2619493 George YATES, Grenadier Guards attached SAS

Looking for any information on Sergeant George Yates who was taking part in the first L detachment jump during Operation Crusader. He was got captured in that raid.
Does any one know what he had did before? What unit he belonged to? Did he escape during the war? Any kind of informations would be more than welcome.

 

Hi LRDG

Welcome to the forum.

What other information do you have on him, service number? etc - are you able to apply for his service records?

TD

 

CSM George Yates Service no 2619493 Unit Grenadier Guards. He didn't escape.

Kyle

 

Thanks Kyle

UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: G Yates
Rank: Company Serjeant Major
Army Number: 2619493
Regiment: Grenadier Guards
POW Number: 1142
Camp Type: Oflag
Camp Number: 79
Camp Location: Brunswick, Lower Saxony
Record Office: Grenadier Guards Record Office, 25/28, Buckingham Gate, London, SW1
Record Office Number: 11

TD

 

Thank you
you are superb

 

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can help. I am looking for the POW liberation reports for a CSM Yates and a Pte Trenfield. I know they exist and have found references for them on the forum in the WO344 series.
Does anyone by chance already have them before I visit the TNA to look for them.If anyone has I am more than happy to pay them for copies.
One thing I noticed in my preliminary research is that CSM Yates ended up as a prisoner at Colditz. Was this because he was a serial escaper or was there another rteason for it that anyone else has come across.

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Arnhem

 

I also would be most interested in seeing these both George Yates and Fred Trenfield were in Stirlings stick along with my father all obviously became prisoners, my father told me how they argued with Stirling about splitting up due to injuries sustained on landing, thdy later argued again that they were going in the wrong direction only to discover they were right in the first place, knowing they couldnt make the second rv they headed in the direction of Fort Capuzto and were eventually picked up by the Italians in British trucks.
I received from the Regimental Association many years ago the full make up of Stirlings stick which is on occasion at odds with what authors have published, from various reports and escape reports i managed to put together the make up of all 5 flights.
I keep on the lookout for any info but for the last few years little has come out so anything new like these reports would be of great interest to me.
Kind regards,
Alan.

 

I have no info on CSM George Yates, but Pte Frederick C. "Tubby" Trenfield is mentioned in this thread on the forum and was mentioned in despatches in 1947 for 6 escape attempts.
Looking for information on Fredrick Trenfield

As a member of the SAS could Yate's transfer to Colditz have also been in part due to the German Commando Order of 18 Oct 1942 ?

 

Not sure about that in regard to Yates, his last recorded camp on Italy was PG 21 where the SBO threatened to Court Martial any man not obeying the P/W 87190 order to remain in camp following the Italian Capitulation.
Trenfields last known Italian camp was PG65 at Gravina along with my father and another from the same stick Cockbill, Billy Morris was also recorded here. My dad said that when they woke up to find the Italians had gone he and a few others who I have no names for headed in the direction of Switzerland thinking this was the safest option. They were at large for sometime before being picked up by the Germans. All told my dad made 3 attempts to escape from Italy all obviously ending in failure.
Prior to being imprisoned in Italy he was in Greece having been on board the Sebastian Venier also known as the Jason which was torpedoed by an RN submarine off the Greek coast. Another L Detatchment member I believe was on board and was sadly lost he was Dougie Keith.
Only Tait from the original 1 Troop, 1 Section, B Group made it back from Squatter.

 

I have just looked through my WO 344 records and do not have either of them, it might be that I missed it due to him being shown under his parent unit but I will have to relook at that particular file again. It may be there is something in WO208 as well, which is where escapers details are filed. The reference for his MID is WO 373/103/1211 gazetted on 14/03/1947.

 

I have in fact got this for his MID -
Private 8383884 Frederick Charles TRENFIELD Special Air Service (L Detachment) LG 14/03/1947

Trenfield was taken prisoner on the 30th of November 1941 in Libya. During his subsequent imprisonment in various camps in Italy and Germany, he made six attempts to escape, all of which were unsuccessful. Methods of escape included tunnelling, disguise, and wire cutting. Trenfield was finally liberated by the Americans on the 9th April 1945.

Hope this is of interest

 

Trenfield was Oxs & Bucks Light Infantry.

Yates was Grenadier Guards

UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: G Yates
Rank: Company Serjeant Major
Army Number: 2619493
Regiment: Grenadier Guards
POW Number: 1142
Camp Type: Oflag
Camp Number: 79
Camp Location: Brunswick, Lower Saxony
Record Office: Grenadier Guards Record Office, 25/28, Buckingham Gate, London, SW1
Record Office Number: 11

 

Does anyone have information on a John Yates, SAS. Imprisoned sometime in Yugoslavia and subsequently in Germany Stalag 7

 

Do you have more details? - service number (there were 13 J Yates noted as POW's in German hands), original unit? etc etc


TD

 

Hello Isobel,

In line with TD's post above, two Yates with first initial "J" recorded as POW in Stalag 7A Moosburg. Details below, hopefully one of them is your chap.

Fusilier J Yates (Northumberland Fusiliers) Army No. 4458557
POW No. 137203.

Gunner J B Yates (Royal Artillery)
Army No. 2010711
POW No. 135267

Information from "Prisoners Of War British Army 1939 -1945".

If I were a betting man I'd put my money on the first chap.

Good luck with your searching.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Many thanks. It is J. B Yates, John Burns Yates, that fits. If anyone has any information on him, I'd be grateful. His dob was 16.02.1920, hailed from Cupar, Fife.

 

And Isobel, that is why I'm not a betting man!

I'll have a further look through books and if I turn anything else up I'll let you know.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

P.S. It may be prudent to start your own thread with Gunner Yates' details in the thread title.

 

Apologises for the errors from Ancestry

UK, World War II Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948
Name: John Burns Yates
Enlistment Date: 1 Feb 1946
Regiment: Royal Artillery
Military Unit: 43/42 Survey Regt RA
Service Number: 2010711

We know he did not enlist in 1946 - ho hum


UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: J B Yates
Rank: Gunner
Army Number: 2010711
Regiment: Royal Artillery
POW Number: 135267
Camp Type: Stalag
Camp Number: VII-A
Camp Location: Moosburg an der Isar, Bavaria

You really need to obtain his service records available only from the MOD - the forms you need are here - Request records of deceased service personnel


TD

 

Thanks, just findingy way around the site

 

TD, many thanks. Just trying to fill in the gaps of my father's life. (He wouldn't approve.)