POW Camp Index
|
|
Links |
- Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 57 Prisoner of War Camp during the Second World War -
POW Camp Index
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.
If you enjoy this siteplease consider making a donation.
Site Home
Add Stories
WW2 Features
Submissions
FAQ's
Advertisements
World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945
Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 57 Prisoner of War Camp
20th Aug 1942 Aircraft LostIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Those known to have been held in or employed at
Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 57 Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.
- Brown Raymond Arthur. Pte.
- Fishel Cecil Leon. Sig.
- Gooch Francis Ernest. Pte.
- Griffiths Harry O'Dwyer. Pte
- Hassan Ray. Pte.
- McKenna John Alphonsus Stuart. Pte
- McKenna John Alphonsus Stuart. Pte.
- O'Connor John Joseph. Pte.
- Pinner Frederick Charles. Rifleman.
- Robinson John Trevor. Pte.
- Sloan William. Pte.
- Walsh Thomas. Cpl.
- Walsh Thomas. Cpl.
- Webster Edward. Drv.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
Records from Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 57 Prisoner of War Camp other sources.
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 25 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 18th Dec 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 265120 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research? Please read our Family History FAQs
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this siteplease consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home.If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes.
Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
Want to know more about Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 57 Prisoner of War Camp?
There are:0 items tagged Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 57 Prisoner of War Camp available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.
Pte Harry O'Dwyer Griffiths Sapper 2/2 Field Park
I am trying to piece together information to the prison camps my grandfather was in during the war. I believe he might have been in Stalag 7:4, Stalag 4B POW no 274879 after leaving the Gruppignano prison camp in Italy so am wondering if you are able to help with any information at all.Peta O'Dwyer
Drv. Edward Webster Royal Signals
Edward Webster was captured by the Italians in Mechili, Libya on 8th of April 1941. He was first interned at Capua POW camp (date unknown), then at the Gruppignano POW Camp on 24th of July 1941, and then transferred to C.C.N. 53 P.M. 3300 Camp on 2nd of September 1943. Finally, he was transferred to Stalag VIIB in Germany.Kathryn Burford
Pte. Raymond Arthur Brown 25th Btn.
Raymond Brown left New Zealand in WW2 on 13th of September 1941 with the 25th Battalion, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, arriving in Egypt on 20th of October 1941. He was 22 years old.During an advance he was reported missing on 22nd of July 1942. It wasn't until 18th of November 1942 a cable was received outlining his incarceration at Campo PG 57, Gruppignano, Italy. He was moved to Campo PG 107, Udine, Italy on 121st of April 943. In 1944, Raymond's next of kin received a capture card from Stalag VII/A, dated 23rd of June 1944 POW number 130300. Raymond was finally liberated on 13th of May 1945, and returned to New Zealand via London, UK.
Having been a POW took its toll on Raymond. His health was very poor on his return to New Zealand, exacerbated by excessive drinking. Sadly he passed away in March of 1964 from congestive heart failure and alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Lana Pennington
Sig. Cecil Leon Fishel Eighth Army Royal Signals
My father, Cecil Fishel said he was captured in late June at El Alemain but I wonder if it was one of the minor battles just before this as he said he was captured on or around his 22nd birthday, which was the 18th of June 1942. I reckon he was then shipped to Italy as I've found he was at Camp 57 then onwards to a Stalag in Austria, not far from Graz then it seems he was prisoner of war on some Austrian farm somewhere (for around 18 months).Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. He told one or two stories but they are rather gruesome. It seems he had a terribly difficult war and didn't tend to talk about it
Joel Fishel
Pte. Francis Ernest Gooch 25th Battalion
My late father, Frank Gooch, was captured during the desert campaign in Egypt at El Meir during the First battle of el Alamein on the 22nd of July 1942. After capture he was transported to Italy were he was a prisoner of war at Campo PG 85 then Campo PG 57. After Italy capitulated Frank was transported to Germany were he was imprisoned at Stalag 344 then at Stalag 317.I still have my father's Stalag 317 dog tags which have stamped on them number 33135. Unfortunately, Frank died at the relatively young age of 51 years in May 1970 so stories of his war service experience and subsequent capture were not passed on to his family.
Chris Gooch
Pte. William "Toddy" Sloan
Does anyone have information about Private William `Toddy' Sloan? He spent time in Stalag 18A, Wolfsberg, Austria and also Camp 57, Gruppignano, Italy. Can anyone help, please?Diane Tonge
Rifleman. Frederick Charles Pinner Rifle Brigade
Fred Pinner joined the Tower Hamlet Riffles in 1938 and was called up in early September 1939. He was trained as a Signaller. This is his story:In September 1939, I was moved from London to Lincolnshire to become part of Motorized Infantry, January 1940. I was then moved down to Wellingborough to be billeted out with a local family and carried out training schemes around Cambridgeshire. I trained as a signaller. (Signaller’s are employed as radio/ telephone operators, relaying messages for field commanders at front line Army units) Then back to Wellingborough to prepare for embarkation in Liverpool to Egypt in early November, arriving in Port Said on New Year’s Day, 1941.
When our vehicles arrived we became 9BN Rifle Brigade and joined 22nd Guards Brigade in the first sweep up to Agedabia to relieve 2RB in the first attack by Rommel and withdrawal back to Egypt. Part of our company were cut off at Dernia but managed to break out and get to Tobruk before it was surrounded, those of us in 9BN were later taken dock side and boarded the ’Water Hen’ an Australian destroyer to Alexandria and then by road back to Beni Yusef camp in Cairo where the battalion was then encamped.
