257818 2Lt. Ferdinand Peter Jordan British Army North Somerset Yeomanry from:17 Fernbank Rd. Redland, Bristol My father, Peter Jordan, was in the North Somerset Yeomanry and joined the 4th Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division.
In Jan 1940 he transited across France to Palestine. During June and July 1941 he took part in operations against Vichy French in Syria.
In June 1942 he was reported missing in action (Casualty list 860). By August he was reported as a POW Number 137. I have a copy of a card sent to his sister, date unknown, but marked PG 47 (Modena, Italy). I think that this may have been a transit camp but without a date it is hard to know how long he was there.
The first letter after his capture is dated April 25th 1943 and was sent from PG 49 at Fontanellato Italy where he remained until Sept 8th/9th when they were released during the Italian Armistice. I have no record of where he was until January 1944 when he was recaptured and taken to Oflag 8 Mahrisch_- Truau. I understand that this camp was only operational from July 1942 to July 1944. Also in the camp was a Capt. Pringle whom he seems to have known from Bristol. Both 7 Coy.
I have 2 letters from the Bristol Prisoners of War Relatives Association sent to my grandmother, Peter's mother. These are dated Jan 29th 1944 and give a brief description of the locality and camp. Mr.Leonard Davis says, "I think offlag ( sic) VIII is going to prove quite a good camp. Reports have come through, of officers having gone there, last week "
I have 7 lettercards,from this period; one a month and very limited in both space and content. By August 1944 the camp had closed down and the POWs removed to other camps.
My father went to Oflag 79 Brunswick, Germany where he remained until the camp was liberated.
I have been able to follow my father's thanks to the dedication and devotion of his mother who kept all of his correspondence from his enlistment to the end of 1944.
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