I would be grateful for assistance with any information on 6029096 Private Douglas Haig Andrews 2/5th Battalion Essex Regiment. Likely captured at Deir-el-Shein on 1 Jul 42 when his battalion was overrun in the actions before the First Battle of El Alamein. He died on 22 (or 23) Jan 43 at Fermo Ascoli, possibly whilst a Prisoner of War at PG 70 Monte Urano. CWGC reports his burial at Fermo and subsequent reburial in the Ancona Cemetery. Our village church recently closed and we moved the War memorial tablet to the Village Hall and we are planning a simple rededication Service. We have collected information on all 9 casualties but do not know the circumstances of Douglas Andrew's death. Any guidance or where to search would be welcome. Thank You
Julian, Welcome aboard. Others may come along and help. Always apply for his Service Record, even if the turnaround is reported as a year plus now. See: Request records of deceased service personnel Upload the records here once you've obtained them and then the forum can get to work on them. Please do not pay for any site on the internet who promise you his service records they will not have them, and you would have wasted your money.
When investigating prisoner of war burials in Ancona War Cemetery a few years ago I was told by CWGC that Pte. Andrews had been brought into Ancona from Fermo Civil Cemetery. He possibly died in the Military hospital. The concentration form shows that there was some doubt about which was his name and which was his surname and there were no regimental details. Unusually, there was information about his parents. You really need to get hold of his Prisoner of war record - it may reveal more information than his general service record and there's no charge. Also, it's not written in military shorthand and you can understand it immediately. If you visit the website of the International Red Cross you will discover their next opening date for the release of POW records. You have to get your request in straight after they open - by this I mean within minutes - otherwise you will have to wait another three or months. The International Red Cross would have commented on his death in their Camp Inspection - they inspected the hospitals as well as the camp if any POWs had been admitted. Here's the document you would need: The National Archives Reference: WO 361/1901 Description: Prisoners of war, Italy: Camp 70, Monte Urano; International Red Cross reports on conditions Date: 1942 Nov 01 - 1943 Sep 30 Let us know what you find out, Regards, Vitellino