Later in October/November we took part in the 2nd sweep up the desert to relieve Tobruk and then on to Benghazi area to take up positions and prepare for further advance. Once again we came under attack and set up a defence line we called 'Knightsbridge', but came under bomb attack and had to make a quick withdrawal. It was during this move that our wireless car broke down at night and three of us were left stranded. The following morning as we were making tea we saw a British truck approach us and we thought we were alright. But it was a truck taken by a German Patrol. Captured we were taken POW’s eventually arriving at PG65 in the Bari area of Italy July 1942.
We occupied our time with reading paperbacks sent from back home, there were never enough to go round, so we swapped books with other lads. We played chess and bridge with sets sent out by the Red Cross, As well as food parcels, which were shared by four men, we were generally sent practical items that we could use straight away, things like musical instruments or games. We also received food parcels from Canada, which were generous. This led to bartering things that we were not going to need with the Italian Guards. Tins of coffee could be exchanged for several loaves of bread as coffee was in great demand by the Italians, even though they were as hungry as we were. When our troops invaded Sicily during July/August 1943 our camp was cleared and we moved to a few different camps along the way ending up at camp around Northern Italy, (Campo F.57) which was taken over by German Guards when Italy surrendered.
At this time Prisoners of War came from many different camps in Italy. This led to a lot of confusion; the German Guards were not aware which camp we came from and as our compounds were only divided by low wire fences we were able to look about us and see if we recognised anyone we knew from other camps. I was able to spot my boyhood friend and fellow ‘Tower Hamlets Rifles‘, Bill Dean. I made a quick jump over the fence and joined his lot and we stayed together for the rest of the war.
In my case it was to a place called Freiberg (Saxony) to work in a forced labour camp, lead mine, until the end of the war. On arrival we were asked our jobs before the war. Bill Dean was a carpenter and although I was an apprentice compositor, I thought that I could manage a bit of woodwork, so I said carpenter as well. Our German Guards could not speak much English and we could not speak much German so we were asked if we had anyone amongst us who could speak German. We did not, however, we did have a couple of Jewish lads and they spoke Yiddish, It was suggested that as the root of the language was similar that they would be able to understand one another. One Jewish lad then became the interpreter (Übersetzer) and another organised work parties. This meant that the only two lads who never worked in the lead mine were Jewish. Everyone was given the same work clothes so it was impossible to distinguish what nationality anyone was until we tried to converse. Bill Dean and I were set to a workshop making ladders. The following diary written at the time tells part of what happened between then and my landing back home in England.
Fred Pinner’s War Diary, April to May 1945
Saturday 14th April 1945 Move from Freiberg by train to Dresden. Spent the night in open coal truck in Dresden.
Sunday, 15th April Move from Dresden by train to Pirna, spent the night in same trucks in sidings - no food all day.
Monday 16th April Move from Pirna to Konigstein - 15 kilometres march, had rations in the evening. 400grms of bread and meat. Halt near Konigstein Castle.
Tuesday 17th April Remain in camp for the day, rations today 400grms of bread, meat, coffee and sugar.
Wednesday 18th April Still in camp, will possibly stay here for a while. Rations short owing to theft, today we get 333grms of bread, two days issue of meat coffee and sugar.
Thursday 19th April Still in camp, last day of rations from Pirna, rations today 333grms of bread, coffee and sugar.
Harold, Bill and me take a walk to nearby village in search of food, with exception of a few remarks over the allied bombing, we were treated well by civilians that we conversed with and procured potatoes, eggs and bread. Also a smoke. Pirna bombed today.
Friday 20th April Still in camp today, Jack, Don and Jack go out for food with good results, they were also well met by the Germans.
Saturday 20th April Move from Konigstein to Hellersdorf, are split up on arrival over various farms. After a few days, I find work building a summer house about 5 kilometers away and cannot find time to keep a daily log. Our camp rations have been cut down due to the fact that we are no longer on the march but many of us, in fact most of us, have ventured out of camp and secured other food.
By bartering clothes, (in some cases had given to us), I had done alright for food through working, for which our sole wages are food and cigarettes at the end of the work. I was given 200 cigarettes for working in addition to the few we have been given every day. Sunday finishes the week with rumors of a separate peace or rather capitulation of Germany to British and American forces.
Monday 30th April There are further rumors today of Germany’s capitulation and although we cannot get confirmation, the attitude of the civilians seems to support it. There is also talk of a repatriation scheme to get us away in the next few days. Tuesdays ‘griff’ says that we will move on Thursday.
Felt rather queer in the evening and could not go to work for Wednesday. Bill deputised for me at work today. We heard that ‘Hitler’ and ‘Mussolini’ are dead and that another Government has taken over Germany. This news is confirmed later on in the day.
Thursday, Bill again went to work in my place, no news today of moving. No further developments on Friday. Saturday went to work myself. Very heavy artillery fire near here.
Sunday finds us with better weather. We have managed to get food and cigarettes all week.
Monday 7th May Were told immediately we arrived at work that the Russians were very near and expected here by Wednesday. Artillery fire is very close. We learn on arrival at the camp that we move tomorrow.
Tuesday 8th May Moved off this morning at 7oclock to Teplitz among columns of German soldiers, on the way to hand ourselves over to Anglo-American Forces. This proves to be the most hectic nerve racking day I have experienced since being POW. Until sunset the area and road through which we were marching was continually bombed and strafed causing us to lose several comrades. The Russians planes could hardly be blamed for this owing to lack of orders in the marching columns which made it impossible to distinguish from the air. When we were within five kilometres from Teplitz, the Russian spearhead had already come in from the West and the North and occupied the town. There is no sign of the rest of the F.57 lads and we decide to take shelter in a farmhouse and later go through to Teplitz. On the road we meet a German soldier who thinks he can take us through to American lines and after walking a few kilometres to Bilin, we are offered a lift on a truck but the road is now packed with vehicles, civilians and Germans trying to get through to American lines and after consideration we decide to stay the night and meet the Russians next morning. We managed to find a sheltered spot and lay-us-down for the night.
