56090 Major John George LAWSON, MBE, MiD, Royal Army Medical Corps: POW

Personal Number: 56090
Rank: Major
Name: John George LAWSON, MB, MBE, MiD
Unit: Welsh Guards

Date of Birth: 13/06/1905
Place of Birth: Sunderland

POW Number: 595
POW Camp: Oflag VII C

Date of Capture: 30/05/1940
Place of Capture: Watou, Belgium


Embodied from TA 31 August 1939

London Gazette : 25 October 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37321/supplement/5212/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant arid distinguished services in the field: —
Royal Army Medical Corps.
Capt. J. G. LAWSON, M.B. (56090).

London Gazette : 20 December 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37396/supplement/6188/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while prisoners of war:—
To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
Major John George LAWSON, M.B. (56090), Royal Army Medical Corps (Birmingham).

 

Name: John George Lawson . Date of Birth: 13/06/1905 . Place of Birth: Sunderland . ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/218/287
Name: John George Lawson.
Date of Birth: 13/06/1905.
Place of Birth: Sunderland.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Major.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [Royal Army Medical Corps].
Service Number: 56090.
Date of Capture: 30/05/1940.
Theatre of Capture: Watou.
Camp Name/Number: Oflag VII C, Laufen.
PoW number: 595.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 2.

 

via Ancestry

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

1. No. 56090
RANK - MAJOR
SURNAME - LAWSON
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN GEORGE
DECORATIONS - 39/43 [Star]

2. UNIT (ARMY) - 143 FIELD AMBULANCE RAMC

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 48th

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 16/6/06

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - EMBODIED FROM TA 31/8/39

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - MEDICAL PRACTIONER

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 1 MAYFIELD ROAD, HANDSWORTH, BIRMINGHAM

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - 1/6/40

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
OFLAG VII C LAUFEN, SALZBURG 6/40 - 12/40
STALAG XXI D POSEN, POLAND 12/40 - 5/44
STALAG 344 LAMSDORF, SILESIA 5/44 - 3/45
STALAG XIII D NUREMBURG 3/45 - 4/45
STALAG VII C MOOSBURG, BAVARIA 4/45 - 5/45


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP? YES
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
AS ABOVE / / CAMP MEDICAL OFFICER & SBMO STALAG XXI D


12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
NIL

12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
NIL


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. 56090
RANK - MAJOR
SURNAME - LAWSON
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN GEORGE


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 yo 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

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).
The conduct of SGT. F. G. McLARDY, P/W 12948. REG. No. 7522956, RAMC, whilst at GENSHAGEN STALAG III D & whilst working nr Berlin gave cause for suspicion of Collaboration.CONT. NEXT SHEET
6/ Cont.
On return to STALAG XXI D in January/44 Sgt. McLARDY volunteered a statement to C.S.M. BUNCE, C/Man of Confidence, see copy attached. In view of previous suspicion & the above statement I ordered that Sgt. McLARDY should report to me, this he failed to carry out, and as a result was put on charge, which was read to him by Capt. LANSDELL RAMC, Medical Officer of another camp nr STALAG XXI D to which he was removed.
Within 2 days Sgt. McLARDY was removed from the Stalag, and within a few days an order was issued that NO POW Officers or WO could place another POW on a charge. Copies of Statement of Evidence & Charge Sheet attached.



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.)
Copies of all enclosure sent to M.I.5.


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
German Medical supplies to Working Camps were totally inadequate, we were almost dependent on Red Cross supplies.


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 11/5/45
Signature JG Lawson


Note by MI9/19. Originals of all enclosures - viz: Army form B. 252, Statement of Evidence forum & a signed 1 page statement - relating to Sgt. McLARDY, all sent to MI5 15/12/45 to be ?

 

London Gazette : 25 October 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37321/supplement/5212/data.pdf

 

Recommendation for Award for Lawson, J G Rank: Major Service No: 56090 ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/87/295
Name Lawson, J G
Rank: Major
Service No: 56090
Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Services While Prisoners of War
Award: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 20 December 1945

 

See also:

• 2732435 Guardsman Abel James PROSSER, 2 Welsh Guards: POW
• "Fus. RIGBY was shot for whistling on the way to work, while at POSEN, POLAND. Stalag XXI D. Full particulars are with Major LAWSON, R.A.M.C."
  
• 
  
• 3451512 Fusilier Vernon RIGBY, 1/8 Lancashire Fusiliers: POW, 16/04/1944
• 7522956 Serjeant Francis G McLARDY, Royal Army Medical Corps: POW ; BFC