2363901 Signalman Clifford Robert DALE, Royal Corps of Signals attached 201 Guards Brigade: POW

Date of Enlistment: 15 September 1939
Army Number: 2363901
Rank: Signalman
Name: Clifford Robert DALE
Unit: Royal Corps of Signals attached 201 Guards Brigade

Date of Birth: 25 June 1915
Place of Birth:

POW Number:
Date of Capture: 20 June 1942
Place of Capture: Tobruk

 

Name: Clifford [R] Dale . Date of Birth: [unspecified] . | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/86/440
Name: Clifford [R] Dale.
Date of Birth: [unspecified].
Note: Additional personal information will be made available in the description when this record is opened.
Date: [1939-1945]
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Closure status: Closed Or Retained Document, Open Description
Access conditions: Closed Until 2028
Record opening date: 01 January 2028

 

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

1. No. 2363901
RANK - SIGNALMAN
SURNAME - DALE
CHRISTIAN NAMES - CLIFFORD ROBERT
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 201 GUARDS BRIGADE SIGNALS

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 25/6/1918

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 15/9/39

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - INSPECTION DEPT. MUNITIONS

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 182 ELMBRIDGE AV., SURBITON, SURREY, ENGLAND

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - TOBRUK 20/6/42

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
[CAMPO] PG 73 CARPI ITALY SEPT. 42 - SEPT. 43
[STALAG] IVA ARB. KDO. 1155 GERMANY SEPT. 43 - APRIL 45


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
ARB. KDO. 1155 RIESA SEPT. 43 - APRIL 45 WAGON LOADING


12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
-
12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
-


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. 2363901
RANK - SIGNALMAN
SURNAME - DALE
CHRISTIAN NAMES - CLIFFORD ROBERT


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).
YES. ON BOARD SHIP OCT. 41
CAPT. BEATTIE ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS, 1st ARM. DIV.
( 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).
NO

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?)
ESCAPED FROM COLUMN OF P.O.W. at STREHLA (ELBE) WITH 8 OTHERS: AT 1am APRIL 22nd 1945. MAKING OUR WAY TO WURZEN MEETING A PATROL OF THE AMERICAN 69 DIV, 1st ARMY ENTERING THE TOWN. ROWING ACROSS THE RIVER MULDE TO THE MAIN FORCE ON APRIL 24th 1945. FOR EVACUATION. (see over)


ARB. KDO. 1155, RIESA/ELBE
FELLOW POW's WHO I ESCAPED WITH / POW NUMBER
G. BALLS 247693
J. FERRANT 247658
J. KENNEDY 247657
J. DUNBAR 247765
W. MAYNARD 247764
S. ROSS 247723
N. FOSTER 247686
J. MORRIS 247685





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.)
IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE i.e. PUTTING SAND INTO THE AXLE BOXES OF WAGONS, POWDERED GLASS INTO CATTLE FOOD. SPREADING PROPAGANDA AMONGST THE GERMAN WORKERS CONTACTED.


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).
NO

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 coning 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?
-


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 13/5/45
Signature C.R. Dale

 

See also:

• Escape Companions -
• T/162687 Driver James Alexander ARMITAGE, 903 Company RASC attached 200 Guards Brigade: POW
  
• 2355757 Signalman James DUNBAR, Royal Corps of Signals attached 201 Guards Brigade: POW
  
• 6019978 Private Joseph FERRANT, 2/5 Battalion Essex Regiment: POW
  
• 6850341 Rifleman Charles Ernest GUNNER, 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps: POW

 

Well done Diane on pulling these connected POW questionnaires together.

This chap says he reached US forces 24th April yet he completes his questionnaire 13th May. I expect there were restrictions on transport for POW to airfields in the rear along L of C until 8th May and that delayed the speedy repatriation of POW pre VE Day.


Steve

PS

I hope you haven’t been affected by the NI floods in recent days. I saw BBC NI lunchtime news today and saw Downpatrick town centre is still under water while it has receded in Newry.

 

From other forms I've seen there def was some chain of transport to ex-POW reception camps in Theatre first, certainly in Italy, for treatment and processing I suppose.



Thanks, no problems here, Steve. I live on a hill.