Wednesday 9th May We awake at dawn and after a little reconnaissance we find two cars loaded with food, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and all odds and ends that had been dumped the night previous by SS troops. After this we decide to stay a while, have a good feed and move off to Chemintz in the car we have succeeded to get going. We move off about 5 o'clock in the evening passing the Russian columns entering Teplitz but find that the road which is the only pass through the mountain range has been blown up and owing to Russian transport coming through continually, allows only through traffic to Teplitz. We decide to return to our rendezvous and try again first light tomorrow. On our return we go to a house to have some coffee, cooked for supper and hear the news that the Capitulation terms have been concluded between the German and Allied Forces and something of the celebrations going on back home.
Thursday 10th May Awake at first light and quick meal, are on our way again but find that the road is still blocked so decide to make our way South to Karlsbad where the Americans are supposed to be. Passing endless columns of POW civilians and German soldiers going through to Karlsbad. We arrive at Komotau to have our car taken from us by the Russians, who are commandeering all means of transport. We find billets in a library adjoining a flat that has been vacated where we are able to do our cooking. At present we have more food than we can eat and out of the seven of us, four have stomach troubles. Our policy is to stay here a few days and watch for a further development that will take us on our way home.
Friday 11th May We are given notice to quit our flat today but have already secured other billets with some German women who are cooking and looking after us. Our only task now is to secure food for all of us which although yet is not difficult, will probably be in a few days’ time owing to lack of organisation. Food is where you find it!
Saturday 12 May End
August 4th 2014 Today is the anniversary of the ‘First World War’ and I am sat with my daughter I have discovered that she has rescued this Diary from the oblivion of the loft during a recent move and I am allowed to finish the above Diary, from Saturday 12th May to the safe arrival back home to Bethnal Green.
So now Back to Saturday 12th May 1945 During our search for food the seven of us came across a First Aid Post that was set up by a Scot. He had two lads that he had being caring for and then explained to us that a coach would be coming later that day to get them to a Repatriation Centre and suggested that we also wait there and join them for the first stop back home. By the evening we had arrived to join lads from all around camps in Germany. We spent the night there and by midday about 50 or so various types of vehicles had been found and the whole column went on its way to where the nearest American Forces were based. After being provided with clean clothes and an introduction to American cooking we were taken to an airfield where about 30 ‘Dakotas’ were lined up ready to take us in groups of 20 to land in Belgium, Those of us who were English were taken to Hotels to stay overnight and in the morning to another airfield locally. Then in small groups of a dozen or so boarded ‘Lancaster’ aircraft that were returning to England from their duties in Europe and landed us safely back home to the welcome ‘Green Fields’ of England.
Annette Humphery
Cpl. Thomas Walsh 22nd Battlion
My late cousin, Thomas Walsh, was a P.O.W. He was in the 22nd Battalion, Corporal. He went missing in 1942 and his mother was notified to say he was in Italy Campo P.G. 57 and his number was 6906 then he was taken to Stalag XVIIIA Germany prisoner of war number 39819. When he left N.Z. it was from Wellington although he enlisted in Stratford he was single. I would very much appreciate it if you have any information about him.Sherryn Hinkley
Pte. John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna D (Taranaki) Company 19th Battalion
On 25 January 1941 my father, John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna, volunteered for war service and was attested into the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force (2NZEF). He had been offered “essential industry” status but refused, preferring instead to go overseas and fight. He had prior service in the Territorial Force as a Sergeant. His record shows he entered Trentham Camp on 18 February 1941 and embarked for Egypt on 7 April 1941 as a member of the 5th Reinforcements. They embarked on the ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ at Wellington and sailed for the Middle East via Sydney, Perth, Singapore and Colombo, Ceylon. The ship disembarked in Egypt on 16 May 1941 and Dad was taken on the strength of Taranaki Company, the 19th Battalion, 4th NZ Brigade Group, 2nd NZ Division, on 26 June 1941.He began desert training at the Infantry Training Depot, 2 NZEF Base Camp at Maadi on 27 September and marched back into the 19th Battalion on 19 October 1941. He was in the 1941 battles around Tobruk (Ed Duda and Sidi Rezegh), followed by the 1942 Break-Out at Minqar Qaim, where he was in the leading (Taranaki) company, and the Battle of Ruweisat Ridge where the 4th NZ Brigade, particularly the 19th Battalion was decimated. Dad was captured by the Germans on 15 July 1942 on Ruweisat Ridge. On 15 July 1942, the last day of the Battle, his Army record shows that Dad was posted missing.
On 24 October 1942 a cable from Rome (The Vatican we were told as children) was received stating he was incarcerated at Campo PG 57 at Gruppignano. His Army record shows he was posted as a Prisoner of War (POW) on 25 October 1942.
On 24 July 1943 a communication was received from Rome stating he was in Campo PG 103/7 at La Maina (Sauris) in the Dolomites. According to a Top Secret questionnaire completed by Dad in the UK on 25 April 1945 he said he worked at this camp on a hydroelectric scheme. Cables from Rome advised that Dad had been ill with chronic intestinal catarrah in April 1943 and had been discharged from the “Hospital Militaire” at Udine cured of the illness but in “organic decline”.
