2723215 Guardsman John CANNON, 1 Irish Guards: PoW

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  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    WO 344-54-2

    PART I
    General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

    1. No.: 2723215
    Rank: Guardsman
    Surname: CANNON
    Christian Names: John
    Decorations: -

    2. Unit (Army): IRISH GUARDS
    3. Division (Army): -

    4. Date of Birth: 10 November 1922
    5. Date of Enlistment: 3 February 1942
    6. Civilian Trade: Slater Tiler
    7. Private Address: 41 MacQueen Street, Old Swan, Liverpool 13, England

    8. Place of Capture: Anzio, Italy
    Date of Capture: 10 February 1944

    9. Were you Wounded when Captured:
    -

    10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
    Camp No. Location From & To
    IIA Altengrabo 26 Feb 1944 - 12 Mar 1944

    11. Were you in a Working Camp?
    Yes
    Location From & To Nature of Work
    Nienburg 13 Mar 1944 - 20 Jul 1944 Cement Works
    Gr. Sherstedt 20 Jul 1944 - 4 Apr 1945 Lab in Salt Mine

    12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
    Nature of Illness Cause Duration
    Malnutrition Starvation 7 days

    Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
    No


    PART II

    2. Lectures before Capture
    (State where, when and by whom)
    (a) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave in the event of capture?:
    No
    (b) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
    No

    3. Interrogation after Capture
    (State where, when and methods employed by enemy)
    Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?:
    No

    4. Escapes attempted.
    Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
    (Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when captured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to our companions?)
    I escaped in July 1944 by breaking away from my Working Party with Private BRREEN (London Irish) & Private GALBRATHE (London Irish Rifles). Captured 8 hours later by soldiers. At that time I was fit, I was sent to the Salt Mine as punishment and also given 14 days bread and water. My companions received 14 days bread and water and remained at the Cement Works.

    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).
    I was always active doing sabotage about the 10 November 1944 I completely stopped the building of the new factory floors by causes a block in a sand shute. The work stopped 2 days.

    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 against other Allied PoWS?
    -
    (Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
    -

    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.
    -

    8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
    Could you please try to contact a Stabs Feldwebel BRANDT, age about 55 and living at Magdeburg. This man was the cause of great suffering and ill treatment of British POWs at ARB KDO. 340 where he was in command from January until April.


    SECURITY UNDERTAKING.
    I fully realised that all information relating to 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 of Signature: 29 April 1945
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Army Number: 2723215
    Rank: Guardsman
    Name: John CANNON
    Unit: 1 Irish Guards
    Theatre: Italy
    POW Number: 278162
    Date of Capture: 10/02/1944
    Place of Capture: Anzio
    Camp: Stalag XIA
    TNA Reference: WO 344-54-2

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    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Last edited: Sep 29, 2019

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