2875387 Corporal William James Kelvin BREMNER, 1 Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch): POW, E&E

Army Number: 2875387
Rank: Cpl
Name: William James Kelvin BREMNER
Unit: 1st Bn TYNESIDE SCOTTISH (BLACK WATCH)

 

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

1. No. - 2875387
RANK - Cpl
SURNAME - Bremner
CHRISTIAN NAMES - William James Kelman
DECORATIONS - Palestine Medal

2. UNIT (ARMY) - 1st Bn Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch RHR)

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 51 Div

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 4/11/1914

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 7/7/33

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - No

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - Mrs R. Robb, 69 North Street, Montrose, Angus, Scotland

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - Arras 20th May 1940

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? Yes

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
STALAG 21 B Posen May 1940 - November 1940
STALAG 21 B Gratz Nov 1940 - June 1941
STALAG 21 E/Z Gratz June 1941 - November 1941
STALAG 21 B Posen November 1941 - July 1944
STALAG 8 B Teschen July 1944 - January 1945

11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
Posen 1941 - 1944
Tarnowitch [Tarnowitz] 1944 - 1945

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?
No


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. - 2875387
RANK - Cpl.
SURNAME - Bremner
CHRISTIAN NAMES - William James Kilman


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).
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?)
When the Germans evacuated TARNOWITCH [Tarnowitz] they marched us with them. Two days later two companions and myself escaped into the woods. Cpl UDY, Sgt WALDREN in German lines for 2 days and then Russian Lines.

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 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?
After Cpl UDY, Sgt WALDREN and myself got into the Russian Lines no help was given at all and I had a bad leg with the marching but was told to march on. Got back to
TARNOWITCH [Tarnowitz] where I was looked after by a Polish family for 5 Month who did everything possible for me.
General Questionnaire Part II
No. 8 Name of family who looked after me and who I would like to see repaid was,
P. Morawiec, Tarnowskie Góry, W Karfantigo 2,, P. Tarn - Gory, Woj G.P. S. Polska
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 7/6/1945

information describing behind Russian Lines.
Polish people are being driven out of their houses and Ukraines are taking everything from them and shooting them. Russians troops are illiterate, officers talking about the coming War with ENGLAND and AMERICA. Anti Tank guns, big guns, petrol. Troops are massing behind the Mulde at:- More details later, no maps available.
Factory are all destroyed. Double track railways are put out of action only leaving a single line for transport of Troop and material, forward towards the River Mulde, machines in the coal pits are being taken out and transported back to Russia and pits being filled with water. Hindenburg fortified. A.K. have no supplies. P.T.O.
Polish people are wating for ENGLAND to help them and will rise up against the Russians when given help. They get no food off the Russians. Meat and fat they have not had since the Russians entered the Country.
[Annotation in different handwriting:] Note by MI9:- You may consider re interrogation.


Signature William JK Bremner

 

Name: William [J R] Bremner . Date of Birth: 4 November 1912 . Place of Birth: Peterhead... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/41/67
Name: William [J R] Bremner.
Date of Birth: 4 November 1912.
Place of Birth: Peterhead.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Corporal.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: 1 Tyne Side Scottish [The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)].
Service Number: 2875387.
Date of Capture: 20 May 1940.
Theatre of Capture: France.
Camp Name/Number: Stalag XXIB Schubin.
PoW number: 1168.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 1.
Number of Fingerprints: 1.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 4.
Date: [1939-1945]