7888879 Trooper Jim KANE, 4th RTR: service timeline

My father James Arthur Kane enlisted Hounslow 3-11-37 for 6 years plus 6 years in reserve.

Him at Bovington 1937:



Jim bottom right below at Bovington 1937, sorry I don't know any of the other names (there is nothing on the back):


and another at Bovington, Jim on the right, it would be great if anyone can identify others:


Jim



He trained as a tank driver and when moved to Farnborough he 'borrowed' one to show off to his parents, driving it to Hampton and back. I wish we had a photo of that.

He was a good runner and boxer, he was nicknamed Peter after the popular flyweight boxer world champion Peter Kane in the 1930s. His boxing cups were lost but I still have these:





Farnborough (Pinehurst Barracks) 1938. Jim in the middle with Ken and Bill, I don't know which is which. I am pretty certain I have identified these two men and have just applied for their Service Records:




Kenneth W George 7886141 Tpr 4RTR KIA France 27 May 1940, Buried in the 'Dunkirk plot' at Dover St James's Cemetery. Most likely killed aboard the King Orry just after leaving Dunkirk.

William (Bill) K Daniel 7910039 Tpr 4RTR KIA Middle East 15 June 1941, Buried or commemorated at ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Egypt. More about him here:
4RTR - 15 June 1941 - Would really appreciate some help

The tunic Jim wore at his wedding in 1946:








He was sent to France and survived the Arras Counter attack and returned to England from Dunkirk.

So here is my first question, should I carry on posting on this thread or would it be better to create a new thread about his experiences in the 1940 forum ?

Then he was in North Africa and captured at Tobruk in 1942, again where is best to post about this and as a POW ?

 

Welcome to the forum John.
Excellent post
I would imagine keep it all together and it will save flipping between threads

Just put in the time line on each post
Perhaps change the title along the lines of Trooper Jim Kane Army service timeline.
we look forward to your posts

 

What Clive said, great stuff John.

 

Jim was sent to France with the BEF, I assume in September 1939. I have no recollections of him telling us anything about his time there but he must have been in Vimy area near the Belgium border. The move in Belgium then back to Arras and the counter-attack against the Panzers including Rommel's 7th are well documented.

I would really like to know if it is possible to find the names of the tank crews in that action. Would the Bovington archives help me?

It is possible Jim wasn't in a tank crew at that time as later on I know he was driving lorries in North Africa and was maybe part of the 4th RTR Reconnaissance Corps - although I don't actually understand what that unit's role was.

 

I have been unable to get my father's service records from the Nat Archives:

"We have reviewed this record with reference to the proof of death provided and are unable to open it until 2035 because information within this record is exempt under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information (FOI)Act 2000.

This means we cannot make the record open to you or to the public in general. In cases where proof of death was provided by the requester, we usually take into account the year of death, using a 25 (+1) year rule to determine the record opening year. However, in the interests of opening the record as early as possible, in this case the opening date will remain at 115 (+1) years after the subject’s year of birth
( Date of Birth: 1919 ).
The National Archives (TNA) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
have determined that this represents a reasonable period of time through which the principle of confidentiality should be retained."

It is something to do with his medical records:

"Section 41 (1) of the Act exempts information if:
(a) It was obtained by the public authority from any other person (including another public authority), and
(b) The disclosure of the information to the public (otherwise than under the Act) by the public authority holding it would constitute a breach of confidence actionable by that or any other person.
This is why this record has been closed to the public in full. It contains medical information that has been deemed to have been given ‘in confidence’ at the time of recording to an authority. To clarify, if an authority holds a large amount of medical information on a person, that person would not expect the information to be released to the public after they have passed away.
Everyone has a right to privacy on this information. It is therefore the duty of TNA to uphold the service person’s right to privacy in the interests of care and confidence.

Exemption Section 41 may be applied if proof of death has been supplied if the subject of the record has not been deceased for 25 (+1) years. The duty of confidence owed to an individual when giving sensitive information extends beyond their death. A significant proportion of this record consists of medical information. TNA has therefore decided against the partial release of this record, which in this case would mean release of the non-medical information contained within it. This is because it has been determined that to do so would require a redaction process that is neither in the best interest of the record’s preservation, nor the public interest."

