT. THREATS. STARVATION.
BY GESTAPO AND S.S.


4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did yo make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)
YES.
BROD, JUGOSLAVIA ON 4/10/44 WITH STORRIE OF SBS BY CUTTING WIRE. BETRAYED BY CIVILS 5/10/44.
BROD 9/10/44 CUT WIRE, RECAPTURED BY USTACHI [USTASHE]
11/10/44.
BROD. 16/10/44 BREACHED WALL DURING AIR ALERT. BETRAYED BY CIVILS 10/10/44
AT STRAUBING, BAV. 19/4/5 EVADED GUARDS ON LINE OF MARCH.


5. SABOTAGE
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc, when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)
NONE

6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
NONE

7. WAR CRIMES
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of "Form Q" on which to make your statement.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coning under this title.)



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
NONE


SECURITY UNDERTAKING
I fully realise that all information relating the matters covered by the questions in Part II. are of a highly secret and official nature.

I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.

Date 12 MAY 1945
Signature FA Leach

 

See also

• 3314034 Robert STORRIE, MiD, Royal Engineers attached SBS - Escape Companion