2721600 Serjeant John ROBERTS, 1 Irish Guards: POW, E&E

Date of Enlistment: 1940
Army Number: 2721600
Rank: Serjeant
Name: John ROBERTS
Unit: 1 Irish Guards

Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:

Date of Capture:
Place of Capture: Medjez El Bab, Tunisia

POW Number:
POW Camps: Campo PG 53

Date of Escape: 15 September 1943
Place of Escape: Macerata

irish guards, prisoners of war, irish guards - prisoners of war, wo 416, wo 208, campo pg 53, macerata, italy, 1943

 

Name: John Roberts . Rank: Sergeant , 2721600, 1st Battalion Irish Guards . Captured:... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 208/5401/32
Name: John Roberts.
Rank: Sergeant, 2721600, 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
Captured: Medjez El Bab, date not specified.
Escaped or Liberated from: PG 53 Macerata, 15 September 1943.

Other names mentioned:

• Captain Frewin, RAMC;
• F/ Sgt. Stein,
• Sergeant Roberts,
• Private Timpson;
• General Kessetring.

Includes report and cover sheet.
Date: 1943 Nov 18

 

• 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS - North Africa, Missing Personnel file
• 2721128 Alan DUCKWORTH, 1 Irish Guards

COPY

2721600 Lance-Sergeant J. ROBERTS,
IRISH GUARDS,
No. 1 A.S.C.
Matlock Bath,
Derbyshire.

11 January 1944

The Under Secretary of State
The War Office,
LIVERPOOL 15.


Dear Sir,

Ref: MNA/54 (Casualties L.)

Re the enquiry on 2721128 Lance-Corporal DUCKWORTH.

I was taken prisoner on 24/3/43, four days before DUCKWORTH was declared missing, and can therefore supply on negative and hearsay information.

The custom in the IRISH GUARDS was publish details to the battalion of any incidents which occurred on patrols. Therefore the survivors of an action made by No. 2 Company IRISH GUARDS who joined me in a P.O.W. Transit Camp in TUNIS, on about 30/3/43 were able to tell me that DUCKWORTH had failed to return off patrol and was believed to have been killed.

I was in this Transit Camp until about 6/4/43 and during that time DUCKWORTH was not brought in as a prisoner of war. Later during my captivity I met more IRISH GUARDS who had been wounded and were P.O.Ws. in action. None of them knew anything about DUCKWORTH beyond the account published to the battalion.

I have never since met anyone who had either seen or heard anything of the missing man. This is all I know on the subject.

Yours faithfully
signed
J. ROBERTS, L/Sgt.

Original filed MNA/OR/119333 L/Cpl DUCKWORTH.

 

See also:

• Name: T Mackie . Rank: Sergeant , 7518944, 149 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps... | The National Archives

Reference: WO 208/3344/116
Name: T Mackie.
Rank: Sergeant, 7518944, 149 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Captured: Fuka, 29 June 1942.
Escaped or Liberated: PG 53 Macerata, 15 September 1943.
Decoration recommendation: Mention [in Despatches].

Other names mentioned: ​

• Sergeant J Saunders New Zealand Infantry,
• Private J Thompson Royal Army Medical Corps,
• Captain Hannah Royal Army Medical Corps,
• Flight Sergeant J R Stein Royal Air Force,
• S/Sergeant E Rimmel Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers,
• Sergeant J McSherry 72nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery,
• Lance Sergeant J Leaney Royal Artillery,
• Private Washburn Royal Army Ordnance Corps,
• Driver Kelly Royal Army Service Corps,
• Lance Corporal Evans Royal Army Service Corps,
• Private J Timson Commandos,
• Sergeant J Roberts Irish Guards.

Date: 1944 Jan 26​