After the Italian surrender Dad and other prisoners from Campo PG 103/7 were transferred to Germany by train. According to the 25 April 1945 Top Secret questionnaire Dad arrived at Stalag VIIA at Moosberg on 15 September 1943. On 3 November 1943 Dad moved to Stalag XIA, Altengrabow, near Magdeburg, arriving on 6 November 1943. A capture card reporting Dad at Stalag XIA was noted in his records on 15 November 1943. On 24 December 1943 Dad was moved to Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel. A camp leader communication was received by the NZ Army on 23 January 1944 advising Dad was in Stalag XIB as POW number 138645.
On 25 December 1943 he was moved to work camp KDO 7002 at Ufingln, where he worked building air raid shelters. On 6 August 1944 he was moved to Arbeitskommando 7001 at Halendorf where he worked in a steel works. He stayed there until 9 April 1945. Both work camps were attached to Stalag XIB.
At Stalag XIB, on 13 April 1945, the German Commandant announced that the British Forces were very close and that he proposed to move his guard company, leaving a token guard on the camp to avoid possible interference by SS troops in the area. Senior prisoner NCOs then took over the complete administration of the camp, even to issuing leave passes to the German guards. On the morning of 16 April British tanks of units of the 7th Armoured Div (the Desert Rats) arrived at the camp gates and the POWs were released from Stalag XIB at 0837 hours 16th April 1945.
Dad’s records show him being reported “safe in the UK” on 23 April 1945. and also show him embarking in England on 18 June 1945. Dad arrived back in NZ on 19 July 1945 (I was then nearly 7 and my brother Denis was 5).
Kevin McKenna
Cpl. Thomas Walsh 22nd Battalion
My late cousin, Thomas Walsh, was a P.O.W. He was in the 22nd Battalion. He went missing in 1942 and his mother was notified to say he was in Italy Campo P.G. 57. Then he was taken to Stalag XVIIIA Germany. When he left N.Z. it was from Wellington although he enlisted in Stratford. He was single. I would very much appreciate it if anyone has any information about him.Sherryn Hinkley
Pte. John Joseph O'Connor New Zealand Armoured Corp
I am trying to find information on my grandfather, John O'Connor. He was aboard the Nino Bixio when it was sunk on the 17th of August 1942, he managed to survive. I believe he was injured in the torpedo attack and nearly drowned. I would like to trace his movements, but can find only details of him in the Gruppigano 57.Brian O'Connor
Pte. Ray "Chock" Hassan 2/15th Bn
My grandfather Ray Hassan was in Campo PG 57 during the war and escaped twice I believe. To date, I am only aware of one other gent called Tony Giddins who was interred with him, although there were undoubtedly many more.Darren Hassan
Pte John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna D (Taranaki) Company 19th Battalion
On 25 January 1941 my father, John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna, volunteered for war service and was attested into the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force (2NZEF). He had been offered “essential industry” status but refused, preferring instead to go overseas and fight. He had prior service in the Territorial Force as a Sergeant. His record shows he entered Trentham Camp on 18 February 1941 and embarked for Egypt on 7 April 1941 as a member of the 5th Reinforcements. They embarked on the ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ at Wellington and sailed for the Middle East via Sydney, Perth, Singapore and Colombo, Ceylon. The ship disembarked in Egypt on 16 May 1941 and Dad was taken on the strength of Taranaki Company, the 19th Battalion, 4th NZ Brigade Group, 2nd NZ Division, on 26 June 1941.He began desert training at the Infantry Training Depot, 2 NZEF Base Camp at Maadi on 27 September and marched back into the 19th Battalion on 19 October 1941. He was in the 1941 battles around Tobruk (Ed Duda and Sidi Rezegh), followed by the 1942 Break-Out at Minqar Qaim, where he was in the leading (Taranaki) company, and the Battle of Ruweisat Ridge where the 4th NZ Brigade, particularly the 19th Battalion was decimated. Dad was captured by the Germans on 15 July 1942 on Ruweisat Ridge.
• On 15 July 1942, the last day of the battle, his Army record shows that Dad was posted missing.
• On 24 October 1942 a cable from Rome (The Vatican we were told as children) was received stating he was incarcerated at Campo PG 57 at Gruppignano.
• His Army record shows he was posted as a Prisoner of War (POW) on 25 October 1942.
• On 24 July 1943 a communication was received from Rome stating he was in Campo PG 103/7 at La Maina (Sauris) in the Dolomites. According to a Top Secret questionnaire completed by Dad in the UK on 25 April 1945 he said he worked at this camp on a hydroelectric scheme.
• Cables from Rome advised that Dad had been ill with chronic intestinal catarrah in April 1943 and had been discharged from the “Hospital Militaire” at Udine cured of the illness but in “organic decline”.
• After the Italian surrender Dad and other prisoners from Campo PG 103/7 were transferred to Germany by train. According to the 25 April 1945 Top Secret questionnaire Dad arrived at Stalag VIIA at Moosberg on 15 September 1943. On 3 November 1943 Dad moved to Stalag XIA, Altengrabow, near Magdeburg, arriving on 6 November 1943. A capture card reporting Dad at Stalag XIA was noted in his records on 15 November 1943. On 24 December 1943 Dad was moved to Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel.
• A camp leader communication was received by the NZ Army on 23 January 1944 advising Dad was in Stalag XIB as POW number 138645.
• On 25 December 1943 he was moved to work camp KDO 7002 at Ufingln, where he worked building air raid shelters.
