Help required finding info for 30 POWs for an exhibition

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by Emanuel1940, Dec 10, 2012.

  1. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Rank and Service; (Initials); First and Middle-names; Surname; Awards; Prison number; Prison Camp; Country a P.O.W. of
    F./LtD W Douglas William Finlay DFC2611 Lager-Bezeichnung, M. Stammlager Luft 3 Germany
    Group Captain (D S) Douglas Sydney "Sammy"Hoare Germany (mentioned in Hornchurch Scramble)
    Lt. RAS (C A) C Allan Goodger Germany
    Lt. RN (T) Gray Germany
    F./O RAF( H A R) Harry Arthur Robin Prowse Stalag Luft 3 Germany (Guardian Obit 2010)
    Flight/Sgt RAF (A E) Albert Edward Bumstead (1121) Stalag Luft 6 Germany
    Lt. (R A) Reginald Goodchild Japan
    Major (J R) John Richard Cole Japan
    Lt. R.A.S.C. (R C F) Reginald Charles Dunkin Japan
    ?? (W H C) William Herbert Crampton Bailey Japan
    ?? (R C) Robert Cunningham Williams Japan
    ?? (E) Eric Ronald Nonweiler Japan
    ?? (R) Richard Mace ?? Murray Japan
    Pte. Beds and Herts Regiment (A D) Arthur Daniel Willett Japan
    Tpr. R.G.H. (D A) Donald Alan Scoullar Germany
    Lt. K.R.R.C (G) Gordon Pople (1929) Oflag VIIIFGermany, had also been in Italy
    Capt. Yorks & Lancs (P G) Peter Graham (Although referred to as W P??) Glendenning MBE
    Lt. Buffs (L W F) Leslie Walter Frederick Stubbings
    MN (D J) David John Carpenter
    Lt. Middlesex Regiment (K D O) Kenneth Douglas Owen Cole
    Gunner Royal Artillery (A) Alec Holt
    Rifleman R.B. (K) Kenneth Horseman
    2nd Lt Royal Artillery W H Lewis
    Pte. R.A.M.C (C W J) Cyril William Joseph Pointon
    Sgt C.L.Y. Westminster D'gns (A) Alec Shoosmith
    Sgt. (D) Webb
    2nd Lt R.A.S.C (R K) Goodyear
    Sub-Lt R.N.V.R. (W N A) Walter Norman Adam Smalley
    Capt. Glos Regt (P) Philip Harding Italy
    L./Cpl R.C.S. (V H) Vernon Harrison Avery Italy
    L./Cpl R.C.S. (H J) Harry Jerem Waterman


    Can anyone help with information for these 30 individuals who were all WW2 POWs. Have you seen liberation questionnaires at the National Archives or photos or any other materials relating to these men? Did any of them write about their expriences or were any interviewed?
    They all attended Emanuel School in Battersea in the inter-war period. I have sketchy info on a couple of them but would love to uncover much more for an exhibition in 2014 and pay tribute to these brave and courageous men. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
     
  2. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

  3. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Thank you. That is brilliant. Dunkin was alive until a few years ago, it is such a shame I have come to this project when there are only a handful of veterans alive but hopefully their memories and service will live on.

    Many thanks for your help.
     
  4. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

    Also look at the Forces War Records they have a FREE search engine regarding Japanese PoWs.

    This database contains a listing of World War II British Army prisoners of war (POW). Information provided about them can include:

    Name
    Rank
    Service Number
    Regiment
    POW Number
    Camp Type
    Camp Number
    Camp Location
    Notes
    Copyright ©2012: Japanese Prisoners of War Search 1939-1945 | Forces War Records

    The sources I am unsure of, but if you look at thread
    WW2Talk Has Absolutely No Connection To 'Forces War Records'it will explain some of the sources.

    Mark
     
  5. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Emanuel,
    I have Hornchurch Scramble. Sammy Hoare is mentioned on 10 pages.
    I could copy for you if you don't have it.
     