I wish they would release it with the medical bits redacted then at least I would know much more. I'm not sure I will be around in 2035 !

 

Coming next his very well documented escape from Dunkirk

 

After the Arras counter strike Jim was still in France and separated from the main part of 4th RTR. He might have been part of the composite force under Major George Parkes of 7RTR. This was formed with the remaining tanks and crews from both 4th and 7th RTR to fight a series of delaying actions. A group of light tanks, lorries and carriers from the reconnaissance unit were ordered to Dunkirk on 26th and Jim could have been amongst them.

The main part of 4RTR, had already crossed the Channel on 27 May on the Isle of Man Ferry: the Mona’s Isle (some sources say its sister ship the King Orry). They were shelled from the shore and strafed by up to 6 Messerschmitt fighters. Eleven men from 4RTR were killed, including Jim’s friend Kenneth George 7886141 (7th photo above post #1), they are buried in St James's Cemetery, Dover in the Dunkirk plot. The survivors were taken by train to Farnborough, there were only 100 on roll call, they thought near enough 30 were missing or dead. A “reported missing” telegram was sent to Jim’s parents.

The destroyer HMS Wakeful arrived anchored off Bray Sanatorium at 1500 hrs on May 28th. She had been attacked by Stuka dive bombers on the way from Dover with three ratings wounded. Over the next eight hours she embarked 640 troops.

Amongst those troops was Jim, he relates: “Hordes of troops were waiting on the beach. We were given the order to walk out to the boats waiting to pick us so we walked in columns out to sea. The tide was coming in and our clothing weighed us down so it was very difficult to walk, also with me being short I was soon up to my neck in the water but, being a strong swimmer, I started to swim towards the ships which were about a mile off shore. I ended up taking off my outer clothing as it was weighing me down. I hoped a rowing boat or motor boat would pick me up and, eventually, one did. It took me to the destroyer HMS Wakeful. I climbed up the side of the ship on the rope/nets as best I could and was hauled aboard exhausted.

A Naval Rating told me to go down to the stoke hold for a mug of cocoa, which sounded very welcome after my ordeal in the sea, but then a Naval Officer told me to go down a hold in the rear of the ship instead. I remember that the hold had a round hatch and just one electric light and I could make out large heaps of oilskins piled up at the back of the hold. The hold was full of troops like myself, all wet through and deadbeat. I made myself as comfortable as possible among the oilskins and fell asleep.”

The Wakeful set sail for Dover at 2330 hrs. Meanwhile Kapitanleutnant Siegried Wuppermann deploys his flotilla of three S-boats (German torpedo boats) (S.25, S.30 and S.34) of 2. Schnellbootsflotilla to Kwinte Buoy, which is along the evacuation route now being used from Dunkirk to Dover.

29th May 1940 at 0020hrs, S.25 and S.34 move west and attack patrol sloop Shearwater south of Fairy Bank. All torpedoes miss.

On Wakeful, Commander Fisher was being careful not to reveal the ship to aircraft by a bright wake so went at only 12 knots. As they approached Kwinte bouy Fisher calls for 20 knots and a wide zigzag. At that moment, hiding behind the brightly flashing bouy, Oberleutnant zur See Zimmerman in S.30 sights the slow moving Wakeful and fires two torpedoes from 600m and withdraws quietly to reload.

0045 hrs and at a position a quarter of a mile west of Kwinte buoy, Ordinary Seaman (OS) Geoffrey Kester was manning the starboard searchlight manipulators on the bridge of Wakeful: “there came a simultaneous cry from nearly everyone above decks; "Torpedo on the starboard beam“. In fact, there were two, they had been fired at point blank range and although the Captain immediately gave the order "Hard to port", it was too late. The first went ahead of us, the second right amidships.

It was the very worst place we could have been hit; the ship simply folded up. Even on the bridge it was a matter of seconds before we were standing in water. Andrews jumped for it before me but I was not long in following. Luckily I had already inflated my lifebelt, as we had been advised to do. If I had not done so I could have never survived.”