• On 6 August 1944 he was moved to Arbeitskommando 7001 at Halendorf where he worked in a steel works. He stayed there until 9 April 1945. Both work camps were attached to Stalag XIB.
• At Stalag XIB, on 13 April 1945, the German Commandant announced that the British Forces were very close and that he proposed to move his guard company, leaving a token guard on the camp to avoid possible interference by SS troops in the area. Senior prisoner NCOs then took over the complete administration of the camp, even to issuing leave passes to the German guards. On the morning of 16 April British tanks of units of the 7th Armoured Div (the Desert Rats) arrived at the camp gates and the POWs were released from Stalag XIB at 0837 hours 16th April 1945.
• Dad’s records show him being reported “safe in the UK” on 23 April 1945.
• Dad’s records show him embarking in England on 18 June 1945.
• Dad arrived back in NZ on 19 July 1945 (I was then nearly 7 and my brother Denis was 5).
Kevin McKenna
Pte. John Trevor "Ted" Robinson 21st btn.
My father, Trevor Robinson, served with the 21st Battalion, 2NZEF. He was captured on the 28th November 1941 in Sidi Rezegh and was a POW in PG57, Italy. Udine Gruppignano. He was then tranfered to Germany to Stalag X1A, camp 341 Altengrabow, Germany. His prisoner of war number was 139761. He was a POW for the majority of the 2nd World War and suffered the consequences for the rest of his life. I would be most grateful if someone could please give me details of these camps, when and how the prisoners were transported to Germany and then after the war to England and my father's journey home back to New Zealand. Any information at all during that time would be gratefully appreciated.Pam Silvester
Pte Harry O'Dwyer Griffiths Sapper 2/2 Field Park
I am trying to piece together information to the prison camps my grandfather was in during the war. I believe he might have been in Stalag 7:4, Stalag 4B POW no 274879 after leaving the Gruppignano prison camp in Italy so am wondering if you are able to help with any information at all.Peta O'Dwyer
Drv. Edward Webster Royal Signals
Edward Webster was captured by the Italians in Mechili, Libya on 8th of April 1941. He was first interned at Capua POW camp (date unknown), then at the Gruppignano POW Camp on 24th of July 1941, and then transferred to C.C.N. 53 P.M. 3300 Camp on 2nd of September 1943. Finally, he was transferred to Stalag VIIB in Germany.Kathryn Burford
Pte. Raymond Arthur Brown 25th Btn.
Raymond Brown left New Zealand in WW2 on 13th of September 1941 with the 25th Battalion, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, arriving in Egypt on 20th of October 1941. He was 22 years old.During an advance he was reported missing on 22nd of July 1942. It wasn't until 18th of November 1942 a cable was received outlining his incarceration at Campo PG 57, Gruppignano, Italy. He was moved to Campo PG 107, Udine, Italy on 121st of April 943. In 1944, Raymond's next of kin received a capture card from Stalag VII/A, dated 23rd of June 1944 POW number 130300. Raymond was finally liberated on 13th of May 1945, and returned to New Zealand via London, UK.
Having been a POW took its toll on Raymond. His health was very poor on his return to New Zealand, exacerbated by excessive drinking. Sadly he passed away in March of 1964 from congestive heart failure and alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Lana Pennington
Sig. Cecil Leon Fishel Eighth Army Royal Signals
My father, Cecil Fishel said he was captured in late June at El Alemain but I wonder if it was one of the minor battles just before this as he said he was captured on or around his 22nd birthday, which was the 18th of June 1942. I reckon he was then shipped to Italy as I've found he was at Camp 57 then onwards to a Stalag in Austria, not far from Graz then it seems he was prisoner of war on some Austrian farm somewhere (for around 18 months).Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. He told one or two stories but they are rather gruesome. It seems he had a terribly difficult war and didn't tend to talk about it
Joel Fishel
Pte. Francis Ernest Gooch 25th Battalion
My late father, Frank Gooch, was captured during the desert campaign in Egypt at El Meir during the First battle of el Alamein on the 22nd of July 1942. After capture he was transported to Italy were he was a prisoner of war at Campo PG 85 then Campo PG 57. After Italy capitulated Frank was transported to Germany were he was imprisoned at Stalag 344 then at Stalag 317.I still have my father's Stalag 317 dog tags which have stamped on them number 33135. Unfortunately, Frank died at the relatively young age of 51 years in May 1970 so stories of his war service experience and subsequent capture were not passed on to his family.
Chris Gooch
Pte. William "Toddy" Sloan
Does anyone have information about Private William `Toddy' Sloan? He spent time in Stalag 18A, Wolfsberg, Austria and also Camp 57, Gruppignano, Italy. Can anyone help, please?Diane Tonge
Rifleman. Frederick Charles Pinner Rifle Brigade
Fred Pinner joined the Tower Hamlet Riffles in 1938 and was called up in early September 1939. He was trained as a Signaller. This is his story:In September 1939, I was moved from London to Lincolnshire to become part of Motorized Infantry, January 1940. I was then moved down to Wellingborough to be billeted out with a local family and carried out training schemes around Cambridgeshire. I trained as a signaller. (Signaller’s are employed as radio/ telephone operators, relaying messages for field commanders at front line Army units) Then back to Wellingborough to prepare for embarkation in Liverpool to Egypt in early November, arriving in Port Said on New Year’s Day, 1941.
