88th Regiment HAA Battery 282

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Sidswar, Mar 7, 2019.

  1. Sidswar

    Sidswar Active Member

    Hi, that's great and I would certainly like to hear more. Do you know when and where your Great Uncle enlisted? My dad joined the Territorial Army reservists of the 88th Regiment at White City on 20th April 1939 and was called up for actual military service on 24th August.
    Many thanks
     
  2. Tree

    Tree Member

    Hi, there’s not a specific date, just early April 1939 at White City. They were warned on the evening of August 23rd at evening drill that mobilisation was imminent and a telegram arrived the next day ordering them to report to White City. I’ll let you know what else I discover with regards to what happened when they left the Italian camp. Best Wishes
     
  3. Tree

    Tree Member

    Hi, I’ve read a little more and found a reference to a Bunting. When they left the camp in Italy approx 200 men hid in a ditch for 11 days and Bunting was one of these. My Great Uncle, along with his brother and four other men Ernie Reed, Godfrey ‘Nobby’ Snow, Alf Clarke and Robbo Robinson (not part of the same Battery) then spent 2-3 months hiding in a farmer’s cave before being recaptured. So far he seems to have been in Stalag VIIA Moosburg and Muhlberg Stalag IVB. No mention of your father so far, I will let you know.
     
  4. Sidswar

    Sidswar Active Member

    Hi Tree,
    That's really interesting as I have a couple of photos of my dad with his mate, Bunt who I think is E A Bunting. I also know my dad was recaptured by the Germans and taken by train from Mantova, through the Brenner Pass to Moosburg. He was then held in Stalag VIiA before being moved to Altengrabow Stalag X1A where he was liberated from.
     
  5. Tree

    Tree Member

    I see, so it’s likely they were in the Moosburg camp together. Following capture my Great Uncle was returned to the camp they’d escaped from, then onto Camp 77 in Perugia. They then travelled by train via Roseheim, Innsbruck, Brenner Pass to the Moosburg camp before moving again to Muhlberg Stalag IVB. I think there are a few more moves coming up, but I need to read it properly. I’ll let you know if there’s anything that maybe of interest to you
     
  6. Sidswar

    Sidswar Active Member

    From what I've read approximately 50,000 allied troops escaped when the Italian Armistice was signed. The Germans then set about recapturing them and those recaptured were held at Mantova before being moved to Germany. Apparently Moosburg was a transit camp and POWs were held there before being dispersed to other camps. Does your Great Uncle mention anything about being transported on a train in Italy which was bombed by allied aircraft? This happened to my dad and I understand there were 2 such instances, one at Acquila and the other at Allerona. I dont know which one he was present at so I wondered if you could shed any light on it.
     
  7. Tree

    Tree Member

    When he travelled by train from the Perugia camp to Moosburg he mentions an American fighter bomber circling the train a couple of times, but it never fired so I can’t help you there I’m afraid. He and the other men were recaptured at the end of November after leaving the Italian camp in September and during that time he mentions hearing of other men being captured. Apparently the day my Great Uncle was recaptured was the last day the Germans were going to search due to lack of manpower, but as my Great Uncle wrote, they may not have survived the winter in the cave if that had not been found then. After I have finished reading the account I would love to try and trace the Italian family who helped him so much during those two and a half months. I hope you have more luck with your research, and if your father’s name crops up I will of course let you know.
     
  8. Sidswar

    Sidswar Active Member

    Many thanks.
     
  9. Sidswar

    Sidswar Active Member

    Hi Tree,

    Would you have any photos of your Great Uncle and his comrades that you could share? I have a few other photos of my dad and his pals in the desert so it would be interesting to see if there are any matches in the faces.
    Many thanks
     
  10. Tree

    Tree Member

    Hi, I’m afraid we don’t have any photos of my Great Uncle with his comrades. We are related by his marriage to my Great Aunt so I don’t know if any photos from that era ended up with his side of the family
     
  11. Sidswar

    Sidswar Active Member

    So if he was present would you recognise him in the photos I've posted?
     
  12. Tree

    Tree Member

    I will look at them on a computer and see if we can recognise him. I’m on a phone usually so it’s hard to see. I’ll let you know, thanks
     

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