  6. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    From Bureau of Record and Enquiry information now at Kew ( in files relevant to the man's unit in WO361, open since April 2011) the following brief details:

    "Dunkin" listed as 2/Lt. R.C.F. Dunkin 184955 served with 29 Combined Motor Depot travelled overland from Changi to Malaya and the railway on 28th October 1942 reference number 65/22. Pleased to see his liberation questionnaire, and that he lived until recent times.

    The following were not so fortunate, according to the limited resources of the B.R.E., whose records could be wrong, given that they were a POW organisation working at Changi in secret.

    "Willett" listed as 5955656 travelled overland from Changi 14th October 1942. Died on 8th December 1943 of "ulcers" Buried Tarso No.2 Grave 471. He was married and lived at an address in West Hill Putney. His I.J.A. ( Imperial Japanese Army) card at Kew should give further details of cause of death.

    "Waterman" listed as 2336105 L/Cpl serving with 18th Division Signals. Travelled overland from Changi to Malaya on 24th April 1943 with "F" Party and reported as having died. ( "F" Party suffered many losses.)
     
  7. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Thank you Mike L, I already have Hornchurch Scramble.

    Many thanks papiermache, That is great. They were all the ones that went to Emanuel.
     
  8. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    All I have for now. Some info doesn't match exactly so some verification will be needed. I have Italian and Japanese lists as well, just don't have the time to look right now. They are on my site if you want to look http://powvets.com

    First Name: D W
    Last Name: Finlay
    Rank:
    Regt / Unit: RAF
    Soldier Number: 127948
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 2611
    Camp: Stalag Luft 3

    First Name: A. C.
    Last Name: Goodger
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Regt / Unit: Royal Army Service Corps
    Soldier Number: 105167
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 1326
    Camp: Oflag VII-B
    Camp Location: Eichstatt, Bavaria

    First Name: H A R
    Last Name: Prowse
    Rank:
    Regt / Unit: 603 RAF
    Soldier Number: 42358
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 1626
    Camp: Stalag Luft 3

    First Name: A E
    Last Name: Bumstead
    Rank:
    Regt / Unit: 76 RAF
    Soldier Number: 1384825
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 1121
    Camp: Stalag Luft 1

    First Name: E. G. M.
    Last Name: Pople
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Regt / Unit: Kings Royal Rifle Corps
    Soldier Number: 207513
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 1929
    Camp: Oflag 79
    Camp Location: Brunswick, Lower Saxony


    2 A. Holts

    First Name: A.
    Last Name: Holt
    Rank: Gunner
    Regt / Unit: Royal Artillery
    Soldier Number: 2066350
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 6934
    Camp: Stalag XVIII-A
    Camp Location: Wolfsberg, Austria

    First Name: A.
    Last Name: Holt
    Rank: Gunner
    Regt / Unit: Royal Artillery
    Soldier Number: 1527465
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 5763
    Camp: Stalag 317
    Camp Location: Sankt Johann im Pongau, Austria

    First Name: K.
    Last Name: Horseman
    Rank: Rifleman
    Regt / Unit: Rifle Brigade
    Soldier Number: 6915329
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 267368
    Camp: Stalag IV-F
    Camp Location: Hartmannsdorf, Saxony

    First Name: W. H. H.
    Last Name: Lewis
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Regt / Unit: Royal Artillery
    Soldier Number: 179465
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 1884
    Camp: Oflag 79
    Camp Location: Brunswick, Lower Saxony

    First Name: C. W. J.
    Last Name: Pointon
    Rank: Private
    Regt / Unit: Royal Army Medical Corps
    Soldier Number: 7348978
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 6016
    Camp: Stalag VIII-B
    Camp Location: Cieszyn, Poland

    First Name: A.
    Last Name: Shoosmith
    Rank: Serjeant
    Regt / Unit: Reconnaissance Corps
    Soldier Number: 7888030
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 247914
    Camp: Stalag IV-B
    Camp Location: Mahlberg/Elbe, Brandenburg

    Various D. ?. Webbs. This is only D. Webb

    First Name: D.
    Last Name: Webb
    Rank: Sapper
    Regt / Unit: Royal Engineers
    Soldier Number: 2074356
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 131159
    Camp: Stalag 344
    Camp Location: Lambinowice, Poland

    Wayne
     
  9. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Many thanks jacksun, that is fantastic. Apart from Holt and Webb which I will need to do more research on the rest are correct and all went to Emanuel. Thank you very much.
     