When our vehicles arrived we became 9BN Rifle Brigade and joined 22nd Guards Brigade in the first sweep up to Agedabia to relieve 2RB in the first attack by Rommel and withdrawal back to Egypt. Part of our company were cut off at Dernia but managed to break out and get to Tobruk before it was surrounded, those of us in 9BN were later taken dock side and boarded the ’Water Hen’ an Australian destroyer to Alexandria and then by road back to Beni Yusef camp in Cairo where the battalion was then encamped.
Later in October/November we took part in the 2nd sweep up the desert to relieve Tobruk and then on to Benghazi area to take up positions and prepare for further advance. Once again we came under attack and set up a defence line we called 'Knightsbridge', but came under bomb attack and had to make a quick withdrawal. It was during this move that our wireless car broke down at night and three of us were left stranded. The following morning as we were making tea we saw a British truck approach us and we thought we were alright. But it was a truck taken by a German Patrol. Captured we were taken POW’s eventually arriving at PG65 in the Bari area of Italy July 1942.
We occupied our time with reading paperbacks sent from back home, there were never enough to go round, so we swapped books with other lads. We played chess and bridge with sets sent out by the Red Cross, As well as food parcels, which were shared by four men, we were generally sent practical items that we could use straight away, things like musical instruments or games. We also received food parcels from Canada, which were generous. This led to bartering things that we were not going to need with the Italian Guards. Tins of coffee could be exchanged for several loaves of bread as coffee was in great demand by the Italians, even though they were as hungry as we were. When our troops invaded Sicily during July/August 1943 our camp was cleared and we moved to a few different camps along the way ending up at camp around Northern Italy, (Campo F.57) which was taken over by German Guards when Italy surrendered.
At this time Prisoners of War came from many different camps in Italy. This led to a lot of confusion; the German Guards were not aware which camp we came from and as our compounds were only divided by low wire fences we were able to look about us and see if we recognised anyone we knew from other camps. I was able to spot my boyhood friend and fellow ‘Tower Hamlets Rifles‘, Bill Dean. I made a quick jump over the fence and joined his lot and we stayed together for the rest of the war.
In my case it was to a place called Freiberg (Saxony) to work in a forced labour camp, lead mine, until the end of the war. On arrival we were asked our jobs before the war. Bill Dean was a carpenter and although I was an apprentice compositor, I thought that I could manage a bit of woodwork, so I said carpenter as well. Our German Guards could not speak much English and we could not speak much German so we were asked if we had anyone amongst us who could speak German. We did not, however, we did have a couple of Jewish lads and they spoke Yiddish, It was suggested that as the root of the language was similar that they would be able to understand one another. One Jewish lad then became the interpreter (Übersetzer) and another organised work parties. This meant that the only two lads who never worked in the lead mine were Jewish. Everyone was given the same work clothes so it was impossible to distinguish what nationality anyone was until we tried to converse. Bill Dean and I were set to a workshop making ladders. The following diary written at the time tells part of what happened between then and my landing back home in England.
Fred Pinner’s War Diary, April to May 1945
Saturday 14th April 1945 Move from Freiberg by train to Dresden. Spent the night in open coal truck in Dresden.
Sunday, 15th April Move from Dresden by train to Pirna, spent the night in same trucks in sidings - no food all day.
Monday 16th April Move from Pirna to Konigstein - 15 kilometres march, had rations in the evening. 400grms of bread and meat. Halt near Konigstein Castle.
Tuesday 17th April Remain in camp for the day, rations today 400grms of bread, meat, coffee and sugar.
Wednesday 18th April Still in camp, will possibly stay here for a while. Rations short owing to theft, today we get 333grms of bread, two days issue of meat coffee and sugar.
Thursday 19th April Still in camp, last day of rations from Pirna, rations today 333grms of bread, coffee and sugar.
Harold, Bill and me take a walk to nearby village in search of food, with exception of a few remarks over the allied bombing, we were treated well by civilians that we conversed with and procured potatoes, eggs and bread. Also a smoke. Pirna bombed today.
Friday 20th April Still in camp today, Jack, Don and Jack go out for food with good results, they were also well met by the Germans.
Saturday 20th April Move from Konigstein to Hellersdorf, are split up on arrival over various farms. After a few days, I find work building a summer house about 5 kilometers away and cannot find time to keep a daily log. Our camp rations have been cut down due to the fact that we are no longer on the march but many of us, in fact most of us, have ventured out of camp and secured other food.
By bartering clothes, (in some cases had given to us), I had done alright for food through working, for which our sole wages are food and cigarettes at the end of the work. I was given 200 cigarettes for working in addition to the few we have been given every day. Sunday finishes the week with rumors of a separate peace or rather capitulation of Germany to British and American forces.
Monday 30th April There are further rumors today of Germany’s capitulation and although we cannot get confirmation, the attitude of the civilians seems to support it. There is also talk of a repatriation scheme to get us away in the next few days. Tuesdays ‘griff’ says that we will move on Thursday.
Felt rather queer in the evening and could not go to work for Wednesday. Bill deputised for me at work today. We heard that ‘Hitler’ and ‘Mussolini’ are dead and that another Government has taken over Germany. This news is confirmed later on in the day.
Thursday, Bill again went to work in my place, no news today of moving. No further developments on Friday. Saturday went to work myself. Very heavy artillery fire near here.
Sunday finds us with better weather. We have managed to get food and cigarettes all week.
Monday 7th May Were told immediately we arrived at work that the Russians were very near and expected here by Wednesday. Artillery fire is very close. We learn on arrival at the camp that we move tomorrow.
