PG47 (Campo 47) escapees and the suicide of the NZ Camp CO

Welcome to the forum Charles, great to have another kiwi onboard.

Looking forward to reading more about your Grandfather.

 

Welcome to the forum. Are you aware of Auckland online Cenotaph?
Sydney Samuel Francis Goodwin

 

And Papers Past?
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/n...in+goodwin&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1939
Which Battalion was he with at Sidi Rezegh? 24th?

 

Yes the 24th.

Ill upload some papers later today but I found this one that may be of interest.

Im aware of the cenotaph.I actually was given all my grandfathers papers and interesting things he kept from his escape and war effort.I have been meaning to scan the photos and upload his bio to the cenotaph but covid has made everything difficult with access to offices and a host of other issues.

 

Attahced is a record of recommendations for awards for escapes from PG47

 

The SBO at PG47 was Lt.Col. Shuttleworth and previously the CO of the 24th Infantry battalion. An unexpected piece of the jigsaw appears, long after I rested from the topic.

 

Interesting his MID says he was with 31 Batt, which I understand is a 2NZEF "holding' Battalion. My father was also originally posted to 31 when he enlisted in the UK and transferred to 24 when he arrived in Egypt in July 41.

 

Yes I noticed that too

Im pretty sure he was 24th Battalion.He was from Thames.Perhaps a typo??

Im trying to find out more information about what happened when he was captured.He was taken on the 28th? when they were expecting the South Africans to arrive in support.Instead a group of Germans brazingly walked up with the their arms up and caught them unaware.

Does anyone know if Shuttleworth kept daily diaries?

Also my father has faint recollection of grandad being involved in a incident with a burning truck and helping some men.I don't know anything of this.

When I read about the battle of sidi rezegh it is unclear which company my grandfather was part of?

 

From the official History page 77/78

CHAPTER 3 — Sidi Rezegh | NZETC

"About 3.30 p.m., the enemy commenced to move forward down the slope of the feature behind which they had assembled. They presented a wonderful target again for our gunners, but our luck was out as communications from the OP to the batteries had been severed, and also the whole of the guns were on a regimental shoot in support of an attack which was being carried out to the north by the 4th Bde. Hence another golden opportunity was lost…. The enemy continued to press forward but by this time his barrage had slackened considerably in intensity as contact had been made with the forward elements of the 24 Bn. After a bit of desultory fighting I intercepted a radio message to the effect that A and D Coys 24 Bn had surrendered. This seemed unbelievable as the fighting had not been severe. I looked forward and saw troops moving with hands up, but through my glasses they appeared to me to be Huns. The next moment I noticed troops moving towards them also with their hands up. The position seemed most confused but I was able to determine that the latter troops were our own. It transpired that Jerry had pulled his old trick of moving forward behind some of our troops whom he had taken prisoner. These had their hands up and when he was close enough he turned on the works. Unfortunately our boys fell for it. In all about 100 of 24 Bn and 70 of 21 Bn who were attached to the former were collected. Lt.-Col. Shuttleworth, immediately realising the position, went forward and reorganised his front line. Also realising there was a weakness in the centre I called in two of my platoons—one from D and one from C Coys—and sent them forward to the 24 Bn to help fill the gap."

So he was part of either A or D Company?

 

Geoff thanks for your post

who was your father/grandfather? surname?

 

My Father is Maurice Muir #890 stretcher bearer & medical orderly in 24Batt and captured at Sidi Rezegh on 1st Dec.
So far the OH is the best source of information. I have been to National Archives and the Battalion Diary for the 28th is sparse with much less detail than the OH.

Your GF is mentioned in this document I found. The date of 13th Dec is an administrative place holder at the time.

 

Charles Black cited in part:

I have never come across any sign he kept a diary. Others will know if keeping a personal diary when on 'active service' was permitted, if a diary was kept minus military details its value would be much diminished. Nor have his family mentioned this, so I will ask just in case.

 

Hello David

Only ask if you know the family is happy to be contacted.I can imagine it just brings up sad memories.

David I was doing a bit more reading today.I found a thesis paper written in 2006 by a New Zealander studying escapes.It was quite comprehensive and I just really skimmed it but it did talk in parts about the mental aspects of becoming a POW and depression.Have you seen this?I can find it again and upload if interested.

My parents sent me my old school project today.Its too big to upload and will take me a week or so to rescan.We are in lockdown in Auckland so services are limited.If you read a post above from papers past it outlines much of my grandfathers story.He had to travel 400 miles to get back to safety so it raises the point of why the stay put was mooted when the guards left the camp.It was massive undertaking and the reality is it was damn dangerous.If shuttleworth had said in a gung ho manner that everyone should have a crack what would have been the risk that many would be killed.He really had a hobsons choice I think.

