Hello, I am new to this site and I would like information on my father, Eric Munro Ross and two of his friends. Thomas Cardo and Zirk (Zerk) Lloyd. All South African Pow's in Italy. Many thanks, Graham. Hi Graham, see attached. It appears that your dad, Thomas and Zirk were all initially held at Camp 52. Movements from these POW camps is a bit sketch, I'm afraid! Still good to see the names though! Regards, George
Dear George, Many thanks for your help. Perhaps you attached the incorrect thumbnail for Z.Lloyd ? Regards, Graham.
Dear George, Many thanks for your help. Perhaps you attached the incorrect thumbnail for Z.Lloyd ? Regards, Graham. Dear Graham, Apologies for that! Yes, I am a bit new on this forum, so still learning to navigate my way around. Nice to hear you are so close! I realised I was a bit "dof" in my earlier question about your dad being a "Saffa"! I realised afterwards that the thread was about SA POWs ... My bad! I'll take one for the team! I have been in comes with another son of a POW and he sent me some amazing journal (about 30-odd pages) that his dad typed after the war... He co-incidentally lived around the corner from me here in Fish Hoek and he mentioned that they have a lot of good war related books in our local library. Time just always seems to be my main issue! If you ever do decide to pop out to this side of the world, give me a shout! Maybe we could grab a cuppa! FYI, my mobile no is 0827719257. Best regards, George
Dear George, Many thanks for your help. Perhaps you attached the incorrect thumbnail for Z.Lloyd ? Regards, Graham. Hi Graham, Can't recall, but did I ask you whether you had requested copies of your Dad's military records? I have responded to a couple of people in a short space, but can't recall?? (called age!). Let me know, as I can maybe help you here. I have also incidentally requested war records on my GF from the IRC in Switzerland. This could however take between 6 and 12 months, but hell, worth the shot! I am trying to fill in the gaps and have hit a bit of a blank! All part of the intrigue I suppose! Regards, George
Thanks, George. I would appreciate your help and / or advice in how to obtain my Father's military records. Look forward to meeting you in Fish Hoek when time permits. Regards, Graham.
Hi Graham, In order to obtain copies of all your dad's SA military records, you can e-mail sandfdoc@mweb.co.za The more information you can give, the merrier! Hi force no should be on that POW doc I sent you. Also quote his DOB, etc... As I mentioned earlier, I am attempting to obtain (POW?) records from the IRC in Geneva, but it could take up to a year apparently but worth the shot. I am not really sure what type of information to expect, but that adds to the intrigue I suppose. Check if this link works and let me know - ICRC Archives I cant remember... Did you dad remain a POW until liberation and, if so, where? I received some awesome information last night about the long (aka "death") march in which my GF took part (from his last POW camp, STALAG 344) in Poland. I have read a whole lot of personal affidavits by several survivors of this march (bloody horrendous, quite frankly!) This is going to assist me in "mapping" his movements from 1/1945 to about 5/1945, until liberation in Germany. One thing is I am learning a heck of a lot about WW2, which I never new much about! I wish I could help you more! The only leads I had were "STALAGVIIIB" and "STALAG 344" on the back of 2 photos! Best regards, George
Sadly, I have started my crusade too late in life. My Father and three others escaped, I can now assume from camp 52 and made their way to Switzerland. I have found some correspondence from a "John" Maifredi..........he writes "Do you remember of 'John' that you met refuged in a countryman house in Serle, Porv of Brescia, just a cold and foggy morning of October 1943? He talks about the many bad hours.....the nazis together with their bad fellows furiously raked all the places on the highlands searching for patriots and prisoners. He asks about the well being of Mr.Cardo, Mr. Withnall and Mr.Cleugh. Can you determine if the names of Withnall and Cleugh appear in Camp 52? Many thanks, Graham.