Tuesday 8th May Moved off this morning at 7oclock to Teplitz among columns of German soldiers, on the way to hand ourselves over to Anglo-American Forces. This proves to be the most hectic nerve racking day I have experienced since being POW. Until sunset the area and road through which we were marching was continually bombed and strafed causing us to lose several comrades. The Russians planes could hardly be blamed for this owing to lack of orders in the marching columns which made it impossible to distinguish from the air. When we were within five kilometres from Teplitz, the Russian spearhead had already come in from the West and the North and occupied the town. There is no sign of the rest of the F.57 lads and we decide to take shelter in a farmhouse and later go through to Teplitz. On the road we meet a German soldier who thinks he can take us through to American lines and after walking a few kilometres to Bilin, we are offered a lift on a truck but the road is now packed with vehicles, civilians and Germans trying to get through to American lines and after consideration we decide to stay the night and meet the Russians next morning. We managed to find a sheltered spot and lay-us-down for the night.
Wednesday 9th May We awake at dawn and after a little reconnaissance we find two cars loaded with food, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and all odds and ends that had been dumped the night previous by SS troops. After this we decide to stay a while, have a good feed and move off to Chemintz in the car we have succeeded to get going. We move off about 5 o'clock in the evening passing the Russian columns entering Teplitz but find that the road which is the only pass through the mountain range has been blown up and owing to Russian transport coming through continually, allows only through traffic to Teplitz. We decide to return to our rendezvous and try again first light tomorrow. On our return we go to a house to have some coffee, cooked for supper and hear the news that the Capitulation terms have been concluded between the German and Allied Forces and something of the celebrations going on back home.
Thursday 10th May Awake at first light and quick meal, are on our way again but find that the road is still blocked so decide to make our way South to Karlsbad where the Americans are supposed to be. Passing endless columns of POW civilians and German soldiers going through to Karlsbad. We arrive at Komotau to have our car taken from us by the Russians, who are commandeering all means of transport. We find billets in a library adjoining a flat that has been vacated where we are able to do our cooking. At present we have more food than we can eat and out of the seven of us, four have stomach troubles. Our policy is to stay here a few days and watch for a further development that will take us on our way home.
Friday 11th May We are given notice to quit our flat today but have already secured other billets with some German women who are cooking and looking after us. Our only task now is to secure food for all of us which although yet is not difficult, will probably be in a few days’ time owing to lack of organisation. Food is where you find it!
Saturday 12 May End
August 4th 2014 Today is the anniversary of the ‘First World War’ and I am sat with my daughter I have discovered that she has rescued this Diary from the oblivion of the loft during a recent move and I am allowed to finish the above Diary, from Saturday 12th May to the safe arrival back home to Bethnal Green.
So now Back to Saturday 12th May 1945 During our search for food the seven of us came across a First Aid Post that was set up by a Scot. He had two lads that he had being caring for and then explained to us that a coach would be coming later that day to get them to a Repatriation Centre and suggested that we also wait there and join them for the first stop back home. By the evening we had arrived to join lads from all around camps in Germany. We spent the night there and by midday about 50 or so various types of vehicles had been found and the whole column went on its way to where the nearest American Forces were based. After being provided with clean clothes and an introduction to American cooking we were taken to an airfield where about 30 ‘Dakotas’ were lined up ready to take us in groups of 20 to land in Belgium, Those of us who were English were taken to Hotels to stay overnight and in the morning to another airfield locally. Then in small groups of a dozen or so boarded ‘Lancaster’ aircraft that were returning to England from their duties in Europe and landed us safely back home to the welcome ‘Green Fields’ of England.
Annette Humphery
Cpl. Thomas Walsh 22nd Battlion
My late cousin, Thomas Walsh, was a P.O.W. He was in the 22nd Battalion, Corporal. He went missing in 1942 and his mother was notified to say he was in Italy Campo P.G. 57 and his number was 6906 then he was taken to Stalag XVIIIA Germany prisoner of war number 39819. When he left N.Z. it was from Wellington although he enlisted in Stratford he was single. I would very much appreciate it if you have any information about him.Sherryn Hinkley
Pte. John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna D (Taranaki) Company 19th Battalion
On 25 January 1941 my father, John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna, volunteered for war service and was attested into the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force (2NZEF). He had been offered “essential industry” status but refused, preferring instead to go overseas and fight. He had prior service in the Territorial Force as a Sergeant. His record shows he entered Trentham Camp on 18 February 1941 and embarked for Egypt on 7 April 1941 as a member of the 5th Reinforcements. They embarked on the ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ at Wellington and sailed for the Middle East via Sydney, Perth, Singapore and Colombo, Ceylon. The ship disembarked in Egypt on 16 May 1941 and Dad was taken on the strength of Taranaki Company, the 19th Battalion, 4th NZ Brigade Group, 2nd NZ Division, on 26 June 1941.He began desert training at the Infantry Training Depot, 2 NZEF Base Camp at Maadi on 27 September and marched back into the 19th Battalion on 19 October 1941. He was in the 1941 battles around Tobruk (Ed Duda and Sidi Rezegh), followed by the 1942 Break-Out at Minqar Qaim, where he was in the leading (Taranaki) company, and the Battle of Ruweisat Ridge where the 4th NZ Brigade, particularly the 19th Battalion was decimated. Dad was captured by the Germans on 15 July 1942 on Ruweisat Ridge. On 15 July 1942, the last day of the Battle, his Army record shows that Dad was posted missing.
On 24 October 1942 a cable from Rome (The Vatican we were told as children) was received stating he was incarcerated at Campo PG 57 at Gruppignano. His Army record shows he was posted as a Prisoner of War (POW) on 25 October 1942.
