91450 Major David Charles Lennard SHEPHERD, MC, MiD*, 67 Field Regiment, RA: 25/12/1944

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Uncle Target, Jul 22, 2019.

  1. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    To summarise, here is what is known about this incident:

    From the War Diary
    On 10 December 1944 Major Shepherd failed to return from his visit to OP
    At 0415 a scuffle was reported to have been heard both at TAC HQ and at the Coy but no shots were fired
    A search party went out and found the major's tin hat lying on the track
    The major was reported missing

    From the Regiment


    Casualty List No. 1631 dated 16.12.44
    Missing, date not reported

    Casualty List No. 1641 Dated 29.12.44
    Previously reported missing, date not reported, now reported missing believed POW 10.12.44

    Casualty List No. 1794 dated 28.6.45
    Previously reported missing believed POW 10.12.44 now reported died of wounds whilst POW in German hands (Italy) 25.12.44


    From the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
    Concentration details - see form (see below)
    The Map reference given coincides with the Civil Cemetery in Ferrara.

    What is not known:

    The reason for Major Shepherd's death
    The name of the hospital in which he died and its location

    I am endeavouring to obtain an answer to the last item. If the hospital can be located and if it was a permanent hospital rather than a a field hospital as reported in the newspaper cutting (see above) , Major Shepherd's family will be able to contact it to obtain this missing information.

    Vitellino

    vickery jessop shepherd argenta conc. card.JPG
     
  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Understanding the importance of original records, I have attached copies of the casualty lists for information.

    Not unique to this soldier but the lists have been, at some time, used as a check list, by the look of the crossed out 'tick' on the LHS. Absolutely no idea of when but the word 'missing' is written on two and the last also has 'missing 4/15'.

    No idea what these numbers mean other than, if you scroll through the pages, other men have a similar note, albeit with different numbers such as 8/20, 6/15, 1/21, 11/08 etc. I would not have thought that these refer to a date as surely it would not have been custom to quote the month first?

    An example of these notes is also attached, some have, what I take to be 'Missing Fd', presumably 'Field' others just 'Missing'. One has 'Reg 6/15'.

    These handwritten comments on casualty lists have been a puzzle for ages.

    Shepherd 1631a.jpg Shepherd 1641a.jpg Shepherd 1794a.jpg CL example.jpg
     
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  3. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Approximately two years ago I did an online study of Ferarra. It was apparently the centre of a substantial Jewish community from whom Mussolini sent a token batch of people to Germany to satisfy Hitler but largely left them alone. This generated anti fascist sympathies within the population.
    This I found encouraging for if DCLS had escaped he would possibly have been able to seek refuge in the area if necessary.
    I also found that there was a Red Cross Hospital there which may have been used by the Germans (a guess). I emailed to enquire if they had any records but received no reply.
    I also emailed an Italian Gothic Line Museum Museo Gotica as they had a reopening ceremony in 2017 at which they featured a German Paratroop Veteran in the hope that they might have contact with veteran Associations who might recall this event. I received a reply that they would pass it to their research team but nothing has transpired. I also emailed "Bologna Today" and their head office as they featured finds of remains found in the Monte Calderaro area and the dedication of a memorial next to the church. No replies.
    I find your course of action interesting and significant. I have used the CWGC for information when investigating the death of my primary study before this: the death of Lt HN Beadle and others in Florence 2nd Sept 1944 which I eventually resolved in great detail locating the place and even time and nature of the event. I have not approached them on this limiting my research to their website. I have the Grave Concentration Report but taken it no further as they intend to go to Italy next year. I am perhaps being too cautious as I now have contact with he family who seem to be approaching it with trepidation. A situation that I fully understand. I would prefer to meet them to go through the evidence in person but it seems events might overtake this approach as it is in the public domain, something that I originally hoped to avoid. I will report the findings from yourselves in full detail to them once it is complete.
     
