Rhodesian PoW Lists

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by bear.cub, Dec 4, 2020.

  1. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    Can I ask how and where I might find lists of Rhodesian POWs?
     
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    As nearly all Rhodesians served in British formations, plus a few in colonial units, overall I expect it will be difficult.

    The CWGC search facility does not help alas, it mainly shows the Northern Rhodesia Regiment. It might be easier with RAF crew, as there were (Rhodesian) RAF squadrons - once you can identify them! The KRRC had a contingent serve with them

    There a few threads here which will identify individuals: "rhodesian" + "prisoners of war" ww2talk com site:ww2talk.com
     
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  3. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    Seems to be find PoW lists of the British formations and then look for Rhodesians within. Those in Italian PoW camps seems to be the way forward. So far I’ve a few aircrew names. I’m particularly interested in those who escaped and evaded.
     
  4. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

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  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Someone with an Ancestry. com subscription could search through the WW2 Allied POW's listings using the search term Rhodesian. I'm sure there would be a fair number of results from any such search.
     
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  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Sorry that doesnt work

    UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
    using keyword 'rhodesian' gives - Your Search for Rhodesian returned zero good matches

    You can usually tell Canadian and ANZAC by their service numbers but not sure about Rhodesian or South African, as another possibly problem

    If you have some names they could be searched for and see if there are any 'common' factors that might help a further search

    TD
     
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  7. snailer

    snailer Country Member

    Allied not British POW


    All UK, World War II Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 results for Rhodesian


    Results 1–20 of 143
     
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  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Well spotted snailer - however all those appear to be Air Force - any idea where other services would be?

    I'm off to specsavers again for a refit this am

    TD

    I forgot to add that most times I have delved into that particular database was to find details of POW's held by the Japanese, so I have learnt something today - thanks
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2020
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  9. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    TD wrote:
    A good part of the answer IMHO is is: Southern Rhodesia in World War II - Wikipedia

    In summary whilst many Rhodesians fought on the ground, as faraway as Burma, only a few times they became PoW, unlike those in the RAF who flew over Western Europe, Italy and the Balkans - hence why so many were POWs.

    Bear Cub: the Rhodesian RAF squadrons are detailed in the Wiki link.
     
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  10. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    Thanks everyone
     
  11. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    I suspect that the Rhodesian army POWs are all in the South African registers. I have a copy of them for both Italy and Germany but they don't even give the Unit, let alone the country.

    I now have a copy of the Parri Register - this is a record - kept by the Italian ''Committee for National Liberation'' - of the POWs who were helped by them to reach Switzerland. There are some address in it. I'll have a quick look to see what I can find.
     
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  12. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    Thanks Vitellino
     
  13. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    Could you resend please? Nothing received so far.
     
  14. MarkN

    MarkN Banned

    Depending upon the nature of your interest, the easiest route to the information you require will vary.

    For example, are you interested in information only on (Southern) Rhodesians of white european settler stock or are you looking for information on any serviceman from (Southern) Rhodesia irrespective of his creed, colour or religion?

    Or, are you only interest in a certain theatre?

    Found from a 2-second internet search, good advise here: Where to Find Prisoner of War Records and here: British and Commonwealth prisoners of the Second World War and the Korean War - The National Archives
     
  15. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    I’m interested in all Rhodesians irrespective of colour.
     
  16. MarkN

    MarkN Banned

    Good luck with your research. Happy hunting.
     
  17. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Try: "southern rhodesia" + "return" + "prisoner of war" + "ww2" it does return 4k results though.

    Then: "southern rhodesia" + "survivor" + "Prisoner of war" + "ww2" returns 3k

    Changing to POW returns 24k, so too many.

    Isn't there an ex-Rhodesian group called Flame Lily? Are any of the ZANE charity recipients POWs?
     
  18. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    To Bear Cub: Parri Escaper files - original is in an archive in Turin - re-sent via We Transfer.

    I have checked it once but would need to look again to be certain that there are no Rhodesian addresses in this register.

    The Prisoner of War Register for Italy, WO 392/21, National Archives
    Below please find the title page, a page from the register of Ground Troops, and the complete list of S.A. Air Force Pows.

    Looking for the Rhodesians. The only sure way is to consult the Liberation and Escape/Evasion reports in the National Archives. The reports of the South African escapers who reached Switzerland/France from Italy have not been digitalised and cannot be downloaded, so a visit to TNA is what's needed. That's the limit of what I can contribute,

    Vitellino
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 24, 2020
  19. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    Thanks
     
  20. bear.cub

    bear.cub Active Member

    Thanks very much Vitellino, much appreciated
     

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