Hi Elize, My GF was also in Camp 54 (amongst many others!) and ended up in Poland at STALAG 8B (which later became STALAG344). Who knows, maybe they were together, as they were both with the SAP. Maybe they were even buddies! You can request copies of his military records at sandfdoc@mweb.co.za I only waited about 3 weeks. Also, there is a website dedicated to Camp 54 (at Fara Sabina, Italy) which makes for interesting reading. Campo PG 54 - Fara Sabina Also see attached. Best regards, George. Hi George, Thanks for the info and the SANDF link, I will ask them for his records, and see from there how I go. I am still very new to this game, and not sure how to find my way around, but I am sure I will learn! You didn't give me your GF's surname. I have in my little book that my Dad left behind a list of 72 names with some addresses and I assume that these were in one of the camps with him, just not sure which one! I have been onto the website of Camp 54. This was sent to me by my son who lives in Prague, and was going on holiday to Italy recently. He will be sending me a photo of the Plaque that is on the site where Camp 54 was and which has now become a town/village. Regards Elize
Sadly, I have started my crusade too late in life. My Father and three others escaped, I can now assume from camp 52 and made their way to Switzerland. I have found some correspondence from a "John" Maifredi..........he writes "Do you remember of 'John' that you met refuged in a countryman house in Serle, Porv of Brescia, just a cold and foggy morning of October 1943? He talks about the many bad hours.....the nazis together with their bad fellows furiously raked all the places on the highlands searching for patriots and prisoners. He asks about the well being of Mr.Cardo, Mr. Withnall and Mr.Cleugh. Can you determine if the names of Withnall and Cleugh appear in Camp 52? Many thanks, Graham. Hi again Graham. Ditto here! I sometimes wonder what was worse - being holed up in a POW camp for the entire duration of the war or being on the run watching your back 24/7? Sounds like you also have a huge "gap" like me. The lists are vast but I found a "Cleugh" (SA), but there is no camp listed unfortunately. I did not find any "Withnall" under the SA section. I did however find a "Withnell" under the British section, but once again, no camp specified. Did these guys then make it back home safely without being caught? Regards, George PS. I have made notes of these names and will advise if I come across anything else. Regards, George
Hi George, Thanks for the info and the SANDF link, I will ask them for his records, and see from there how I go. I am still very new to this game, and not sure how to find my way around, but I am sure I will learn! You didn't give me your GF's surname. I have in my little book that my Dad left behind a list of 72 names with some addresses and I assume that these were in one of the camps with him, just not sure which one! I have been onto the website of Camp 54. This was sent to me by my son who lives in Prague, and was going on holiday to Italy recently. He will be sending me a photo of the Plaque that is on the site where Camp 54 was and which has now become a town/village. Regards Elize Hi Elize, thanks for the reply! please keep me in the loop with your findings. I find everything very interesting. I firmly believe that they could have well known each other. My GF was Melville Lester Foxcroft. He was from Durban. I would really appreciate it if you could send me a copy of the photo of the plaque. This would go down well with my "file" that I am putting together and could add a bit of "colour"! Do you know what other camps he ended up in / what were the rest of his movements as a POW? My email address is george@geotrac.co.za should you wish to communicate privately. Many thanks once again and best regards, George
I am researching the Italian camp at Plemo camp PG 62/51. Were South African prisoners there? Hi Trevor, Just came across your post now while I was scrolling. From my limited information, there were definitely SA POWs in this camp. It was a work camp in Plemo (not exactly sure where this is in Italy). They were apparently involved in the building of a canal. Check out this link below: Italy | Powvets What is you personal connection to this camp? / Did you maybe have family there? / Are you from SA? There was a "TP Smallman" who was registered as a POW in Camp 47, but many of the POWs moved around from camp to camp. (See attached) My GF (ML Foxcroft) passed through several Italian POW camps before ending up in STALAG VIIIB (later STALAG 344) in Poland. He was liberated by the Americans after the infamous "Long March" (aka "Death march) in 1945 at the end of WW2. Best regards, George
Hi George, Thanks for the info and the SANDF link, I will ask them for his records, and see from there how I go. I am still very new to this game, and not sure how to find my way around, but I am sure I will learn! You didn't give me your GF's surname. I have in my little book that my Dad left behind a list of 72 names with some addresses and I assume that these were in one of the camps with him, just not sure which one! I have been onto the website of Camp 54. This was sent to me by my son who lives in Prague, and was going on holiday to Italy recently. He will be sending me a photo of the Plaque that is on the site where Camp 54 was and which has now become a town/village. Regards Elize Hi Elize. I am visiting campo 54 during the next 10 days. I would be very interested if my father's name was on that list with your grandfather. He was Gerald (Gerry) Vincent, Natal Field Artillery, captured at Tobruk, spent some months in H206 military hospital in Nocera near Salerno, then Fara in Sabina, before being moved to campo 115 in Marsciano. I hope to see both camps during my visit. Regards, Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, I am sure you are going to post some photos! It would be really cool if you could post these on the forum... I would love to see what it all looks like. Wishing you a wonderful trip! Regards, George
Cheryl, here are the screen shots of your men on the Italian lists. Sent details in the PM reply. Wayne
Hi I am new to the forums and trying to determine if my grand father was a South African POW during the 2nd world war. Amongst his medals is a small terra cotta disc inscribed with "Fuehrer Hitler A" on one side and a swastika with the number 1 on the reverse side. I believe that he served in North Africa. My grand fathers name was Gordon Henry Ernest Eveleigh. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Allister
My grandfather, G Frielinghaus, was caught on the same day (23 Nov 1941) also in Sidi Rezeg. Would anyone have additional information as to his movements their after. He was a POW for approx 5 years. He brother, AJ Frielinghaus, was killed during WW2.
My grandfather, Noel Chandler Crossman, spoke about the battle of toubrok and being a POW in Italy, he escaped and, if my memory serves correct, crossed the alps into Switzerland meeting a young girl with the name Moonyean-any information at all would be appreciated. He was from Durban was born 25/12/1913.
I am researching a story that appears in several books (the latest being Max Hastings's All Hell Broke Loose) on the South African PoW named Kay Masaki. It is claimed that he was put in a ring against Primo Carnera and knocked out the Ambling Alp. There is little substantiation in any of the reports however and I am beginning to believe the story is a myth (or an exaggeration). There is not even any record of him in the South African Defence Force documentation centre in Pretoria. Has anyone heard of him? Voetap