  4. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I assumed that such notes were dates from American style reports using month/day 4/15 being 15/4 = 15th /April
    It does approximately coincide with the time given in the War Diary 0415 but don't think that is the reason.
    The ticks are acknowledging the statement in the heading and its date. The crossing out signifies a change to that statement ie missing believed Prisoner, then when found to be dead crossed out.
    As he is no longer missing. A new report would then be generated stating the casualty status and ticked when confirmed.
    Does this make sense.
     
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I would say that it's simply a file ref for the earlier casualty report - filed under month (or maybe simply ledger number) and then consecutively. It doesn't appear to be material to the information.
     
  6. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Nothing as yet from the cemetery in Ferrara.

    In the meantime I have discovered that the Ferrara field hospital (Feld-Lazarett) was no. 200, but I can't find out where it was based.
    In any case, if the three soldiers were brought in to the cemetery from this field hospital and not from a regular miitary hospital there won't be a record of admissions.

    Anyone familiar with the website of the Bundesarchiv at Freiburg? It might be worth looking to see if there's a war diary for Feld-Lazarett 200.

    Vitellino
     
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  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    [​IMG]

    Lennard


    TD
     
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  8. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Of all the men mentioned in the History, published books or War Diaries, none appears to have been better thought of than Major David Charles Lennard Shepherd.
    He led from the front and is mentioned in so many actions spending much of his time with the 6th Gordons his designated Infantry Battalion.
    He even appears in Edward Graces Book The Perilous Road to Rome (page 20) in a lone OP on a hill in Tunisia during the attack on Point 144. Having crossed the Medjez-Tunis Road they move forward coming under fire, Grace almost falls over him. He names him as Major Sinclair Commander of the Gunner Battery. Major DCL Shepherd was Mentioned in Despatches for this action, later at Anzio to earn the MC and American Silver Star.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2019
  9. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Important information has come in:

    1. CWGC have confirmed that Maj. Shepherd died in field hospital Feld-Lazarett 200 at Ferrara.

    2. The director of the Cemetery at Ferrara has given me the contact details of the Cemetery Archivist, who is on holiday at the moment but who will be back on 8 August. He has sent my email to the Ferrara town archivist who hopefully may be able to give some details about the location of the Field Hospital.

    If the cemetery holds 'cause of death' information on the people buried there we may finally have an answer as to the nature of Major Shepherd's wounds.

    Vitellino
     
  10. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    We are certainly getting closer why he was buried in Ferrara which may lead to conjecture as to how he died.
    Re my original posting concerning confidentiality and personal messaging: would this not be confidential information for the family and if not would it be morally correct to make it public on a forum.
    Assuming that the information is given. They are aware of the progress to date having another location to visit but this is now potentially entering another phase. Whilst it would be good to know what details are available, they just need to know where to go to find out for themselves.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2019
  11. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Nothing will be posted here which is conjecture.
     
  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hmmmmm - I thought you said this situation was resolved ??

    TD
     
  13. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Perhaps that was a weakness on my part but our friend in Italy seems to be very competent. The map was of interest as is a location but it never entered my head that we would get so close to what I regard as confidential information. I am happy to tell my family contact that certain details are available from a particular source that they could visit when in Italy but don't want the medical details broadcast on a public forum.
    I am not suggesting that he will but want to be sure it doesn't slip out by accident.
     
  14. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Last edited: Jul 26, 2019
  15. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    What is the 67 RA Regt. forum
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2019
  16. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Situation resolved No reason to Proceed Further. Case Closed
     
  17. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    You will see I have edited post 34 above to answer your question.

    With that, I will close my comments on this thread but my investigations into prisoners of war who were killed behind enemy lines in Italy, among whom was Major Shepherd, will go on.

    Vitellino
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2019
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  18. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    The storm has passed. Received an email this morning so I now know that which I did not last night.
    I understand your investigation situation but yes this should be sufficient to end the thread.
    Small world!
     
  19. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Last word?
     
  20. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Ere the snow falls on Corbar
    Not the place to say more, you might be aware that this is not in my comfort zone, preferring to speak to or meet people.
     

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