Stalag XXB - POW G.W.Sibthorpe - Any info appreciated.

Thx Idler, this is all so fascinating can't wait to find out more, my only regret is that I never got to meet my grandfather and hear any of his experiences 1st hand.

Then again he really didn't talk abt his time there at all I've been told and from what I've been reading on the POW websites it sounds like conditions were awful.

 

As you've gathered, we find it fascinating, too. The problem is that the more you learn, the more you learn how much more there is to learn; or something like that. Keep at it.

 

Yes I know I've been at it all afternoon, but then it is snowing outside so what else is there to do!! hahaha

Last quick question for today anyway I've been reading abt Liberation Reports where will I find these?

 

I know its the london archives website but can't quite work out how to find what I'm looking for :-(

 

Quick answer: in here. It will all look very daunting at this stage but you will pick it up - especially if you're based in the London area and can get to Kew easily.

There are some members here who specialise in POW matters (ADM199 springs to mind) who will be able to offer much better advice than me as you get deeper.

Regarding the archives, sometimes it's hard enough to find things when you know what you are looking for...

 

I know its the london archives website but can't quite work out how to find what I'm looking for :-(

Here you go:

TNA liberation Questionnaires

 

Many Thanks again.

I'll have a look, but feel a trip to Kew coming on.

Right lovely I'll keep ADM199 in mind because I know I'm going to have many more questions.

 

Hi sorry, so can I actually see if he filled one of these in online I know I have to go there to view it or will I just have to take potluck if he did??

I've read that website abt 5 times and still can't work it out !! :-(

 

Hi sorry, so can I actually see if he filled one of these in online I know I have to go there to view it or will I just have to take potluck if he did??

I've read that website abt 5 times and still can't work it out !! :-(

Ive linked the thread to a message to ADM199, so I am sure he will be along to clarify what you can expect

P

 

I don't think they are indexed on the site, it's a case of going there and picking through the files by the sound of it.

The actual file reference is WO 344/287/1.
A bit more background.

 

Many thanks Phil that is very kind of you.

Great Idler I'll certainly have a read of the that, I'll get to Kew as soon as the weather calms down.

Least I know what I'm going to be doing with my spare time this year hahaha.

I'm so grateful to ALL of you that have offered your advice and obvious wealth of knowledge, so glad I found this site!

 

Hello,
the first thing to do when looking for information regarding a P.O.W. is to get a copy of his Service Record.

While you are waiting for this look at the File Idler has mentioned to see if
he made a Report when Liberated. Hopefully he will have, but plans that all former P.O.W. would make such a report never materialised. A great many didn't.

If he made a Report what you will find in WO344 is Name,Rank,No. Unit, Date and place of Capture and a list of all camps the prisoner had been held in. All written by himself. He could have also written about any incidents he had witnessed or escape attempts he made.
After five years of Captivity he may have said very little so his return Home wasn't delayed.

Then perhaps you will want to know more about the Camps he was held in so you could read the Red Cross Reports for the particular Camp.
Unfortunately there is no official History that was written for XXB. With him having the Rank of Pte it is almost certain that he would have been in a work Camp attached to XXB.

I usually make the trip to Kew every couiple of weeks or so but the weather at the moment has put a stop to that.

Good Luck

Brian

 

Just a little more:- Camp Position given is 54.0.40N - 19.0.18E

Red Cross Reports:- FO 916/2575 1940 - WO 224/49 1941 - 1945.

Brian

 

Hi Brian,

Thank you for your reply, I have the form to request his service records so I shall do this asap. I have already submitted a request to the IRC to see if they hold any info.

We also thiink that we have identified him in a couple of photos we found on one of the XX-B websites, but unfortunately we cannot be certain if it is him. :-(

I will def make a trip to Kew in the hope that he did.

In speaking to my mother today it would appear that he made several escape attempts and was serevely punished for this - so I imagine indeed that he would have been worked very hard.

Any other tips that spring to mind would be greatly appreciated.

Jo

 

Can I suggest you consider reading 'Dunkirk-The men they left behind' by Sean Longden. Its main focus is on all the men that were captured at and after Dunkirk and gives a rather interesting insight into how badly they were treated.

Nearly everyone below the rank of Sergeant was made to work for the German war effort at some point whilst in captivity.

 

Just a little more:- Camp Position given is 54.0.40N - 19.0.18E

Red Cross Reports:- FO 916/2575 1940 - WO 224/49 1941 - 1945.

Brian


Sorry, I don't understand what this means???

 

Thx u Drew I certainly will do that. Yes I beginning to understand why the family knew so little about his time there.

 

Sorry, I don't understand what this means???



Jo they're the references for the Red Cross reports in the National Archives, they're how you order documents when you're there. The first letters are the Department that created the records (FO is for Foreign Office), the first number is the series (ie, POW camp reports) and the second number is the piece number, usually a specific box or file.

You'll get used to it after a visit or two B)

 

Cheers James - all has become clear.

 

In speaking to my mother today it would appear that he made several escape attempts and was serevely punished for this

In that case, don't forget to check the WO 208 files mentioned in that research guide - the follow-up questionnaires on escape activities. You might get even luckier.