Attached is a photo of members of 1st SAS and members of the Parachute regiment who were captured in either North Africa or possible Sicily and Italy. I suspect they are all men who were taken POW in North Africa but as there is no date on the photo it is impossible to tell. The only one I can identify at the moment is the man standing in the back row to the extreme right (as you look att he photo) who is Drek Miller who was a member of 'B' Sqdn 1 SAS who was captured on 15/12/1942. I posted the photo on another forum some years ago at that time I had the name of another man who was a member of the 1st Parachute Battalion. I do still have that name but can't locate it in my files at the moment. Working on the date of Derek Millers capture the photo has to have been taken sometime between January 1943 and 12th September 1943 when he and three others escaped from the POW camp and returned to Allied lines. Derek Miller was awarded the MM for his efforts in escaping. Can anyone put names to any of the other men in the photograph ? It would be especially interesting to identify the Sargent with the SAS badge on his cap. If anyone knows how to copy this over to the Airborne section of the forum please let me know. Cheers Arnhem
As I have now found my notes I need to make a correction Derek Miller is standing in the back row extreme left of photo and 2328082 W P Costello is standing extreme right of photo. Miller escaped with Cpl Douglass and Pte McClements of 1 SAS. With them was Pte R A Kitchener 2nd Parachute Battalion. I can narrow down the date of the photo to between 15th June 1943 and 12th September 1943 as these were the dates that Derek Miller was in this POW camp. Any help at all with names would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Arnhem, If per the writing on the photograph it was Taken at PG 70 it may be worth bringing it to the attention of Vitellino. She's invariably a great help in all matters Italian. Kind regards, always, Jim.
There may be some names amongst the photos here that cross reference with your photo Arnhem. P.G. 70 Too late for my eyes tonight! Kind regards, always, Jim.
Hello Arnhem, I've already picked up on this. A very interesting photo indeed but I can't help with any of the names. Thanks Jim for posting all the other photos of PG 70. Vitellino
I have an update from our French "helper" who has Miller's own account of his time in North Africa, his capture by the Italians (aided by a German armoured car), moving by submarine to Italy and his time in three POW camps @ Bari, Brindisi and Monturamo, near Ancona. He escaped from Camp 70 aka PG70 or PG 70 on 12/9/1943. A search here found different spellings for PG70 / PG 70. There is a biographical thread for him: 1442918 Derek George MILLER, MM, RA attached 1 SAS aka "Dusty". He was accompanied by two others from 1 SAS: Corporal Douglass and Paratrooper Private McClements. The former is id'd as M. Douglass 6920227, he was commissioned as an officer 7/10/1944 and the entry states his first name was Montague, with a new number 331174. From: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36829/supplement/5622/data.pdf The later is fully id'd as Thomas McClements 1470461, ex-Royal Artillery on: McCLEMENTS, Thomas | Note Miller does not mention a fourth soldier who also escaped: Paratrooper Private R.A. Kitchener 6145649 . He is shown on: Private Derek Miller I do not know why he omitted him. Kitchener later served at Arnhem, with 2nd Parachute Battalion.and was captured by the Germans. From: Actions at Arnhem, account by Pte R Janvosky | ParaData The first attachment is a copy of a debriefing document for Miller; from WO 208/3343..Two other documents hen scanned were too large and will have to be scanned again, saved as individual documents.
Attached now are "Dusty" Miller's personal notes on WW2 In North Africa, when he was captured (x4 pgs); then his time in Italy and escape - which he had typed up in 2007 (x7 pgs). The French "helper" wondered if the group photo (In Post 1) has Major Parkes shown in the middle? The major was the Senior British Officer @ PG70 and issued an order no-one should escape after the Italian's exit. MIller was awarded the Military Medal for his escape, not possible desertion charges laid by Major Parkes.
I posted the original photo and clearly couldn't tell left from right at the time I did it. I met Derek on a number of occasions and he definitely had a smiley face. If anyone knows who the Sargeant wearing the cap with a SAS badge on it I'd be very interested to know. Could it be CSM Yates who was captured on Op Squatter 16/17th November 1941. Cheers Arnhem
I would be interested in any info on the 'Major Yates' mentioned here. I am researching a Major John Yates RAMC who was at Camp 70 at the same time as Dusty Miller's escape. He was Gazetted in Dec 1945: "The King has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while Prisoners of War" : RAMC Maj. (temp.) J. Parkes MB, MRCP (88650). This Major Parkes was moved from Camp 70 at the end of Sept 1943 to Stalag IVD Torgau, Germany. The same man who issued an order not to escape? I'm no advocate, but he may have had – to him – good reasons. (If it's the same man, and he is confirmed as in the group pic, that would be a bonus!)
edscriv, Your research is not connected to the 'Major Yates'. They are different individuals, as explained below. The CSM Yates on Operation Squatter was: From: Operation Squatter - War History There is a thread on him: 2619493 George YATES, Grenadier Guards attached SAS Within it notes his Service Number as 2619493; and: He was in POW Camp Oflag 79. Moving on. I expect all the British & Commonwealth SBO in Italian POW camps followed what became known as the 'Stay Put' order when the Italians ceased to be belligerents in September 1943. See: Italy 1943: the 'Stay Put Order' There may be others that refer to the order. I would recommend you start a new thread on your RAMC Major John Yates, in this part of the site: www.ww2talk.com/index.php?forums/searching-for-someone-military-genealogy.13? Update 24/6: edscriv's research is now on: Major John Parkes RAMC
