946904 Gunner Edward MARSHALL, RA: POW Camp 54 Sabina & E&E Switzerland

Given the capture date, your father was captured when Tobruk fell to the Axis on 20 June 1942. As about 30,000 men went into captivity at that time, they were labelled missing until the admin could be sorted.

68 Medium Regiment had been in the desert for a while. I have them on the Eighth Army medium artillery OOB in early November 1941, when they were equipped with 8x 4.5" and 8x obsolete 60-pdr guns, in two batteries, 233 and 234.

8th Army Medium Artillery Stats 4 November 1941 (major update 19 June)

The regiment (or parts of it) had also seen action in Eritrea, Greece, Crete, and Abyssinia. It's CO was Lt. Col. Dimoline until March 1942, who had raised the regiment in 1939.

Harry Dimoline - Wikipedia

During Operation CRUSADER the regiment first fought under 4 Indian Division, and participated in the attack on Sidi Omar Nuovo and the defense against Rommel's Dash to the wire. After the siege of Tobruk was lifted it participated in the attack on Bardia and Halfaya.

The Attack on Sidi Omar Nuovo

Rommel on his way to losing CRUSADER?

Bardia, Halfaya, and the January Offensive



All the best

Andreas

 

One photo taken in the small square in front of the monument to the men who had been held in PG 54.

Behind us is the remaining unaltered hut and in the background is another which has been turned into a dwelling. We were told that about 800 people now live inside the camp boundaries, some of them in converted barracks.

I am on the left as you look at the photo and Howard's wife Theresa is on the right.

More to follow

The first is with me, Howard, Theresa and Umberto Duranti, chairman of the pensioners' association which is based in one of the barracks.

The second shows us with some of the association's members.

We have agreed to programme an event at Camp PG 54 next spring for relatives, friends and all interested parties so Watch this space

Janet

 

Absolutely commendable Janet, and super photographs too.

Thank you for your constant and continuing efforts, they are very, very much appreciated.

Kind regards, and again Janet thank you, always,

Jim.

 

Thank you, Jim.

Janet

 

Hi Jim & Wobbler.
Currently in Lazio, following in my father’s footsteps. thanks for the info.
I have the MOD note stating he was missing, so the casualty list makes sense.
I also have copies of the medal application and the tracer cards which I am sure are correct.

Janet has been amazing and having been to the place where camp 54 once stood and Montebuono and also Magliano Sabina, where we believe he was sent to work, and with the details provided by Janet and her trusted associates we now have more information to work with.
Thanks again Jim for the casualty listings.

Howard

 

Hi Andreas
Thanks for the info on the 68th. Thats very interesting and helpful.
Howard

 

A quick update
I shall once again travel to camp PG 54 this September, this time with my son,Daniel, who is really interested in everything we have uncovered. We shall also meet up with Janet and hopefully uncover more about my fathers time in Italy.

 

The big event is tomorrow.
As well as Howard and Daniel there will be the daughter, son-in-law and grandsons of Pte Cyril Morris RAOC and the son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren of South African Pte. 'Fanie' Vermaak, 2 Transvaal Scottish.

All of these men were escapers who joined up with the Allies.

It is now 13 years since I accompanied the first group of relatives to PG 54 and no doubt it won't be the last. If anyone needs to know how to get there under their own steam please see my website CAMPO PG 54 FARA IN SABINA

Vitellino

 

Just to add to Vitellino's usual fantastic work (I hope the visit went well), I am working on the files in Washington that are beginning to appear online. These are files relating to the Italian Helpers of Allied escapers and hold all sorts of fascinating and moving information. A quick search under "Montebuono" found Gnr E Marshall listed here https://catalog.archives.gov/id/669599506?objectPage=8 . There are several other files on Montebuono which may render further information. I am about to post a thread on these files, how to access them and how to improve them which I hope will be useful.
Anne

 

Anne, we had an excellent visit, thanks.

Thank you too for the Marshall link. What a treasure trove! Pages 28 and 29 record the help given to a number of POWs I already know a lot about. I will send you a PM.

Janet