2719919 Guardsman John Cecil BUCKNELL, 2 Irish Guards: PoW

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Mar 17, 2013.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Army Number: 2719919
    Rank: Guardsman
    Name: John Cecil BUCKNELL
    Unit: 2 Irish Guards
    Theatre: France 1940
    POW Number: 6651
    Date of Capture: 26/04/1940
    Place of Capture: Boulogne
    Camp: Stalag 344
    TNA Reference: WO 344

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2019
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    WO 344


    PART I
    General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

    1. No.: 2719919
    Rank: Guardsman
    Surname: BUCKNELL
    Christian Names: John Cecil
    Decorations: 1939 - 1943 Star

    2. Unit (Army): 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS
    3. Division (Army): -

    4. Date of Birth: 10 September 1920
    5. Date of Enlistment: December 1939
    6. Civilian Trade: -
    7. Private Address: 11 Hedl-Y-Felin Rhiwbina, Cardiff, S. WALES

    8. Place of Capture: Boulogne, FRANCE
    Date of Capture: 26 May 1940

    9. Were you Wounded when Captured:
    No

    10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
    Camp No. Location From & To

    Stalag 20A Thorn, Poland, 1940 - 1940
    Stalag IIIA Friesack, Berlin 1940 - 1940
    Stalag 21D Posen, Poland 1941 - 1942
    Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf, Germany 1942 - 1944
    Stalag 20A Thorn, Poland 1944 - 1945

    11. Were you in a Working Camp?
    Location From & To Nature of Work
    Briesen, Poland 1940 - 1940 Farm
    Ratleor Ob S? 1943 - 1943 Leather Factory

    12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
    -
    Nature of Illness Cause Duration
    -

    Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
    -


    PART II

    2. Lectures before Capture
    (State where, when and by whom)

    (a) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave in the event of capture?:
    Yes, in England, British Officer, 1940.
    (b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
    -

    3. Interrogation after Capture
    (State where, when and methods employed by enemy)

    Were you specially interrogated by the enemy?:
    No

    4. Escapes attempted.
    Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
    (Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when captured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to our companions?)
    Seven escapes from different camps.
    I was sometimes away for days - sometimes weeks.

    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).
    -

    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 against other Allied PoWS?
    -
    (Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
    -

    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.
    -

    [hr]

    [n.b. I don't have the last page, so this section remains blank]
    8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?



    SECURITY UNDERTAKING.
    I fully realised that all information relating to 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 of Signature:
     
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    PERSONAL INFORMATION
    Name: BUCKNELL, John Cecil
    DOB: 10th September 1920
    Place of Birth: Camberwell, London
    Residence: as at 1945 - 11 Hedl-Y-Felin Rhiwbina, Cardiff, S. WALES
    Parents: Ellis Bucknell and Annie E Bucknell nee Summerton
    Died: 2007 1st Quarter, aged 87, Leeds, Yorkshire
    Wife: Doreen C Bucknell nee Phelan; married Leeds 1957, 1st Quarter
    Photo:


    SERVICE
    Army/Personal Number: 2719919
    Rank: Guardsman
    Regiment/Battalion: Irish Guards, 2nd Battalion
    As at 01/09/1939:
    Enlisted: December, 1939
    Discharged:
    Promotions:
    Aquittance Roll:
    Soldier's Will:
    Pre-embarkation list, May 1944: Ref


    Army Casualty List (WO 417):
    2719919 Guardsman Bucknell J 1940 Irish Guards
    2719919 Guardsman Bucknell J 1940 Irish Guards
    2719919 Guardsman Bucknell J 1945 Irish Guards

    The Times Casualty List:
    Published 16th July 1940, Missing - Guardsman Bucknell J.
    Published 16th October 1940, Previously reported missing, now reported Prisoner of War - Guardsman Bucknell J.


    PRISONER/MISSING
    Prisoner of War Number: 6651
    Date of Capture: 26th May 1940
    Place of Capture: Boulogne, FRANCE
    Camp Details & Dates:
    Stalag 20A Thorn, Poland, 1940 - 1940
    Stalag IIIA Friesack, Berlin 1940 - 1940
    Stalag 21D Posen, Poland 1941 - 1942
    Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf, Germany 1942 - 1944
    Stalag 20A Thorn, Poland 1944 - 1945

    POW Liberation Report: see below
    Missing Personnel File Details:


    MEDALS
    Campaign Medals: 1939 - 1945 Star
    Medal Roll Details:


    REFERENCES
    War Diaries:

    Reports:
    Report on Evacuation of Boulogne: 20 Guards Brigade
    Report on 2nd Bn Welsh Guards at Boulogne

    Archive Files: WO 417
    WW2Talk: 2nd Battalion Irish Guards.
    Publications:
    Accounts: Recollections related to the Irish Guards at Boulogne, 1940
    Newspaper:
    Websites:
    Irish Guards: Prisoners of War - WWII Open Resource Group
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2019
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Irish Guards Liberated Prisoner of War Interrogation Questionnaires

    WO 344


    PART I
    General Questionnaire for British Ex-Prisoners of War

    1. No.: 2719919
    Rank:
    Guardsman
    Surname: BUCKNELL
    Christian Names: John Cecil
    Decorations: 1939 - 1943 Star

    2. Unit (Army): 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS
    3. Division (Army): -

    4. Date of Birth: 10 September 1920
    5. Date of Enlistment: December 1939
    6. Civilian Trade: -
    7. Private Address: 11 Hedl-Y-Felin Rhiwbina, Cardiff, S. WALES

    8. Place of Capture: Boulogne, FRANCE
    Date of Capture: 26 May 1940

    9. Were you Wounded when Captured:
    No

    10. Main Camps or Hospitals in which imprisoned
    Camp No. Location From & To

    Stalag 20A Thorn, Poland, 1940 - 1940
    Stalag IIIA Friesack, Berlin 1940 - 1940
    Stalag 21D Posen, Poland 1941 - 1942
    Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf, Germany 1942 - 1944
    Stalag 20A Thorn, Poland 1944 - 1945

    11. Were you in a Working Camp?
    Location From & To Nature of Work

    Briesen, Poland 1940 - 1940 Farm
    Ratleor Ob S? 1943 - 1943 Leather Factory

    12. Did you suffer from any Serious Illnesses while a P/W?:
    -
    Nature of Illness Cause Duration
    -

    Did you receive adequate Medical Treatment?:
    -


    PART II

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

    Yes, in England, British Officer, 1940.
    (b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion?:
    -

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

    No

    4. Escapes attempted.
    Did you make any attempted or party successful escapes?
    (Give details of each attempt separately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, where and when captured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to our companions?)

    Seven escapes from different camps.
    I was sometimes away for days - sometimes weeks.

    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).
    -

    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 against other Allied PoWS?

    -
    (Give details, names of person(s) concerned, camp(s), dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
    -

    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.

    -

    [hr]

    [n.b. I don't have the last page, so this section remains blank]
    8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?



    SECURITY UNDERTAKING.
    I fully realised that all information relating to 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 of Signature:
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2019

Share This Page