Verification of Sam Nel - South African Forces

Discussion in 'South African' started by JJ van Rooyen, Oct 21, 2015.

  1. JJ van Rooyen

    JJ van Rooyen Member

    Hi everyone.

    I am looking for any documents and information to verify a man named Sam Nel. I only have his name.
    I want to know exactly under whom he served, if he became a POW and any information about his WW2 experience.
    I've attached a photograph of my grandfather (left) and Sam (right) standing together in the desert during the North African Campaign.
    I believe they married two sisters in the same family after the war.

    I assume that he was part of the same battalion force as my grandfather due to them being in many photographs together.
    I just need proof and confirmation. Both of them were from Durban, South Africa and were police officers. He will probably have a SAP force number as my grandfather was S.A.P.195635.

    My grandfather served in the 1st SA Police Battalion. He was captured after Tobruk fell and was sent to Camp P.G. 82 in Italy and then to Stalag 4B in Germany. There battalion was part of the 6th Infantry Brigade under Brig. F.W. Cooper.

    Any information will be appreciated.

    JJ
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Name: S J Nel
    Rank: Pte
    Army Number: 2045
    POW Number: 113623
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: 7A
    Camp Location: Moosburg (Isar), Germany
    Section: South African Land Forces : Officers and Other Ranks


    Name: S J Nel
    Rank: Gunner
    Army Number: 142933
    POW Number: 262014
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: 4D
    Camp Location: Torgau (Elbe), Germany
    Section: South African Land Forces : Officers and Other Ranks

    Not sure which of them it might be - there is another with the initial 'S'


    Name: A S Nel
    Rank: Rfn.
    Army Number: 8887
    POW Number: 224568
    Camp Type: Stalag
    Camp Number: 4B
    Camp Location: Muhlberg (Elbe), Germany
    Section: South African Land Forces : Officers and Other Ranks

    TD
     
  3. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    Hi, you could try contacting the SANDF Documentation centre. Maybe they can help you. The e-mail address is sandfdoc@mweb.co.za Tel 0123226350 Fax 0123225613

    They provide a certificate of service (not a service record) I think you have make arrangements to visit them in person if you want to look at the record.

    They do not charge for a certificate of service and it would not necessarily give details as to which POW camps he may have been in. However it would be a start to your research.

    Diane
     
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi JJ,

    Attached are all the non-officers with the surname Nel from the WO392/21 file. Hopefully he was actually called Sam and this was not nickname.

    Steve

    Nel 1.JPG Nel 2.JPG
     
  5. JJ van Rooyen

    JJ van Rooyen Member

    Thank you for all the feedback so far.
    I am still on the trail to find information regarding Sam.
    Trying to find his birth date and full name from a family member.

    Will keep everyone updated!

    Regards
    JJ
     
  6. Brandon Nel

    Brandon Nel New Member

    Hi JJ Sam Nel is my Grandfather, i came across this site while trying to gather information on his WW2 experiences and he is definately the man on the right in the thumbnail you posted
     
  7. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    Hi Brandon JJ is in Europe at the moment. No doubt he will reply when he is back in S.A
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    How fantastic to have potentially joined up the two families from the photograph in just 4 months or so.
    The power of WW2T strikes again.
     
  9. JJ van Rooyen

    JJ van Rooyen Member

    Hi everyone

    I'm back from my travels. It was an amazing experience to go and see the prison camps my grandfather was in.

    Brandon I've sent you a personal message just waiting for your response and to confirm that Sam Nel is related to you.

    Excited to hear from you.

    Regards
    JJ
     
  10. JJ van Rooyen

    JJ van Rooyen Member

    Hi everyone

    So the confirmation of Sam Nel is spot on. My grandfather and him were related as they married two sisters in the same family.
    I will be in contact with Sam Nel's son to get more information.

    This is exciting!

    Regards
    JJ
     
  11. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    That's great news As Bamboo 43 stated "The power of WW2T strikes again"

    regards
    Diane
     
  12. JJ van Rooyen

    JJ van Rooyen Member

    Hi everyone

    Today I've got some good news. I met the son of Sam Nel. His name is Micheal Nel and it was an amazing experience. We shared photos, stories and a war logbook from 1944.
    Our families are linked because Sam and my grandfather were best mates during the war and married two sisters.

    I received more information on Sam hoping someone can help with more information to confirm.

    Name: Cornelius Johannes Nel
    Rank: L/Cpl
    No: 195637
    Battalion: 1st SA Police Battalion

    He was captured at Tobruk.
    Italian POW: Camp 47
    German POW: Oflag 12B

    He passed away in 1985.

    Best Regards

    JJ
     
    Rishika and Owen like this.
  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Name: C J Nel
    Rank: L/Cpl.
    Army Number: 195637
    POW Number: 312
    Camp Type: Oflag
    Camp Number: O12B
    Camp Location: Hadamar, Germany
    Section: South African Land Forces : Officers and Other Ranks

    There are 42 x Nel shown a s POW's in Ancestry database

    TD
     
  14. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    JJ,

    Wonderful to hear that you have met up with Michael.
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    This is the sort of result we like to see - well done

    TD
     
  17. JJ van Rooyen

    JJ van Rooyen Member

    L-Cpl Sam Nel 195637
     

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