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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
Have just seen the photo you posted in The Gallery. http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/image/29590-friendship-legacy/ What a great thing to happen. Glad WW2Talk was helpful.