20181 Colonel Basil Laing CLAY, OBE, MID*, Royal West Kent: POW

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by dbf, Aug 23, 2021.

  1. dbf

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    Personal Number: 20181
    Rank: Colonel
    Name: Basil Laing CLAY, OBE, MID*
    Unit: Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment


    London Gazette : 30 June 1920
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31959/supplement/7078/data.pdf
    The undermentioned appts. are made.:—.
    ATTD. TO HD.-QR. UNITS.
    Staff Capts.—And to be temp. Capts. whilst so: empld.:—
    Lt. B. L. Clay, R.W. Kent., vice Capt. C. B. Hetiey, M.C.. W. Rid. E, 19th June 1920.

    London Gazette : 11 December 1925
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33113/page/8199/data.pdf
    R.W.K.—
    Capt. B. L. Clay to be Adjt., vice Capt. E. A. Sharpin. 26th Nov. 1925.

    London Gazette : 27 November 1928
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33442/page/7776/data.pdf
    R.W.K.—
    Lt. P. H. Macklin to be Adjt., vice Capt. B. L. Clay. 26th Nov. 1928.

    Edinburgh Gazette : 6 June 1933
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/14971/page/477/data.pdf
    The King has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:—
    To be Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
    Captain Basil Laing Clay, Indian Army, lately Private Secretary to His Excellency the Governor of Burma.

    London Gazette : 15 September 1933
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33978/page/6018/data.pdf
    The undermentioned appts. have been made in India:—
    Private Sec. to H.E. the Govr. of Burma—
    Capt. B. L. Clay, R.W.K., 18th Aug. 1930.

    London Gazette : 11 October 1945
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37302/supplement/5009/data.pdf
    The KING lias been' graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned for gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
    R.W.K.
    Lt.-Col. (temp.) B. L. CLAY, O.B.E. (20181)

    London Gazette : 19 March 1946
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37503/supplement/1424/data.pdf
    R.W.K.
    Maj. B. L. CLAY, O.B.E. (20181), to be Lt.-Col. (Supem.), 17th Dec. 1945, with an ante date for seniority only to 24th Nov. 1943, and with precedence next below (Lt.-Col. E. A. SHARPIN. (Substituted for the notifn. in Gazette (Supplement) dated 15th Feb. 1946.)

    London Gazette : 21 February 1946
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37476/page/1049/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while Prisoners of War:—
    R.W.K.
    Lt.-Col. (actg.) B. L. CLAY, O.B.E. (20181).

    London Gazette : 19 March 1946
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37503/supplement/1424/data.pdf
    R.W.K.
    Maj. B. L. CLAY, O.B.E. (20181), to be Lt.-Col. (Supem.), i7th Dec. 1945, with an ante date for seniority only to 24th Nov. 1943, and with pre- cedence iiext below (Lt.-Col. E. A. SHARPIN. (Substituted for the notifn. in Gazette (Supplement) dated 15th Feb. 1946.)

    London Gazette : 18 January 1952
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39442/supplement/379/data.pdf
    REGULAR ARMY .
    The undermentioned are restored to the Establishment, 2nd Nov. 1951:—
    Col. B. L. CLAY, O.B.E. (20181) late Inf.

    London Gazette : 1 May 1956
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40766/supplement/2543/data.pdf
    REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS.
    Col. B. L. CLAY, O.B.E. (20181), late Inf., having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res of Offrs., 13th Apr. 1956.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2023
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16666341
    Reference: WO 416/68/330
    Name: Basil Laing Clay.
    Date of Birth: 13/4/1896.
    Place of Birth: Newcastle on Tyne.
    Service: British Army.
    Rank: Private [sic ; Lieutenant-Colonel].
    Regiment/Unit/Squadron: The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.
    Service Number: [20181].
    Date of Capture: [unspecified].
    Date: [1939-1945]
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2023
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    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    PART I.
    GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

    1. No. -
    20181
    RANK - Lt. Col.
    SURNAME - CLAY
    CHRISTIAN NAMES - BASIL LAING
    DECORATIONS - O.B.E.

    2. UNIT (ARMY) -
    ROYAL WEST KENT

    3. DIVISION (ARMY) -

    4. DATE OF BIRTH -
    13 APRIL 1896

    5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT -
    1st Commission 13th September 1914

    6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION -
    REGULAR ARMY

    7. PRIVATE ADDRESS -
    c/o ROACHSMITH COLVEND, HAPSBURY, HERTS

    8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE -
    ALBERT, 20 May 1940

    9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED?
    NO

    10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
    Camp No. / Location / From / Till

    OFLAG VIIC LAUFEN JUNE 1940 - OCT 1941
    OFLAG VIB WARBURG OCT 1941 - JAN 1942
    OFLAG IX A/H SPANGENBURG FEB 1942 - OCT 1943
    OFLAG IX A/Z ROTENBURG OCT 1943 - MAR 1945

    Screenshot 2023-09-25 at 12.05.11.png

    11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
    Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
    -

    12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
    Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration

    NO

    12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?




    GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

    1. No. -
    20181
    RANK - Lt. Col.
    SURNAME - CLAY
    CHRISTIAN NAMES - BASIL LAING


    2. LECTURES before Capture:
    ( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).

    NO
    ( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom).
    NO

    3. INTERROGATION after capture:
    Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).

    Yes, immediately after CAPTURE but No complaints as to METHODS employed.

    4. ESCAPES attempted:
    Did you make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)

    No. OPPORTUNITIES to escape were few and the policy was to allot them to YOUNGER men.

    5. SABOTAGE
    Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc, when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)

    No

    6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
    Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).

    SEE REPORT No. 2181
    POLLOCK especially calls for most careful investigation.

    Screenshot 2023-09-25 at 12.04.39.png

    7. WAR CRIMES
    If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of "Form Q" on which to make your statement.
    (NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coming under this title.)



    GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
    (continued)

    8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?

    SEE PINK FORM
    The actions of OBERST SCHR???ER and OBERST-LIEUT BRIX in regard to final MARCH of IX A/Z, MAR/APR 1945 were calculated to do much damage to health and deliberately ran unnecessary RISKS of serious casualties from ALLIED AIR ATTACK.

    Screenshot 2023-09-25 at 12.09.15.png

    SECURITY UNDERTAKING
    I fully realise that all information relating the matters covered by the questions in Part II. are of a highly secret and official nature.

    I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.

    Date
    17/4/1945
    Signature BL Clay. Lt.Col.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2023
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    Filed with above Report
    CLAY.png

    M.I.9/MA/REP/R/ADD/2734.

    P.W.2
    D.D.M.I. (P/W) (Awards Section

    The following is an extract from a letter received from Major E.J.A.H. BRUSH:-
    "25 Apr 45.

    I would like to bring to your notice the unceasing work of Lt.-Col. B. CLAY, O.B.E., R. West Kent Regt., in combatting the German efforts to evacuate OFLAG IX A/Z to an unoccupied area of GERMANY between 29 Mar - 13 Apr 45, finally refusing the German order to march, with resulted in our recapture; as Senior Officer his fine efforts cannot be brought to your notice except by those who served under him, such as myself. Lt.-Col. R. DUNAN, M.C. Welch Ret., will corroborate this statement".

    Signed ?A C ALLAN, Lieut.-Colonel

    M.I.9.
    Ext 1296.
    13 Jul 45.


    [Hand-witten annotations:]
    Is there a report for Lt Col CLAY?
    No report
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2023
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