Thinking about Shuttleworth and his suicide reminds me the movie Shawshank Redemption.Theres and old chap who's spends his whole life in prison and then is released at eighty into a changed world.He has no idea what to do and where to go and he commits suicide.I can imagine it would have been similar for Shuttleworth.He had been an officer for twelve years before the war as well so really only knew a military life.Im sure the stress ,compounded with more bad luck and a wife that passed away got too much.

 

Charles and others,

The 'Stay Put' order is the theme of this thread, so you may find understanding the context and what actually happened is there: Italy 1943: the 'Stay Put Order'

I have a recollection of reading a NZ PhD thesis and cannot recall using it - I will check the final paper. By all means add a link to it. To be fair it was only at the end I wondered what caused Clayden Shuttleworth to commit suicide.

 

https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/12070

My foster dad's uncle
He was flown to Athens by NZ govt to investigate Cephalonia massacres
Some of my Over family were also POW

 

Cole,

The link is missing the last digit, so it is: Raymond Bruce Muir

 

Hi all,

My uncle, Group Captain W. R. Duncan, MBE, OBE, after a crash landing in a Wellington aircraft well behind enemy lines in Nth Africa and evading capture with all crew for six days was interned in Modena 'Campo 47' (which contained South African and NZ POWs), for almost a year until he escaped on September 9th 1943.

He wrote a book of his experiences and the events he was involved in during his service mainly for his eight brothers and sisters and his children.

About the "stay put" order in Campo 47 he writes.

"About 8 pm on September 8th the news came over that the Italians had capitulated and signed an agreement with the Allies to lay down their arms. You can image the excitement which spread around the camp. The barracks emptied out and everyone crowded around the gates, trying to find out what the position was. We opened up the canteen and celebrated in the usual way but found it difficult to settle down for the night as we didn't know what was likely to happen.

... The next morning 9th September and still a lovely sunny day things were very confused. The daily paper contained news of the surrender and from some of the windows of blocks of flats around one side of the camp there were waves from civilians. Around the middle of the morning we were addressed by the senior officer, who was a NZ Colonel.

He told us that the directions he had been given were that we were to stay put; that the Germans were pulling their troops out of the country and that we would be protected by the Italians until our troops could get us out. You can imagine what a mixture of feelings there were and then we saw a lot of funny things. We noticed that the towers at each end of the camp were not manned and that some of the guards were throwing away their weapons and sneaking away through the trees.

We were next called together and addressed by our senior officer. He said the Germans were proposing to take control of the camps to make sure prisoners didn't interfere with their lines of communication as they were getting their troops out. He said he had no more orders since were were told to stay put, but in view of the latest information he would withdraw his order if anyone felt inclined to go off.

However he suggested that we should not move too far from camp as the Germans had intimidated that if any prisoner was picked up outside the camps he would be shipped off to Germany. While he was saying that one chap rushed up to say that the Germans had arrived. We headed back to our barracks and tried to work out what was the best thing to do. I got a kitbag together with some bread, butter, cigs etc. and my friend (Sydney Short, DFC) said "Come on, let's go". With that I shot out and headed for the far corner where one or two chaps were climbing up the brick wall and the wire on top had been torn back. As I went I noticed some of the chaps removing the machine gun which had been there and hauling it away to the barracks. I looked around for another friend Ken Lee, but he had disappeared and I couldn't afford to wait any longer so I dropped over the wall and with two others (Syd and an army chap by the name of Hodge who I think came from Wanganui) headed to some trees about a chain away.

I hadn't reached the trees when one of the German guards came around the wall. I kept going, since I was close to the trees and dived in amongst them before he managed to get his machine gun into action. With bullets zipping over me, I crawled away further. It was lucky for me that the Germans hadn't been able to get their numbers spread out and he couldn't chase me, so I was able to scamper off.

 

Bill,

Welcome aboard. The post confirms what I discovered, now a few years ago.

There is a record for your uncle, then a RNZAF Sergeant and his plane crashing:

From: RAF AIR81 82 :: :: and about the plane: Wellington HX525 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database]

Is this him?