  10. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    First Name: D W
    Last Name: Finlay
    Rank:
    Regt / Unit: RAF
    Soldier Number: 127948
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 2611
    Camp: Stalag Luft 3

    Info on how he became a POW........


    From the NAA - VIVERS, Robert James Francis - (Pilot Officer); Service Number - 405986; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Lancaster III JB 152; Place - Bad Durkheim, Germany; Date - 23 September 1943 (file not digitised as yet, but it does list the crew).

    In addition to the file subject, the following servicemen are mentioned in this record:

    FINDLAY D W – (Flight Lieutenant); Service Number – 127948 RAF
    ROWE R H J – (Flying Officer); Service Number – 158349
    FLETCHER I D – (Warrant Officer); Service Number – 1346492 RAF
    McFARLANE J W – (Warrant Officer); Service Number – 1232621 RAF
    MacDONALD W H – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 1295086 RAF
    GILLESPIE W C C – (Flight Officer); Service Number – J18827 RCAF


    Vivers & MacDonald were KIA (103SQN RAF - typo in aircraft number in NAA file header, should be JB132)


    (Spidge - if you see this can you add in the Alan Storr info, for some reason when you do it it looks great, but when I try.......)
     
  11. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    First Name: A E
    Last Name: Bumstead
    Rank:
    Regt / Unit: 76 RAF
    Soldier Number: 1384825
    Pow: Yes
    POW Number: 1121
    Camp: Stalag Luft 1

    Details of how the above became a pow.

    4-5 May 1943

    76 Squadron
    Halifax V DK134 Mp-Y
    Op. Dortmund

    The aircraft took off from Linton-on-Ouse at 2206 hrs and is believed to have been shot down by a night-fighter (Hptm. Wilhelm Dorman. III./NJG1) and crashed at 0155 hrs near Kilder (Gelderland) 5 km south west of Doetinchem, Holland.

    Crew

    P/O. J I M. Bell. pow
    Sgt. A E. Bumstead. pow
    Sgt. A. Forster. pow
    Sgt. H M. Farrington. pow
    Sgt. H J. Hamlyn. pow
    Sgt. D J. Marshall. pow
    F/S. D B. Brown RCAF. pow
    Sgt. B. Thompson. pow

    Souirce - RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.4 - W R. Chorley
     
  12. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    F./O RAF( H A R) Harry Arthur Robin Prowse Stalag Luft 3 Germany (Guardian Obit 2010)


    Britain at War

    Flight Lieutenant Harry Arthur Robin Prowse, a holder of the 1939-45 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp.

    Having joined the RAF on a short service commission in 1939, Pilot Officer Prowse was serving with No. 4 Ferry Pilot Pool in June 1940 when his Hurricane was shot down by flak near Lille and he landed in a field. He managed to return to the United Kingdom by ship from Cherbourg. Prowse converted to Spitfires and joined No. 266 Squadron on 16 September 1940, moving to No. 603 Squadron on 20 October.

    Over St Omer on 4 July 1941, Harry Prowse shot down two Messerschmidt Bf 109s but was then himself downed by flak. He used his Verey pistol to set fire to his aircraft before being captured. After release from his PoW camp, his return to Britain in 1945 occurred on VE Day itself.

    Following further RAF service as an instructor, Harry Prowse traveled to Brazil in 1947 to become a farmer.
    Regards,

    Dave
     
  13. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Thank you everyone. This is all extremely useful. Thank you to all who have been so kind to post information so far.
     
  14. ronald

    ronald Senior Member

    Details of how the above became a pow.

