2927900 Corporal Howard Herbert Cosens BUTLER, South Lancashire Regiment & SBS: POW

Army Number: 2927900
Rank: Corporal
Name: Howard Herbert Cosens BUTLER
Unit: South Lancashire Regiment ; Special Boat Service

 

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Name: Howard Herbert Gosens BUTLER
Date of Birth: 26 Dec 1919
Date of Enlistment: 15 Apr 1940
Date of Capture: 12 Aug 1942
Place of Capture: Catania, Sicily


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

1. No. - 2927900
RANK - CPL.
SURNAME - BUTLER
CHRISTIAN NAMES - HOWARD HERBERT COSENS
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGT. (SPECIAL BOAT SECTION)

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - SPECIAL SERVICE

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 26/12/1918

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 15/4/1940

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - BUS CLEANER (LIVERPOOL CORPORATION TRANSPORT)

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 9 NEWHOUSE ROAD, WAVERTREE, LIVERPOOL 15, ENGLAND

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - CATANIA, SICILY, 12/8/1942

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
PG 78 SULMONA ITALY 19/9/42 - 25/9/43
STALAG IV B MüHLBERG SAXONY GERMANY 31/10/43 23/4/45

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


12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
-


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. - 2927900
RANK - CPL.
SURNAME - BUTLER
CHRISTIAN NAMES - HOWARD HERBERT COSENS


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).
-
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom).
-

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
YES. CATANIA, SICILY. 12/8/42 & IN ROME. THREATENING AND INTENSIVE QUESTIONING.


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?)
YES. After Capitulation of ITALY in 1943, attempted to reach Allied lines. Recaptured by German 1st Parachute Division, 2 days later in the AQUILLA area. My companion was BDR. A. J. OAKES, 906078 who was recaptured with me.


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 agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, 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.
(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?
YES. THE NON-ARRIVAL OF NUMEROUS PERSONAL CLOTHING & CIGARETTE PARCELS SENT TO Ps.O.W. BY RELATIVES. OF THE NUMBER SENT TO BRITISH Ps.O.W. BOTH IN ITALY & GERMANY ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE WERE EVER RECEIVED.


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 24/5/45
Signature H H C Butler

 

See also:

• Escape Companion - 906078 Bombardier Alan John OAKES, 67 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery: POW