WW11 South African POW records.

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by squeak, Jan 6, 2012.

  1. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    I wonder if anyone is able to tell me where I could obtain the POW records(other than the International Red Cross)

    Many thanks. for my father ALFRED JAMES FELLOWS, captured in Libya on 20 June 1942.
    He was held at 54 Fara in Sabina and moved to Camp 334 Lamsforf, Poland.
    The SA Department of Defence can't help me and the International Red Cross charges are exhorbitant.
     
  2. Varasc

    Varasc Senior Member

    Hi and welcome,

    As far as I know, the IRC archives are not used to ask money if you are the next of kin - all the other researchers have to pay 100 Swiss francs, about 80 Euros. Very expensive, I agree with you.
    But if you are his son...
     
  3. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    Thanks so much for your reply Marco. I am his daughter, unfortunately I deleted the correspondence with the IRC and I can't remember the amount which was quoted but when I converted it to ZAR I couldn't afford it. Maybe I should try again amking sure they understand that I am his daughter.

    Regards.

    Val.
     
  4. Varasc

    Varasc Senior Member

    Thanks so much for your reply Marco. I am his daughter, unfortunately I deleted the correspondence with the IRC and I can't remember the amount which was quoted but when I converted it to ZAR I couldn't afford it. Maybe I should try again amking sure they understand that I am his daughter.

    Regards.

    Val.


    Dear Val,

    Just click here:

    ICRC Archives

    ..and fill the form. As you may read, "Research is carried out free of charge when it has been requested by the individual concerned himself/herself or by his/her next of kin (brother, sister, wife, husband, father, mother, children, grand-children)." :)

    Good luck!
     
  5. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    Thanks very much for the link. I have completed the form (I noted that research is free for next-of-kin) and submitted it and will now wait patiently.

    I do appreciate your help.

    Val.
     
  6. Varasc

    Varasc Senior Member

    Thanks very much for the link. I have completed the form (I noted that research is free for next-of-kin) and submitted it and will now wait patiently.

    I do appreciate your help.

    Val.

    You are really welcome,

    I think you may have to wait for several months.. I wish you good luck with this interesting search. Maybe you can share with us your results, when received! It would be surely interesting. :)
     
  7. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    I will certainly post any results on here, but there is a 6 to 12 month wait.
     
  8. Geotrac

    Geotrac Member

    Hi Squeak, stumbled across your post this evening and was wondering whether you have heard anything from the ICRC yet? I believe it is a 6 to 12 months waiting period but I have also seen some people speak about up to 2 years... Arghhh! My GF (ML Foxcroft) was also captured at the fall of Tobruk in Libya (21/6/1942) and went to Camp 54 and then eventually onto STALAG 8B (later 344) near Lamsdorf. There were over 50 work camps in and around 344, so I am trying to find out which work camp he was at (family speak about a mine, of which there were many!) Who knows, maybe your dad and my GF knew each other! (see attached doc with your dads name on it, which confirms his first camp) There is a dedicated and very interesting website on Camp 54. Not sure if you have seen it yet,so just thought I'd post anyway - Campo PG 54 - Fara Sabina

    I am surprised that the SANDF weren't able to help you? Did you speak to the right office? I waited about 3 weeks and received copies of his military records, not much, but still a good read! I look forward to hearing on your progress! I will certainly be sharing mine!

    Best regards,

    George
    PS. I see you are from one of my most fave "spots", J-Bay... Nice!
     

    Attached Files:

  9. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    Thank you so much for your reply George, it is much appreciated. The website on Camp 54 is indeed very interesting and I have not seen it before. I have just taken a quick look but I will definitely be having a proper look later. My dad was, I believe, i n 344. I have not heard anything from ICRC yet and am still waiting patiently - I hope it will not take 2 years!.

    JBay is a very nice place, although not the quiet place we retired to 17 years ago.
    I see you live in Fish Hoek I have a cousin who lives there, the Cape is beautiful, Small world!

    Once again many thanks.

    Val.

    PS. I forgot to mention that my dad mentioned the long march and was liberated by the Americans.
     
  10. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    Thought I would just mention that I am still waiting to hear from the IRC.


    Val.
     
  11. jacksun

    jacksun Senior Member

    Thought I would just mention that I am still waiting to hear from the IRC.

    Val.

    Val, took 11 months for me to get a response from the IRC. I applied Nov 2011, received the info late Oct 2012.

    Wayne
     
  12. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    Hi Wayne, I shall wait patiently.


    Val
     
  13. Graham50

    Graham50 Junior Member

    I wonder if anyone is able to tell me where I could obtain the POW records(other than the International Red Cross)

    Many thanks. for my father ALFRED JAMES FELLOWS, captured in Libya on 20 June 1942.
    He was held at 54 Fara in Sabina and moved to Camp 334 Lamsforf, Poland.
    The SA Department of Defence can't help me and the International Red Cross charges are exhorbitant.
    I spent a lot of time searching for info on my dad who was in 54 Fara. Eventually a MR Stephen Fogden sent me the list of POWs in 54. My dad's name,rank and number were recorded in this document. With this info I contacted the SANDF via their website in January and yesterday I received via post a 12 page war history of my dad. You must remember to give them all the info you have, especially his army number.
    Hope you have luck.
     
  14. Varasc

    Varasc Senior Member

    Hello Val,

    Thanks for your replies and of course I am waiting to see the material you'll receive..!
     
  15. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    Thanks for your input Graham50.

    Marco I have not yet received anything from the ICRC, and although they state they do not enter into correspondence regarding requests I wonder if I could write to them; as I think after 15 months perhaps the mail might have gone astray.
     
  16. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Many South African POW Liberation reports are contained in the WO 344 series at the National Archives. As the soldier concerned had frequently returned home to South Africa any queries about their reports often resulted in a fairly detailed affidavit being provided and attached.

    Well worth considering - Drew (Drew5233) and Lee (PsyWar.Org) are willing to do lookups at the Archives for a fee

    John
     
  17. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    Thanks for that information John, I shall check the Archives.

    Val.
     
  18. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    John, Lee is going to look up the returning prisoner's questionnaire at the Archives for me. I hope my father completed one.
     
  19. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Squeak

    Similarly I hope that you are lucky and that his report is filed, fingers crossed!!

    John
     
  20. squeak

    squeak Junior Member

    I thought I would mention that I contacted the IRCR about not receiving the information after a 15-month wait and they have very kindly said that they will send it again.
     

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