Commander Fisher: “Wakeful was cut in two and the halves sank immediately until their broken ends grounded on the bottom, the forepart rolled over to starboard and it cannot have been more than 15 seconds before I found myself swimming off the bridge.

There were perhaps fifty of my men, probably gun crews, in a group in the water with me. All my engine room people had been killed and all except ten of the soldiers trapped inside the ship tragically drowned. The tide was quickly sweeping our group away from the grounded wreck and we must have been a mile or two down-tide when two Scottish wooden fishing boats on their way to Dunkirk came amongst us.”

Jim Kane in the Wakeful’s hold: “It was while we were sleeping that we were hit by a torpedo. There was a terrible explosion, which lifted the ship up, put out the light and smashed everything around us. Then all I could hear were cries and shouts for help. Somehow I managed to reach an iron ladder, but when I started to climb it the ship rolled over and things crashed down on top of me, trapping my leg. Someone climbed over me and put his boot into the side of my face - this left a boot imprint for a long time afterwards but he did say "sorry mate !”

The water that came in caused the ship to roll again, which freed me, and I went up the ladder and out of the hatch. All the screams and cries had stopped by then and I saw some men clinging to the ship's rail which was pointed straight up into the night sky. I joined these men clinging to the rails and we waited, hoping to be picked up by a boat. It was dark and I had no idea of time. It was cold too and I was still only wearing my shirt, socks and identity disc.

One of my most haunting memories that night was a Naval Officer who floated towards us wearing a lifejacket. I managed to grab his clothing and tried to hang on to him. He was singing "Abide With Me" but water was coming out of his mouth and I could tell he was barely alive. He soon got too heavy and I couldn't hold on to him and he floated away.”

At 0111 hrs The Scottish drifter Comfort and the motor drifter Nautilus were first on the scene followed by the minesweeper HMS Gossamer. By 0200 hrs the destroyer HMS Grafton arrived crammed with some 800 troops from Bray Beach. The minesweeper Lydd also arrived. Lifeboats and whalers were lowered and joined the search for the survivors. The Nautilus picked up six survivors, the Comfort sixteen including Commander Fisher and OS Geoffrey Kester, and the Gossamer embarking about fifteen. Commander Fisher directed the Comfort to head for the wreck of the Wakeful and take off the men that were clinging to the stern. When the Comfort reached the wreck, the stern section had fallen over. Jim was still left clinging to the remaining forepart of Wakeful and watched in horror as the next terrible incident happened.

Commander Fisher “The Grafton's deck was solid with soldiers and I went alongside her starboard quarter to tell her captain to get out of it as there were enemy about. At that moment some sort of grenade exploded on her bridge and he was killed. Nobody seems to know what this was. At the same time there was a large explosion as a torpedo hit the Grafton on the opposite side from where Comfort was lying.”

At 0250 hrs Oberleutnant Hans-Bernhard Michalowski, commander of U-boat U-62 was also lurking around Kwinte bouy, from 1,000 m range he unleashed two torpedoes; one tore away the stern of Grafton whilst the other sent a deadly explosion ripping through the wardroom and claimed the lives of thirty-five army officers. The Comfort was lifted into the air and then momentarily swamped. As she bobbed to the surface again Commander Fisher was washed overboard. In an attempt to rejoin the Comfort he seized the end of a rope, but as the Comfort was, by now, out of control and at full speed he had to let go.

OS Geoffrey Kester: “We had been on Comfort for about three-quarters of an hour, and were all on the verge of sleep, when there was a terrific crash. The lights went out and water came pouring in on us. We were all thrown out of our bunks and landed in a heap on the deck, which was already under water. I think we all felt there was no chance of getting up to the deck above, but one of Comfort's crew smashed open a hatch in the deckhead and we quickly scrambled through to the upper deck; all of us naked.

