I think I should know the answer to this one but I don't. Following the re-entry of prisoners of war into their country of origin at the end of World War 2, was a missing list ever compiled? If so, where are these lists to be found? Vitellino
Hello Vitellino, this TNA "guide" (section 5.6 in the link below) intimates where such a list may be, but from memory WO 361 contains papers per separate "incident" investigations, which I guess you will have looked at before dear lady. There must have been (I hope) an all encompassing list, but heaven only knows which file it resides in now. Here's the link, and apologies if this is a route you have already been down. British and Commonwealth prisoners of the Second World War and the Korean War - The National Archives Kind regards and good fortune, always, Jim.
Thanks Jim. I have now turned up the following from TNA: Reference: WO 361/737 Description: 'Searcher Parties' to trace personnel missing from operations, unlocated ex-prisoners of war and to locate graves: Italy, Allied Force Headquarters Date: 1945 Apr 14 - 1947 Jun 24 It may just contain the information I am looking for! Vitellino
Interesting question so far as Far East missing and prisoners of war are concerned, to which I don't know the answer. I would ask Harry Young or Bob Coles if they are still around: not members here so far as I know. They vetted the records of Casualty P/W now in WO361 and left their stamps on the file covers. See photos attached for examples. In some cases the files lack records where there is a list on the file cover that can be checked. For MOD records and the answers to many questions the question and answer session at a Kew User Forum Meeting six years ago may still be relevant. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/user-forum-february-2015-q-and-a_.pdf In the United States there was the Nazi War Crimes legislation which lead to a huge amount of work to list files related to missing lists under the "War Crimes" legislation. See here: Implementation of the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act
The file might well be of use Vitellino. I have WO361/740 and it threw up many results for missing men from Chindit 1 and those captured in the field during the expedition.
Thanks, Steve, another Bob Coles stamp. It would have been very interesting to have met him and Harry Young in 2007. They seem to have spent several months in going through files from Cas P/W and other sources on second review. Many files were not opened at Kew before April 2011 in WO361. John
Thanks everyone. I have also found WO 361/777 -Tricky Dicky sent me some excerpts from it a while ago. I have downloaded it from Findmypast and it seems to contain what I am looking for. Vitellino
Good evening vitellino, and apologies for the late hour of this reply. I've been having a good dig around today, as far as TNA online will allow, and think this series may be (possibly) of interest too. WO 361/1937 "Prisoners of war: action logs of deaths and woundings; books 1-3". Here's the link; Prisoners of war: action logs of deaths and woundings; books 1-3 | The National Archives Phoned a friend (please don't ask, no names, no pack drill!) and they had a dig around too and sent me this through by way of an example of the books layout and content (apologies for quality). It's an interesting entry in itself. Kind regards, always, Jim.
How interesting, Jim. I have the war crimes file relating to Hass and his two comrades, who are buried in Rome War Cemetery. When I can get access to TNA I will have to think up how, from Italy, I can get access to these three books!!
Good morning vitellino. The three books in TNA series WO 361/1937 appear to be the wartime starting point for collation of information regarding POW deaths and woundings. Though superseded by subsequent (particularly post war) investigations I think they would be a must for your good work dear lady. The link to TNA directory I posted above intimates that they are available via FMP (which I don't have access to) so that may be a possibility. By way of closure to the three books (possible) value I attach a page from book No.2 of the series. The image is the second example my friend provided late last night (of interest to me due to a post war Bill Barkworth connection with the case). The names within and incident I don't doubt will be familiar to you. Please note that dear Dbf has an all encompassing Album of the post war documents on this very website; Grenadier Guards, 6th Battalion, Brabourne & Vivian | WW2Talk Here's the image, the starting point maybe? Kind regards, always, Jim.
Have downloaded WO 361/1937 from Findmypast. Interesting - I already knew about all but three of the Italian entries, and have the War Crimes files for a lot of them, Thanks all the same, Vitellino
A note in the recently published (in English) "Bugle Call to Freedom" by Marco Minardi. "It is estimated from British intelligence sources that, in early October 1943, the number of prisoners who had escaped and about whom there was 'no information as to their recapture' totalled approximately 26,500; 18,000 were in German hands, of whom 5,500 had already been taken to Germany; 2,175 had reached Allied lines; 1,200 were reported to be in Switzerland; and 25,500 were unaccounted for" TNA file quoted as source for this info is WO 224/179. I don't know if this helps, since it may not contain a full list, but thought I'd add it to your intray! Edited - just clicked that you are looking for post-conflict lists - so this probably isn't much help after all!
I've now found an interesting list in WO 361/777 and am at work sorting out the Italian from the German casualites - it's going quite well.
