Desertion - 56 Military Prison

Hi, I am researching my Grandfather's war service and finally after a long time waiting received his service record, which unfortunately has prompted more questions than answers!

It appears that my Grandfather whilst serving in North Africa with the York and Lancaster Regiment deserted and was convicted of such at a subsequent court martial and sentenced to 3 years penal servitude.

The record suggests he was only gone for two days which although I appreciate there was a war on did seem harsh. Regardless, he served 282 days before release and went on to serve in Italy and after the war in Austria and remained in service until 1947 and reached the rank of War Service Corporal. So on that basis it seems all was forgiven!

The date of the actual court martial was 04/03/1944, the sentence was confirmed by Lt.General Richard McCREERY the date's of the desertion was 09/02/1944 - 11/02/1944 he was a 20 year old man at this time.

A couple of questions which I hope someone may help with -

1. Where can one go to try and find records of court martial?
2. Where would 56 Military prison have been
3. He arrived in North Africa it appears on 13/12/1943, would anyone know where in North Africa the York and Lanc would have been based?
4. Also do the numbers in a service number relate to anything in particular his service number in the record is written with apostrophes - 14,406,639.

Any help or pointers would be greatfully received.

Best wishes

Steve

 

Welcome to the forum
If you shared his name and service records perhaps forum members could add more info

 

My Grandfather was named Victor Joseph Lawrence NICHOLLS and file is attached.

 

I imagine that this was just a clerical method of ensuring all the numbers were there - perhaps making sure they didn't skip a digit.
He'd been placed into General Service Corps upon commencement of his service and was therefore allocated a number from within that block allocation
Army Number Block Allocations
General Service Corps 14200001 - 15000000

Below are links for two files, held at TNA Kew, relating to 55 and 56 Military Prisons. They are both dated 1943. (Some files held by TNA can be catalogued incorrectly, even if they aren't, these might hold some clue as to location by 1944.) Others might be able to find more relevant files.

Just to clarify - to me, the entry on the service records looks like 55.


Corps of Military Police: 56 Military Prison and Detention Barracks (CMP) | The National Archives
Reference: WO 169/13303
Description: Corps of Military Police: 56 Military Prison and Detention Barracks (CMP)
Date: 1943 Apr.- Dec.

Corps of Military Police: 55 Military Prison and Detention Barracks (CMP) | The National Archives
Reference: WO 169/13302
Description:
Corps of Military Police: 55 Military Prison and Detention Barracks (CMP)
Date: 1943 Apr.- Dec.


Good luck with your research.

Other threads which might be of interest

• When Did 'AWOL' Become 'Desertion'?
• Desertion & King's Regs
• Court martial records

 

Thank you so much for this, really appreciated

 

Thanks, I agree it does look more like 55 now you have expanded it. Am greatful for the pointers as well.

 

Following on from your good work regarding the prisons dbf, logically 55 and 56 can only be Cairo and Jerusalem; But which is which?

1940 list, courtesy National Library of Scotland (Army Quarterly Lists).

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

P.S. And agreed, service record entry definitely looks like "55".

 

Hi,

If you use the forum search facility for 6th York & Lancaster there are numerous hits including -

6th Y&L Diary Of Events 1943 45 033 | WW2Talk

This will give you an indication of the difficult activities of his unit around the time he deserted.

Unless the file has been culled there is likely to be documents in his file about his FGCM and time in military prison that have been withheld under FOI.

I have seen court martial evidence in findmypast service files for Scots Guards personnel tried by FGCM in Italy 1944. Additionally some military custody papers, including the review of sentence papers, were in the files. The men served their sentences in Italy.

It was not unusual to see early release for men who had been compliant and similarly if they performed satisfactory on return to active service they could have their previous service restored.

Steve

EDIT TO ADD

The references to him spending time in North Africa before and after his absence may be inaccurate.

You see many such inaccurate entries made by clerks. Forces in Italy were initially part of BNAF - British North Africa Force (1st Army) and that term (or similar) is often mistakenly used for men serving in Italy as well as CMF - Central Mediterranean Force and AAI - Allied Armies Italy.

By December 1943 I understand reinforcements were arriving in Naples direct from UK and from there on to Reinforcement Depot’s in that vicinity before posting to a unit.

It doesn’t appear that he applied for his Campaign Medals after the war. You, or NOK, may wish to apply to MOD for them as he appears to be entitled to 39/45 Star, Italy Star & 39/45 War Medal. As he had service in the Home Guard prior to enlistment he may have accumulated enough service for the award of The Defence Medal.

I believe he returned to 6th Y&L on release from custody. They served in Greece. Forum member gmyles has an interest in the allied intervention in Greece and may be able to assist further.

PS

You have not been provided with any Army Firm B103 - there are often several in a file.

They are the most helpful form from which to follow a man’s service.

It may be worth asking National Archive if they have forgotten to send them to you.

 

Thank you so much this is really interesting. I do recall him telling me when i was a boy that he had been in Africa and Italy, but I never thought then to ask exactly where he had served. I would love to see the custody papers and details of the FGCM. I am also pretty sure he was in AUSTRIA after the war finished as he told me that he and a few other soldiers caused a black out in a town by inadvertently cutting down some cable poles.

I also note a case of drunkness in his file where it reads -

Case of Drunkeness :- Nil
A.F.B 108J Serial No 16315 df 2-4-47
Misconduct Jail

Any ideas what AFB 108J...... mean along with "Misconduct Jail"?

 

Army Form B 108 J
eg WW II Army Discharge Certificate for John Eric Hayes

 

"he appears to be entitled to 39/45 Star, Italy Star & 39/45 War Medal. As he had service in the Home Guard prior to enlistment he may have accumulated enough service for the award of The Defence Medal".

I have applied for his medals but was only sent the Italy Star and War Medal, I didn't know about the others, would the MOD have considered those automatically?

 

Hi,

Yes he was in Austria - the Post war BTA reference means British Troops Austria.

The AFB 108 was the Regular Army Certificate of Service book issued to men on discharge. It was likely endorsed in relation to his period of detention.

Steve

EDIT

Thanks to Diane for clarification re B108J.

 

Hi,

They will have assessed his full entitlement.

He needed 6 months (180 days) active service for 39/45 Star. I knew it would be a close thing as he had about a month to count in early 1944 and 5 months or so mid December 1944 to 8th May 1945. You could ask MOD for a recount/explanation why no 39/45 Star.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve, I will do

 

Not directly related but you may find "Argument of Kings" by Vernon Scannell worth a read, he talks about his experience as a military prisoner in North Africa when he was caught after deserting, he later returned to action and was wounded - it sets the scene of military detention, not something widely covered

 

Thank you I will have a look for this, it would be interesting

 

Hi, as an update on my original post regarding my Grandfathers desertion in Italy and subsequent sentence. I now believe that he spent the prison time at the Military prison in Brindisi, Southern Italy which was established between 1944 and 1945. Built in 1930 it apparently is still a prison to this day. Does anyone have any further information regarding Brindisi from when it was a military prison/