No sooner had we reached the upper deck than there came another crash; we were being shelled, and as our attacker came nearer she started to machine gun us as well. We all dropped flat on the deck but the air was absolutely full of lead and there did not seem to be a chance for any of us. The whine of the shells coming at us, and the sing of the machine gun bullets was terrifying, and it was not long before I received my first hit in the back, followed soon afterwards by a piece of shrapnel in the right foot. Sub Lieutenant Jones was lying next to me and I think he realised I had been hit before I told him - chiefly due to the language that ensued. He did his best to cheer me up but under the circumstances, that was rather difficult.

After we had been under fire for a few minutes, which seemed like hours, the Comfort slewed round and we were left absolutely open to the shell and machine gun fire. With the aid of the Sub Lieutenant I crawled round to the other side of the drifter and sought shelter behind the galley and wheelhouse. But it was of little use; I soon received another hit in the back, which, by this time, was very numb. Shortly afterwards the Sub Lieutenant was hit in the leg but that did not seem to worry him too much; he remained very cheerful.

Those of us who were left were beginning to wonder how much longer this hell could last, for it seemed to have been going on for hours. We were soon to find out. Our attacker was bearing down on us and it was evident she intended to ram; she was still machine gunning us even then. I stayed under cover until the last possible moment and as we were rammed I slithered across the deck, back into the sea once again. Plunging into the sea seemed to revive me a little and I struck out to get away from the Comfort as quickly as my numbed body would take me, which was not very fast. No sooner had I started to swim (no lifebelt this time), and several other chaps with me, machine gun bullets started singing over us once more. Our attacker was still not satisfied. Luckily we were quite near a large buoy and this provided some protection against the flying lead

This burst of firing did not last for long, however, and soon after it ceased the mast of the Comfort floated by, and to this several of us clung. Two of my companions on the mast were the Midshipman (Patterson) and Jack Chivers. The former had his left arm shot to pulp and his face badly cut, while Jack had escaped without a scratch - lucky sod! Knowing I was with these two gave me much more confidence; they were both grand blokes and I doubt whether I would have survived had it not been for their help and encouragement.”

Jim thought Commander Fisher had been killed as he watched the Comfort being raked with machine guns from Grafton, although he did not know who was firing at who or why at the time.

 

During the aftermath of the torpedo attack on the Grafton confusion reigned. Other vessels in the area began to steer in all directions with their crews ready to defend themselves. One of these vessels was the Lydd, who's crew spotted what appeared to be the silhouette of a German torpedo boat moving in a south westerly direction. Lydd’s starboard Lewis gun opened up strafing the superstructure of the unidentified vessel. Grafton, which was still afloat, joined the fray letting loose with her secondary armament.

Tragically the Lydd and Grafton's target was no German torpedo boat. She was, in fact, the Comfort, laden with Wakeful survivors. Machine-gun bullets ripped across her decks as the Lydd closed in, cutting the drifter's crew to pieces. Minutes later the Comfort was torn apart as the Lydd's bow smashed into her hull. There were only five survivors from Comfort including Commander Fisher who was plucked from the sea, at dawn, by the Norwegian tramp steamer Hird.

OS Geoffrey Kester “Grafton sent a whaler out to search for survivors. When their boat reached us we found that two of the boat's crew had been killed by the machine gun fire directed at us and were lying dead in the bottom. However, we clambered into the whaler and the Midshipman and I lay shivering in the bows while the others, plus Jack, started to pull the boat back to the Grafton. This was pretty tough going; only two oars and a strong current against us, but we made it”

Jim was also picked up by a whaler from the Grafton.

At about 0400 LNER steamer Malines came alongside Grafton and began transferring troops to her. It was found impossible to transfer the seriously wounded owing to the height of Malines deck above Grafton’s, and because of the heavy rolling. The Malines was ordered away and then the destroyer HMS Ivanhoe came to the scene and embarked the remaining seriously wounded. Soon afterwards Ivanhoe put three shells into the Grafton’s waterline. Within minutes she turned over and went to the seabed. A total of sixteen Grafton crew members were killed including the ship’s Captain. All are remembered on the Royal Navy Memorial at Plymouth.

By this time the night's action was over as U-62 and three German S-boats were already well on their way back to their home port having inflicted terrible damage on the British troops and their rescuers. According toU-62 crew member Kurt Wendler, the men attended a wild celebration at a restaurant in Helgoland, [2]

Jim: “I was asleep when we reached England's shores and to this day I don't remember where we actually landed.”

