Escapers and evaders

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by wtid45, Nov 5, 2010.

  1. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Ive checked and there are no learning Dutch courses in my are, oh bugger.lol
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I finally decided to do something with the project which as I have said was completed a few years ago. A 10yr Contract was signed a little while ago.

    Hi Brian,

    I'm thinking of expanding my BEF research/resources to POW's files and E+E Reports.

    I think I'm correct in thinking that the NA list them all in alphabetical order rather than chronological order. I don't suppose you have a list if thats the case?

    I was thinking it would make a nice little project for Andrea.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  3. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    Ive checked and there are no learning Dutch courses in my are, oh bugger.lol

    Try some of the Michael Thomas courses on CD
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Does anyone know how much 'Find my past' are charging for these reports?
     
  5. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I had a look at the first in this thread that gave the link to this super website:
    MI9 nos 1 to 499

    I tried looking for my old tank commander, "Busty" Thomas (see his MM citation below) but with no joy.

    Can anyone who uses this site tell me where I am going wrong ?

    Many thanks

    Ron

    1E 256
    7340821 Sgt.Major W.T.Thomas, 4th Queen’s Own Hussars. A-10135
    7937449 Tpr. Pugh.T. 4th Queen’s Own Hussars. A- 10136

    Captured at Knightsbridge on the 12 June 1942.
    Finally sent to Campo 70 (Monturano). While in a transit camp in Africa, Thomas escaped alone by cutting through the wire at night. He took a motor truck, but ran out of petrol after going over 100 miles on the first night and went on on foot. He was recaptured by Germans after being at large for a week and having travelled about 200 miles.
    After the armistice P/W on Campo 70 were not liberated but Thomas, Pugh and three other P?W escaped on 16 Set 43 when the sentries were sheltering in their boxes from the rain. On their way South they met an Italian patriot band and took part with them in an action against the Germans. The Italians made off without telling them and as their ammunition was exhausted, Thomas and Pugh made off into the hills. They finally met Allied troops on 6 Oct 43 and were able to give information regarding German gun posts they had passed on the way.
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    If anyone is a member can you answer this:

    If I joined/subscribed for a year can I download all those E and E reports? I've been thinking about copying all the 1940 ones and it is potentially cheaper me downloading them rather than going to Kew. Kew costs me neary £70 a trip in the car now.
     
  8. idler

    idler GeneralList

    You might need to consider the copyright angle, FMP may not be as accommodating as TNA.
     
  9. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Drew

    As far as I can see all you get for your money on this site is the MI9 file reference. You do not get access to the actual report - to see that you would have to visit Kew.

    A much cheaper method of looking for this information (free!!!) is to visit Keith Janes' excellent site at MI9 nos 1 to 499. Make sure you read the headings as there is also access to the later IS9 and American MIS-X report numbers as well

    Ron

    There are two references for SSM Thomas - these are WO 208/3344 and WO 208/5403 you would need to look in both of these files to obtain his E&E reports

    John
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I've been looking at that site this morning and can't see any reports on there from members of the BEF. But the list is excellent. I have WO 208 on excel and there appears to be three volumes of reports made in 1940 and one of 1940/41.
     
  11. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Ron

    There are two references for SSM Thomas - these are WO 208/3344 and WO 208/5403 you would need to look in both of these files to obtain his E&E reports

    John

    John

    Thanks for that info which I probably already have thanks to Andy & others on this forum.
    I was just puzzled why it didn't show up on the original site:
    MI9 nos 1 to 499

    Ron
     
  12. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Drew

    I've been looking at E&E reports, mainly concentrating on IS9, for a number of years and they are a real dog's dinner and spread all over the place - if you look at WO 208/3350 and 208/3351 as an example, you will see that there is a gap in the numbering sequence between records 1500 to 2000 (approx). I was originally told by the staff at TNA that these records were "lost".
    I've now established that they are, in fact, a block of numbers allocated to the American MIS-X, the records relate to American servicemen and are mixed up with their records at NARA in the USA. I'm still trying to sort out all of the "missing" numbers in this sequence.

    John
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Have you seen my Excel sheet of WO 208?
     
  14. Amazing site that e&e report one.
    Does anyone know if there's an american equivalent?
     
  15. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Operator

    Try this MIS-X nos 1 to 999. Once you have the number you can download the report from NARA

    John
     
  16. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Have you seen my Excel sheet of WO 208?

    Drew

    One I haven't got - Could you post the link again please

    John
     
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  18. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Drew

    Much obliged - I'll buy you a coffee next time we meet at the Archives!!

    John
     
  19. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    More coffee mate (no pun intended for those of us over 40).

    Picked up some useful leads in the 208 Excel, Japanese biological warfare and POW reports for Rangoon Jail.

    Aside from these I have a continuing side project in trying to find the MM citation/recommendation for a man who died in Rangoon Jail. I have had no luck within the WO373's, but his family hold the view that he had attempted to escape from Japanese hands.

    Allied escapes from Japanese camps were very few and far between, has anyone come across such a report file at Kew, or the citation for L/Cpl.3657118 William R. Jordan 13 Kings Liverpool Regiment.

    Thanks for the Excels as always Andy.:)
     
  20. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers chaps-If ever we get a better speed than 'dial-up' I'll get some more done. I can hardly upload anything.

    A
     

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