From: New Zealand Airman Receives D.F.C. -- Flight Lieutenant S.A.H. Short of South Otago. New Zealand who received the D.F.C., seen outside Buckingham Palace with Miss Judy Callaghan a volunteer worker in the New Zealand Club, London and Flight Lieutenant W.R. Duncan of Paeroa, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. January 1, 1945. (Photo by London News Agency Photo Ltd Stock Photo - Alamy

A passage on the escape:

From: http://www.22battalion.org.nz/publications/histories/air3.pdf

 

Hi,

He would have been very careful to not speak against any NZ officer (and only ID the rank) but after reading his book about his and Syd Short's run for Switzerland 7 months later, if the orders allowed them to leave on the 8th or even on the morning of the 9th Sept, with correct intelligence and some guidance, they could have been in Switzerland in 24 hours. A train from Modina to Milan was four and a half hours, followed by (an hour to Como) and hour and half local train to Laveno and ferry to Intra where they went, before being guided through the mountains.

The confusion because of lack of information and intelligence resulted in the three of them (with Hodge) not being sure where to head, which initially was North. They found the locals were very supportive, fed them, gave them wine ("I did wonder if I had the wrong word for 'water' as a request for this only brought out more wine. Later I found this area everyone had their own grapes and made their own wine - and that the water didn't taste that good there") offered a bed in hay loft and next day it was suggested they hide in the fields incase there was a search party. They were then informed the Germans were starting to take prisoners off to Germany. A day later a local and his friends provided them with civilian clothes, bicycles with escorts to guide them to the foothills.

"We started off, the three of us on bikes following three girls also on bikes. The idea was to keep about 50 to 100 years behind them and casually rode along the roads. At this point we were north of Modena and had to ride through the town, or at least the side of it. I don't remember too much about the ride, although we passed through a street not far from the cam. We were told all the surplus stuff from the camp had been burnt and at the stage we went past I don't know if the prisoners had been moved. There couldn't have been much traffic as we didn't have any trouble keeping behind the girls. After we left the town we travelled on a smaller route heading for the foothills, I suppose about 10 to 15 miles away. We did pass through one or two small villages and at one stage turned off the road and called into a milk factory - although it was more like a large home with a cottage type industry. I do remember having some large glasses of milk, lovely fresh creamy milk. We headed off again and reached a small village by the foothills. We left the bikes there and the girls disappeared after setting us on the road up the hills. This was a very minor road and didn't lead to any large town. Here we were on or own.

Later in the day we came upon a small holding where the family were in the midst of harvesting grapes. We offered our services, which was acceptable since the family groups was an elderly couple, young couple with two very young children. After the job was done we were given a meal and the use of the hay to sleep in. Once we had eaten in the morning we were off up the hill again. There didn't seem to be any traffic and only the odd house from time to time. Mostly we were received in a friendly enough manner, but there was an occasional place we were refused even a glass of water. From time to time we rested and tried to sort out a plan of action, which was not easy since we had no idea what the situation was in the country.

There was considerable doubt about what would have been the best way to travel and were were hoping to hear the Germans were clearing out of the country and the Allies would be taking over. If only we had known that in the first few days after the Armistice the country was in a complete state of confusion and we could have hopped on a train to Rome (to connect with Priest Sneddon escape route) without any hinderance. The Germans had put out rumours that the Allies had landed in the north of Italy near Genoa and also on the Adriatic Coast, so as the days went on prisoners were picked up in their dozens making their way to what they thought were the Allied forces were. In the meantime, it wasn't long before the Germans began shipping trainloads of prisoners back to Germany.

At this point there was not agreement between the three of them and Hodge decided he would go on alone. Bill never wrote what happened to him and there was some suggestion that he was caught and shot, so it's good to find out he was transferred to a German POW camp.

Syd and Bill headed up a narrow road and towards evening were given food and wine, joined in a corn-husking and bedded down in the hay barn. For the next three or four nights they were moved from house to house in this community with families keen to offer hospitality in return for work. They were then told two families would look after them and had an unoccupied house on one of the farms they cared for. The community put out word they had headed south and this was where they ended up being hid for around 7 months through the winter, until they could make their escape to Switzerland. Bill remained eternally grateful to Dionigio and Torlai Anita In Orvinti and returned to Italy with his wife and family in 1956 to find, introduce them to his family and thank them.

 

I think Bill was a flight lieutenant and navigator at the time of the plane crash. His crew was put together in Britain and was two British, two NZ and three Australians, so some of those names aren't correct. They had already completed their tour of duty which for Wellington bomber squads was 35 sorties (14 to Tobruk). However, they were asked to volunteer for a 'special requirement', a major bombing effort to disrupt German supplies at Tobruk.