    4-5 May 1943

    76 Squadron
    Halifax V DK134 Mp-Y
    Op. Dortmund

    The aircraft took off from Linton-on-Ouse at 2206 hrs and is believed to have been shot down by a night-fighter (Hptm. Wilhelm Dorman. III./NJG1) and crashed at 0155 hrs near Kilder (Gelderland) 5 km south west of Doetinchem, Holland.

    Crew

    P/O. J I M. Bell. pow
    Sgt. A E. Bumstead. pow
    Sgt. A. Forster. pow
    Sgt. H M. Farrington. pow
    Sgt. H J. Hamlyn. pow
    Sgt. D J. Marshall. pow
    F/S. D B. Brown RCAF. pow
    Sgt. B. Thompson. pow

    Souirce - RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.4 - W R. Chorley
    Bell and Forster stayed in the plane, the others jumped out before it crashed.
    Forster escaped with the help of the resistance but was captured in Antwerp later on.
    Here is a link in Dutch, maybe you can read it with the help of a translator

    Halifax DK143 - Berghapedia
     
  15. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Thank you Ronald, i've translated the doc. Very interesting story and great photo of the Halifax. Many Thanks.
     
  16. robertavery

    robertavery New Member

    [SIZE=10.5pt]Hi Emanuel,[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt] [/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]I came across your site doing a general search on my Father, Vernon Harrison Avery. My Dad was a POW but in Italy not Japan as you show, other details look to suggest your entry relates to him. He was an L. Corp in the Royal Signals.[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt] [/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]Here is a bullet point summary I hope you find interesting in filling a gap and that it adds to the topic.[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt] [/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Born July 1920 in Battersea, South London[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Attended Emmanuelle School in Wansdsworth until 18[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* After a year in Insurance joined up at 19 in 1939 with the Royal Signals[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Served over African and European campaigns, was captured in Italy in 1942[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* PoW for the remainder of the war[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Returned home in 1946[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Held a career in the Civil Service from 1946-1979, primarily Whitehall based in Agriculture Fisheries and Food[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Married Irene Margaret Ellis in March 1946[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* One son, Robert Clifford Avery born March 1968[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Post war, lived in Clapham and Wandsworth, South London until moving to Sutton, Surrey in 1958, where he spent most of the remainder of his life, moving to Cheam Village, Surrey in 1989.[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Generally free of serious illness throughout his life other than a few years in and out of hospital in the 1980’s following a collapsed lung. He did suffer with his feet following frostbite incurred as a PoW and also in the 1980’s had a sizable piece of shrapnel removed, assumed to be from the War.[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]* Passed away of a sudden unexpected Heart Attack in January 1991 at age 70[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt] [/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt] [/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]Best regards,[/SIZE]
    [SIZE=10.5pt]Robert Clifford Avery. [/SIZE]
     
  17. Typablo

    Typablo New Member

    Emanuel1940, my sister has just sent me the link to this - Lt R A Goodchild was my Grandfather, unfortunately we have very little information about his time as a POW as he was not willing to talk about it. From my research, I know that he was captured on the 15 February 1942 and liberated on the 2nd September 1945. He was interned in Thailand and worked on the Burma Railway. Can you let me have any other information that you were able to find out? Many thanks Ruth Bennett
     
  18. Enigma1003

    Enigma1003 Member

    Ruth.

    As you may have already established, Reginal Arthur Goodchild, born 9th May 1908, was a member of the Singapore Straits Volunteer Force.
    His Liberation Questionaire is available at Cofepow.
    Shows camps as Changi, Kinsatok, Kanyu, Chunkai, Tarso, etc. (feint)

    Mike
     
  19. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Dear Ruth,

    please get in contact with me via my email which you can find here http://emanuelschoolatwar.wordpress.com/contact/

    I am organising an exhibition and would be very interested in speaking with you.

    Kind regards,

    Daniel.
     
  20. Shooey

    Shooey New Member

    My Father was Sgt Alec Shoosmith. I do have some information about him incl a form of war diary. Should you be interested please contact me.
     

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