27492 Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry NEEDHAM, DSO, 28 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: POW

Date of Commission: 20 May 1917
Personal Number: 27492
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Name: John Henry NEEDHAM, DSO
Unit: 28 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

Date of Birth: 10 November 1895
Place of Birth: Congleton

Date of Capture: 6 June 1942
Place of Capture: North Africa

POW Number: 1243
POW Camps: Campo PG 29, Oflag VIIIF, Oflag 79


London Gazette : 29 May 1917
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30100/supplement/5310/data.pdf
SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.
The undermentioned, from Officers Cadet Units, to be 2nd Lts.: —
ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.
20th May 1917.
John Henry Needham

London Gazette : 20 February 1934
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34025/page/1156/data.pdf
ROYAL ARTILLERY.
53rd (Bolton) Fd. Bde.—
Capt. J. H. Needham,. R.A., vacates the appt. of Adjt. 1st Feb. 1934.

London Gazette : 10 January 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37425/supplement/379/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in (recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East in 1942:—
The Distinguished Service Order.
Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) John Henry NEEDHAM (27492), Royal Regiment of Artillery (West Kirby).

 

Name: John [H] Needham . Date of Birth: 10/11/1895 . Place of Birth: Congleton . ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/269/99
Name: John [H] Needham.
Date of Birth: 10/11/1895.
Place of Birth: Congleton.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [Royal Artillery].
Service Number: 27492.
Date of Capture: [unspecified].
Theatre of Capture: [unspecified].
Camp Name/Number: Oflag VIIIF Mahrisch-Trubau.
PoW number: 1243.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 3.

 

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

1. No. 27492
RANK - LT.-COLONEL
SURNAME - NEEDHAM
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN HENRY
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - 28 Fd. Regt. R.A.

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 5th INDIAN DIV.

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 10 NOV. 95

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT -

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION -

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - c/o MIDLAND BANK Ltd., HOYLAKE, Cheshire

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - BIR EL TAMAR, NORTH AFRICA, 6 June 42

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - YES slightly, R. Hand, L. Knee

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
Campo No. 29 PIANCENZA ITALY JUL. 42 - SEPT. 43
OFLAGs VIIIF & 79 MAHRISH TRUBAU & BRUNSWICK DEC. 43 - AUG 44


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
NO

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. 27492
RANK - LT. COLONEL
SURNAME - NEEDHAM
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN HENRY


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 but I talked to me unit on this matter in India & later in Africa
( 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?)
No - except on Italian Armistice in Sep 43 when my S.B.O. of Campo 29 allowed me to do so.
Recaptured late Nov. 43. Yes, physically fit. My companion went to SWITZERLAND.


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).
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?
Since Aug 44 I have been in the Holiday Camp at STEINBURG, BAVARIA. Had no propaganda. Was well treated in this Camp. Was S.B.O. of this Camp in Sept. 43 & again from Feb. 45 to date of repatriation. It was a good camp with NO barbed wire & practically 100% freedom.
[annotated: MI5]


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 12 May 45
Signature JH Needham, Lt Colonel, R.A.

 

Recommendation for Award for Needham, John Henry Rank: Lieutenant Colonel ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/47/531
Name Needham, John Henry
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 27492
Regiment: Royal Artillery
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Middle East (Egypt and Libya)
Award: Distinguished Service Order
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 10 January 1946

 

See also:

• 38457 Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Maurice Carstairs JONES-MORTIMER, 2 Welsh Guards: POW
• https://www.rfawestlancs.info/awards
  
• "Mentioned in Despatches, 276 Brigade - 680561 Gnr John Henry Needham (later commissioned A/Capt)"
• Medal card of Needham, John Henry Corps: Royal Field Artillery Regiment No: ... | The National Archives
  
• Reference: WO 372/14/189560
  Medal card of Needham, John Henry
  Corps Regiment No Rank
  Royal Field Artillery 2001 Gunner
  Royal Field Artillery 680561 Gunner
  Royal Field Artillery Second Lieutenant
  Royal Field Artillery Acting Captain