When Jim finally got home, the “reported missing” telegram arrived on 11th June and he took delivery of it at the door. One of his neighbours was not so lucky: “By one of those strange coincidences, I found out when I got back home, that an old school pal called Vic Carey, who lived in the same street as me in Hampton, had also been on board the HMS Wakeful when it was hit. He had been working as a stoker on the destroyer, though of course I didn't know it at the time. Sadly, he didn't survive, When I felt well enough I went to visit his mother. She told me that she had heard him calling for her one night and we worked out that this must have been at about the same time that HMS Wakeful went down."

On the 26th June another telegram arrived reporting him as having rejoined his unit at Farnborough.

 

Sources for above:

1. Visit Of The Last Known Survivors from World War Il Destroyer HMS Wakeful to HMS Southampton - Briefing Pack 6 July 2004 (Includes testimonies of Jim Kane, Geoffrey Kester and Stanley Crabb and the Background to the Wakeful's sinking)

2. Hugh Sebag-Montefiore’s Dunkirk: Fight To The Last Man

3. Forgotten Voices of Dunkirk by Joshua Levine Page 285 Corporal George Andrew 4 RTR

4. Osprey. Dunkirk 1940: Operation Dynamo (campaign) by Howard Gerrard Dildy

 

HMS Wakeful remains on the seabed 57 ft under the surface, 13 miles off the Belgian ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. It became a shipping hazard and in 2003 there was debate whether to move it, even though it is a military maritime grave to hundreds of men.




The Belgian authorities relented and just removed the superstructure, navigation equipment and funnels, these were secured to the side of the hull.

The wreck remains a military maritime grave. A wreath-laying ceremony over the site was carried out by HMS Ark Royal shortly after the work was completed as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives.

Divers recovered her crest and footplate and brought them back to Portsmouth. The three last known survivors were invited to view them, were interviewed and their stories recorded.

This is Jim holding the Crest onboard the Type 42 destroyer HMS Southampton:


The ships motto was Si dormiam capiar ("If I sleep I may be caught")


Jim above deck with the other survivor Ordinary Seaman Geoffrey Kester (who's abridged story is told above). There was a third survivor Stanley Crabb but was unable to attend the ceremony:


Wakeful's crest and footplate are on display in the National Museum of the Royal Navy in the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth:

 

Great stuff John.

I can add a little more detail for his friend Kenneth George. We can't know which boat Ken was on - but as you say it was either Monas Isle or King Orry. Both boats suffered casualties during their voyage from Dunkirk to Dover but Ken must have been severely wounded aboard because Casualty List 237 has him listed as Died of Wounds, with the detail "at home", and he is listed as - "Ex BEF 4.R.Tk.Regt".

From the available data (and that's not much!) it seems that 7RTks lost several men aboard GRAFTON 29th May 1940, some of whom were washed ashore near Oye Plage and buried there. It's not possible to say whether the men lost aboard GRAFTON had been part of the 4th/7th 'fighting' element, or were sent to Dunkirk with the bulk of the 1st Army Tank Brigade. Either way, those men from 7RTks lost aboard the GRAFTON were listed as 'Missing' 25th May 1940.

As far as being able to identify tank crews in France and Flanders, the short answer is that it's unlikely. There is a caveat - if your father spoke about his service driving a tank in France, mentioned a specific tank name or number, or perhaps mentioned serving with a particular Officer or WO or even Sgt who was a known Tank Commander, then that may help. New information does turn up from time to time and nowadays most of it comes from families of former servicemen. Not all who served in the 4th and 7th Battalions was a combat tank crewman - even though they were all trained to drive tanks and shoot the weapons - and were employed in other areas within the Battalions.

Best, Nick

 

Thank you for the extra information about Kenneth George and the men from 7RTks who were lost on the GRAFTON. I cannot find any .

Over winter I have been reading the War Diaries and found the same information thanks.