Sydney A.H. Short was from Auckland and received the DFH. He was in hospital in Milan and didn't meet Bill until a couple of days before they escaped Campo 47. He only found out about the DFH when they'd reached Switzerland in April 1944 and they had to stay there until the Allies had reached the Swiss boarder (from France) until October 1944. Syd still had complications from his wounds and spent his time in Switzerland in hospital again. Bill accompanied him to receive his DFC from the King in London.

I have a "Star" news reel clipping from November 13th 1944 "Prison Camp Escape", with a different photo of them at Syd's investiture and also showing both in the group that escaped by walking over the mountains to Switzerland.

Tobruk, Crashing and Capture 13 September 1942. They wanted all the experienced crews and we were the most experienced in the squadron, as an added bonus they put a group captain from Group HQ who wanted to view the operation and moved us rom a plane that was a bit ropey to a supposedly good one. We arrived at Tobruk in good shape and kept stooging around and over, waiting to see the lights that the Commandoes were to put out for us when their job was done. That kept us over the target for over an hour, we then dropped bombs in relays and were dropping down to a very low level when 'bang!', our starboard engine had packed up. It was spluttering, so nothing for it but to head back home and hope we could maintain height. We were about 11,000 ft at this stage, so I thought we had a good chance to get back to our lines.

However, by the time we had gone another 100 miles we had dropped to 6000ft even though we had jettisoned all the stuff we could. The starboard engine was firing in spasms but shooting out sparks. We then jettisoned a lot of fuel but were still going to come down short of our lines. We headed a bit further south to dodge German positions. In the end were were only a little above ground. There was no moon, although the night was clear and we took crash petitions and Mike (pilot) tried to judge where the ground was. At the last moment he used the landing lights and belly landed. It was an uncanny event and felt as if we were crushing a plie of crates with the planks breaking. There was a lot of dust and a glow of fire from the starboard engine. Before we stopped sliding the other engine was on fire and from the body of the aircraft if looked as if we were surrounded by fire.

I was in the body of the aircraft and shoved the front gunner out the top escape hatch, quickly followed him and the wireless operator came after me. the rear gunner got out his end and Mike and the group captain got out the hatch by the cockpit. By the time we were all out the plane was burning merrily and as we didn't know what was around us we started to put some distance from the plane in case there were Germans not far who would investigate the crash. I guess we crashed around 3 am and traveled for around an hour before we rested.

When daylight came there was no sign of life anywhere. We managed to salvage a couple of parachutes for shelter and had about three bottles of water plus a small survival kit with concentrated Horlick and chocolate tablets. Mike managed to get a small hand held observer compass from the plane and I had a silk map of the area so travelling at night and resting during the day, we would focus on a particular star to get our general direction, walk for an hour then rest for five or ten minutes.

It was very galling to be stranded in the desert about 250 miles from our lines when by all rights we should have been on leave after finished our tour. I knew also that while we were aware we were ok, the people at base would not and we would be reported as missing.

In fact, Bill's wife (he'd enlisted as a married 21 year old with a new born baby in 1941) received a letter from the Wing Commander, G.F. Wood, O.B.E., No.70 Squadron, RAF, Middle East Forum.

22nd October, 1942.

"You would have already received official intimation that your husband Flight Officer W.R. Duncan was reported missing from an operation on the night of September 13/14th, 1942. I am afraid there is little further information I can give you. (he describes the mission as above and asks for confidentiality)

Your husband was a keen and skillful Observer who had been doing invaluable work for his country and his squadron. He was exceedingly popular among his comrades and leaves a gap not easily filled.

May I offer you, on behalf of the Squadron and myself, our deepest sympathy in your anxiety.

Your husband's personal effects out here are looked after by the Standing Committee of Adjustment, who will communicate with you.

Upon capture the crew were taken to a POW camp in Libya, Sept 20 to October 1942, transferred (where they had plans to overpower the crew and fly to safety foiled by extra guards) to a POW transit camp near Bari in Italy from October to November 1942. On arrival in the transit camp he was given a card for name, rank and number and type of aerogram to write home.

The first news he was a prisoner wasn't received in NZ until about three months after he had been posted missing. This news came by way of Vatican Radio in which Bishop Sneddon transmitted names of NZ prisoners of war. A cousin in Christchurch was listening to Vatican Radio and rang his father, who rang his wife who was staying with her parents at the time. Afterwards she received a number of letters from different people in Otago and Southland who'd heard the news and wrote in case she didn't know.

When escaping Modena Campo 47, his wife and family heard about his escape and then nothing for around six months when they heard he'd reached Switzerland.