Grandad was a POW. 4459605 Richard JAMES, DLI

Hi Tony56. Thank you very much for this. I have only just noticed the newspaper clipping. Fantastic to see he at least felt as though he was well treated. I can't help thinking if he was using his comparison in the Italian Hospital. If it was a German made leg he wore, perhaps he did not get fitted with an artificial limb in Italy.

I cannot thank everyone enough for the help with my research. Looking forward to the rest of this journey and wherever it will take me! I am in it for the long haul.

My Grandad had a hell of a life. In 1951 he lost my Grandma who was only 32 years old at the time. She died of congestive heart failure and a chronic chest infection. Then approximately 3-4 months later, he lost his oldest daughter, Maureen, to TB Meningitis. By then my mother had been born and so had my Aunty Carol. So he had three little ones to look after (my Aunty Sheila). Such a strong man.

 

If you request a copy from the archives the going rate is £8 for a digital scan. Usually takes a couple of months. You can go in person but unless you live local the cost of going to Kew for two cards probably isn’t worth it. To the best of my knowledge these cards are the only places you are likely to find photos and in this case it looks like there isn’t one.

 

Here you go Dropbox - enquiry_-_person_detained_during_2nd_world_war_or_the_spanish_civil_war (1).pdf - Simplify your life

 

Karen,

I asked a former member here,Verrieres(jim) if he was aware of your Grandfather (he has a DLI website) and he stated he was aware of a Pte James with 6th DLI Not only that but he knew he was with `C` Company 6th DLI when they headed out to the Desert in 1941 .

He knows that your Grandfather would have been photographed just prior to his departure along with the rest of the Company , he had a copy of `C` Company but cannot find it at present but informs me you can purchase a copy from the Durham Archives Ref D/DLI 2/6/10(976). He apologises for being unable to locate the photograph but recalls Pte James is on the end of the third row ? He also sent these contacts for you should you wish to contact the Archives and they will advise you on cost .He believes a digital copy on a Disc was around £7 an emailed copy may be slightly cheaper but don`t quote him on that?. Remember the reference D/DLI 2/6/10(976)

He also asked if your Grandfather had any Militia service prior to being reissued a DLI number in 1940 ? For what purpose I cannot say? Your Grandfathers number was taken from Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 24, nos. Covering numbers 4459266 - 4460284, 1940 Enlistments


record.office@durham.gov.uk

Tel +44 (0)3000 267 619


Kyle

 

Incredible by name and Incredible by Nature! I've downloaded it and will fill it in ready for January 23 for the next intake. Thanks so much. Karen

 

Hi Kyle, Thank you so much for this. Thank you so much for this. It looks like you have got the correct register to cover his number so I am going to assume you are right. This is so exciting! I know my Grandad was in the Territorial Army but I dont know if his number was re-issued. I dont kniw if that counts as Militia, sorry, I really haven't got much knowledge of anything war-related. This is proving to be a very steep but extremely fascinating learning curve. I will send an email to the record office. I know I found a couple of Private James but the Corporal records definitely mapped to his number and also his DOB. Please pass on my gratitude to Verrieres (Jim) too. Karen

 

Thanks again for your help Incredibledisc. It's still a result in my search. Now all I have to do is to Re-Search until I get a hit! :-D

 

You’re welcome. Other people I’ve sent it to in the past have been able to get results with it - the Red Cross can only process a small number each quarter so you’ve got to be quick off the mark!

 

No problem. Here is an example from a man I researched recently.

 

The 2 cards I received for my father via FOI are the ones posted 5th & 8th above.

Steve

EDIT TO ADD

They may be the 2 cards noted on Pte James NA Discovery record.

 

The cards posted above are for Percy Crick. I bought a letter he had written home from his POW camp from eBay and wanted to find out more about him. He was in the RAMC and captured at a hospital in Boulogne. As a medic he was classed as protected personnel and was eventually repatriated in 1943.

 

Dear Karen, I found it in Russian archive and I can not find anything else. They don't have any records of non-soviet solders I am afraid. I hope you will find more soon, I've been told that the soviets digitalised most of their archives but other allies didn't yet.

 

Hi,

Thanks for posting. I’ve seen most of the different forms posted elsewhere over the years apart from your 6th & 7th posts that appear to relate to “financial” transactions.

Card 6 mentions amounts in sterling - perhaps monies sent to him via relatives?

Card 7 appears to list his “payments” in “Kriegsgefangener Lager Geld” (literally POW Camp Money) - not civilian Deutschmarks - a currency that could only be used within the camp system. My father brought a few notes and coins home with him. Apparently evidence of these payments were used to reduce the amount of service back pay paid to ex POW by British authorities post war.

Steve

 

Yes - a bone of contention for many men as the Lagergeld was worthless outside the camps.

 

Karen, look online for Daily Telegraph obituaries, Peter Oldfield SAS.

I am away from home until the 26 Oct otherwise I would have found it for you.

Janet

 

Hi Janet,

Thanks I have found lots now. Including a book which I think you are the author :-D Thank you Karen

 

My latest book is about deaths behind the lines in Italy and amongst other disasters refers to the bombing of Milan POW Hospital H207.

You can find it on Austin Macauley's website or on Amazon: Some Corner of a Foreign Field.

Janet

 

Yes. I have struggled to find much about Hospital 207. I am going to buy it. Well done and thank you for sharing your knowledge. It is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you Alexandra, and for posting that brilliant detailed record which motivated me to post on here! I am sure this forum and its members will help me achieve my goal. Karen

 

I have read that some records were sent out in cases of wounded soldiers. Do you know if this is true and if so, would there be any cases of war records being attached to prisoners GP/hospital records?