I am a bit unsure what a Trooper's role would have been in Battalion HQ, guessing it was supporting the HQ as it moved about, defending possible incursions. I wonder if the Tanks in Battalion HQ were thrown in to help at Arras, they were all lost eventually so maybe the HQ vehicles were just abandoned?

I think my father's role was most likely driving lorries, he talked a lot about that particularly about his time in North Africa. As you will see soon the photos of him in the dessert are with Lorries not Tanks. Also he described how he was part of a relief column delivering stores, maybe ammo and fuel in a long range mission. He never gave specifics. He was very fond of those lorries and, in later life as a farmer, he bought a WW2 Bedford Truck which we used for carting corn, straw and all sorts.

His POW Card at the National Archive lists him as being in the "Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [Reconnaissance Corps]" - again I'm unsure what that means.

The only person he ever mentioned was his best friend, Trooper Jack Fryett 2054181. Both are listed as within HQ Squadron in the War Diary Jan-Dec 1941. I have subsequently identified J Fryett on one of the following photographs with help from his grandson.

I think I may never know,, he didn't mention officers or tank names.

 

Continuing Jim's timeline

Jim was was back at Pinehurst Barracks, Farnborough by 26th June 1940 and the regiment was re-equipped with better tanks (Jim talked about Matlida IIs and Valentines) and being prepared to go to Egypt. 4RTR embarked from Liverpool 18 December 1940 in HMT City of London.


The convoy took the long route around South Africa rather than risking being sunk in the Mediterranean. But bad luck followed them, they lost the cookhouse on the deck in a heavy storm (described by others as a 'Hurricane') and accidentally collided with another troopship killing two crew members.

On Christmas Day they were attacked near the Azores by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. Jim described seeing the German ship on the horizon and watching streaks of gunfire coming towards them like rockets. The whole convoy scattered in an instant, Jim describe how suddenly they were alone in complete darkness and been terrified on an unarmed merchant ship. The convoy escorts fired back and Jim then saw another troopship on fire. Luckily their ship wasn't hit.

They arrived at Port Tewfik, Suez on 16 February 1941. Their tanks arrived in April and after conversion the Fourth were ready for battle.

In Egypt they had a rough time, the flies and heat and sandstorms were nearly as bad as fighting the Italians and Germans. Jim lost his friend, William (Bill) K Daniel 7910039 on 15 June 1941, in practically their first engagement at Halfaya Pass. The battles came thick and fast, Jim was sent into Tobruk in 1941. At that time Tobruk was completely surrounded by Rommel's army, cut off apart from by sea. Mostly defended by an Australian force 4RTR helped the break out of Tobruk and forced the German/Italian Army back. However, the Germans regrouped and pushed the British back towards Egypt in a see-saw of battles. Tobruk was isolated again but instead of withstanding the siege for 8 months as in the previous year the town fell within two days. Jim and his mate Jackie Fryett were both captured when Tobruk surrendered on 21st June 1942. 30,000 British soldiers were captured in a great humiliation. Jim described how he had made his way down to the beach at Tobruk hoping for an escape by sea. But unlike Dunkirk the Germans had quickly occupied the cliffs surrounding the harbour and machine gunned anything that attempted escape. Jim threw his revolver into the sea and that was it for his fighting career.

 

It is difficult to date all his North African photos accurately, although some have the date on he back.

Hope someone else recognises their relatives.

Jim bottom right in white shirt circa 1941




Jim second left 27/5/1941




Jim left with Jack Fryett 2054181

 

Jim on right June 1941




Jim, in June 1941

 

Jim learnt the following poem from the Aussie troops in Tobruk. I have a recording of him reciting it in the 1960s and differs in detail from other versions I find online, variously described as "The Anzac's Farewell to Egypt". This is probably of Australian origins.

Censored for modern times:

Streets of sorrow, streets of shame,
Streets to which we had no name;
Harlots, thieves and pestering ****,
Stinks and dirt and sneaking dogs,
Blazing heat and aching feet,
***** guts and camel meat,
Clouds of choking dust that blind,
Drive a bloke off his bloody mind;
The Arab's heaven -- soldier's hell,
Land of Bastards, fare thee well!

