I am trying to find out about my grandad Leslie Daniel Howe. All i know is that he served in the Durham Light Infantry, don't know what battalion. I've seen a photo of him in desert dress which was the North African campaign, i was told he was wounded and taken prisoner in Sicily. He escaped twice from a POW camp in Italy and was then sent to a camp in Germany where he escaped again during an air raid, this time he made it to Holland where the resistance got him flown back to England. He was from the Northallerton area of N Yorks.
Pte L.D.Howe 4463881 . Still listed as a P.O.W. in 1945 P.O.W. No.259367 Stalag 1VC Wistritz bei Teplitz.
I am trying to find out about my grandad Leslie Daniel Howe. All i know is that he served in the Durham Light Infantry, don't know what battalion. I've seen a photo of him in desert dress which was the North African campaign, i was told he was wounded and taken prisoner in Sicily. He escaped twice from a POW camp in Italy and was then sent to a camp in Germany where he escaped again during an air raid, this time he made it to Holland where the resistance got him flown back to England. He was from the Northallerton area of N Yorks. Hi David, If he served in Sicily then he was with one of the DLI Territorial battalions within the 50th Division,6th DLI, 8th DLI or 9th DLI,they lost a lot of men around the Primosole Bridge in Sicily in 1943 Verrieres
Thanks for the information guys. I recently found out that he was reported missing in action on 12-6-1942, so now i'm guessing it was around Gazala or something to do with the Knightsbride box. I am waiting to hear from the International Red Cross to see if they have any more info. Does anyone know how to find a list of escaped prisoners who made it back home?
Hi David, Pte. 4463881 LD Howe, Durham Light Infantry. Held in Camp number 78, Sulmona, Italy. R.O. number? 20. This information is from the POW's of the Italian's in WW2, WO 392/21 file reference at the National Archives, Kew. That is all I can add to the post I'm afraid. Bamboo.
Hello David, WO392/21 gives a P.O.Ws Ialian Location as of August 1943, and he would have had at least one other Camp prior to this. R.O.20 refers to the Office in the U.K. where his units Records were kept. Prior to August 1943 there appears to be no such Lists of P.O.W. that are available. There is a way of finding out where he had been prior to this time though. Brian
Thanks again the both of you. This is really good news. I'm putting the puzzle together bit-by-bit. Thanks again for everyones help.
I realise this is an old thread and the poster hasn`t been around since 2014 but sometimes other information comes to light ? Pte L.D.Howe 4463881 Born 14th May 1918 Darlington - died Northallerton 1978 aged 61 Served with The 8th Durham Light Infantry posted Missing 12th June 1942 confirmed as Prisoner of War 1942 re-listed as confirmed captured in the Western Desert whilst wounded in action Stalag IVC Wistritz Bei Teplitz Liberated 1945 Kyle