 

One further recollection from Jim prior to the fall of Tobruk he was part of a small force sent to arrest the King of Egypt. This was the so called "Abdeen Palace Incident" 4 Feb 1941. Jim described how they surrounded the palace with tanks.I can't find any references to this in the War Diaries.

 

Super thread, which I'd not seen before. You are lucky to have so many photos.

An online search with: "4 RTR" site:ww2talk.com or "4 Royal tank Regiment" site:ww2talk.com could identify other threads here.

Have you considered his time as a POW? All prisoners taken in North Africa by Germans or Italians were transferred to Italian custody; their custody ended in September 1943, when Italy signed an armistice with the allies. Most POWs were swiftly taken to German POW camps, many in Poland. You can apply for the Red Cross records, see the detailed explanation today in Post 2 by Tullybrone: Searching for information - 4271436 Hector Caisley, Northumberland Fusiliers - POW, 1940, St Valery.

You asked today:

The Recce Corps was formed 14 January 1941, originally from infantry units and the Corps became part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) in 1944 - I expect that explains the TNA wording.

 

Thank you davidbfpo, I have indeed trawled this site and others for "4 RTR" etc, there has been useful information on here, I've even found another photo of my father on one of the other threads. A photo I've never seen before.

He talked about his POW experiences a lot, plus we have postcards exchanged with his parents which confirm the camps he was at. I got his Red Cross records too which didn't add much from what we already knew, but none the less well worth doing.

Thanks for the Recce Corps explanation.

 

Jim had a terrible time as POWs. The front line troops who captured 4RTR were professional and treated them with respect, feeding them as well as possible. After that they were handed to the Italians who treated them worse than animals to begin with. They were ill-treated, systematically robbed of any valuables and given little food and dirty water. The first place they were held was a barbed wire cage in Bengazi for a few weeks, They were then shipped to Italy on what they described as a Hell ship. Crammed in a hold with no light, oil drum for a latrine and no food or drink. The voyage took nearly three days and some died en-route. Jim was petrified they would be torpedoed like at Dunkirk. At that time British submarines operated in the Mediterranean taking a big toll on Italian shipping

They were put into a temporary camp at Brindisi in Italy, on the way they were paraded through the town so the locals could boo and hiss and throw rotten fruit at them. They must have looked an awful sight unshaved, in ragged clothes and showing signs of malnutrition. There were there about 2 months and not being fed enough, some days they got nothing. It was here, sleeping on straw they became infested with lice and fleas. Their next camp was PG70 but to get there meant being herded onto cattle trucks, again unhygienic and no food or drink on the 300-mile journey in sweltering heat with little ventilation. As they arrived at Porto San Giorgio railway station, they were shown the first bit of compassion since being captured, some local people organised a table with wine to hand out and the guards stood back to allow them to drink.

PG70 had been a flax seed factory before the war and now the buildings were stripped out to cope with 8,000 prisoners. To begin with food was in short supply as the Red Cross had not found them. Jim lived on meagre rations again. They were not given work to do, just as well as many were too weak by now to do anything, although JIm remained in reasonable condition up to now, Eventually conditions improved, with America's help the British had driven the Germans out of North Africa. Then invaded Sicily which must have changed the Italian perspective, now they tried to be nice to their prisoners.



The Red Cross parcels began to come in and Jim described them as lifesavers to supplement the inadequate food in the camp. It was from the Red Cross parcel that my dad developed a taste for Condensed Milk sandwiches which he passed on to me! I have a couple of the Red Cross parcel contents list that Jim somehow saved through his POW years.





In September Italy surrendered, and the men were virtually free and could have walked out the gate, but British High Command ordered them to remain in camp and wait for our forces to arrive. Jim wasn't really one to take chances and had never learnt Italian, with his blonde hair he looked more like a German so would have stood no chance of finding a safe house like some others did. German parachutists dropped around the camp and put a machine gunner in every sentry box, Jim was once again a prisoner. They were marched to some railway sidings where there was a long train of Cattle Trucks, and the men crowded into them with 40 men to a truck. There was not enough room to lie down, with only 2 buckets for water and lavatory. It was a long journey some of it by Truck over the Alps, before they arrived in Germany.