On 24 July 1943 a communication was received from Rome stating he was in Campo PG 103/7 at La Maina (Sauris) in the Dolomites. According to a Top Secret questionnaire completed by Dad in the UK on 25 April 1945 he said he worked at this camp on a hydroelectric scheme. Cables from Rome advised that Dad had been ill with chronic intestinal catarrah in April 1943 and had been discharged from the “Hospital Militaire” at Udine cured of the illness but in “organic decline”.
After the Italian surrender Dad and other prisoners from Campo PG 103/7 were transferred to Germany by train. According to the 25 April 1945 Top Secret questionnaire Dad arrived at Stalag VIIA at Moosberg on 15 September 1943. On 3 November 1943 Dad moved to Stalag XIA, Altengrabow, near Magdeburg, arriving on 6 November 1943. A capture card reporting Dad at Stalag XIA was noted in his records on 15 November 1943. On 24 December 1943 Dad was moved to Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel. A camp leader communication was received by the NZ Army on 23 January 1944 advising Dad was in Stalag XIB as POW number 138645.
On 25 December 1943 he was moved to work camp KDO 7002 at Ufingln, where he worked building air raid shelters. On 6 August 1944 he was moved to Arbeitskommando 7001 at Halendorf where he worked in a steel works. He stayed there until 9 April 1945. Both work camps were attached to Stalag XIB.
At Stalag XIB, on 13 April 1945, the German Commandant announced that the British Forces were very close and that he proposed to move his guard company, leaving a token guard on the camp to avoid possible interference by SS troops in the area. Senior prisoner NCOs then took over the complete administration of the camp, even to issuing leave passes to the German guards. On the morning of 16 April British tanks of units of the 7th Armoured Div (the Desert Rats) arrived at the camp gates and the POWs were released from Stalag XIB at 0837 hours 16th April 1945.
Dad’s records show him being reported “safe in the UK” on 23 April 1945. and also show him embarking in England on 18 June 1945. Dad arrived back in NZ on 19 July 1945 (I was then nearly 7 and my brother Denis was 5).
Kevin McKenna
Cpl. Thomas Walsh 22nd Battalion
My late cousin, Thomas Walsh, was a P.O.W. He was in the 22nd Battalion. He went missing in 1942 and his mother was notified to say he was in Italy Campo P.G. 57. Then he was taken to Stalag XVIIIA Germany. When he left N.Z. it was from Wellington although he enlisted in Stratford. He was single. I would very much appreciate it if anyone has any information about him.Sherryn Hinkley
Pte. John Joseph O'Connor New Zealand Armoured Corp
I am trying to find information on my grandfather, John O'Connor. He was aboard the Nino Bixio when it was sunk on the 17th of August 1942, he managed to survive. I believe he was injured in the torpedo attack and nearly drowned. I would like to trace his movements, but can find only details of him in the Gruppigano 57.Brian O'Connor
Pte. Ray "Chock" Hassan 2/15th Bn
My grandfather Ray Hassan was in Campo PG 57 during the war and escaped twice I believe. To date, I am only aware of one other gent called Tony Giddins who was interred with him, although there were undoubtedly many more.Darren Hassan
Pte John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna D (Taranaki) Company 19th Battalion
On 25 January 1941 my father, John Alphonsus Stuart McKenna, volunteered for war service and was attested into the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force (2NZEF). He had been offered “essential industry” status but refused, preferring instead to go overseas and fight. He had prior service in the Territorial Force as a Sergeant. His record shows he entered Trentham Camp on 18 February 1941 and embarked for Egypt on 7 April 1941 as a member of the 5th Reinforcements. They embarked on the ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ at Wellington and sailed for the Middle East via Sydney, Perth, Singapore and Colombo, Ceylon. The ship disembarked in Egypt on 16 May 1941 and Dad was taken on the strength of Taranaki Company, the 19th Battalion, 4th NZ Brigade Group, 2nd NZ Division, on 26 June 1941.He began desert training at the Infantry Training Depot, 2 NZEF Base Camp at Maadi on 27 September and marched back into the 19th Battalion on 19 October 1941. He was in the 1941 battles around Tobruk (Ed Duda and Sidi Rezegh), followed by the 1942 Break-Out at Minqar Qaim, where he was in the leading (Taranaki) company, and the Battle of Ruweisat Ridge where the 4th NZ Brigade, particularly the 19th Battalion was decimated. Dad was captured by the Germans on 15 July 1942 on Ruweisat Ridge.
• On 15 July 1942, the last day of the battle, his Army record shows that Dad was posted missing.
• On 24 October 1942 a cable from Rome (The Vatican we were told as children) was received stating he was incarcerated at Campo PG 57 at Gruppignano.
• His Army record shows he was posted as a Prisoner of War (POW) on 25 October 1942.
• On 24 July 1943 a communication was received from Rome stating he was in Campo PG 103/7 at La Maina (Sauris) in the Dolomites. According to a Top Secret questionnaire completed by Dad in the UK on 25 April 1945 he said he worked at this camp on a hydroelectric scheme.
• Cables from Rome advised that Dad had been ill with chronic intestinal catarrah in April 1943 and had been discharged from the “Hospital Militaire” at Udine cured of the illness but in “organic decline”.
• After the Italian surrender Dad and other prisoners from Campo PG 103/7 were transferred to Germany by train. According to the 25 April 1945 Top Secret questionnaire Dad arrived at Stalag VIIA at Moosberg on 15 September 1943. On 3 November 1943 Dad moved to Stalag XIA, Altengrabow, near Magdeburg, arriving on 6 November 1943. A capture card reporting Dad at Stalag XIA was noted in his records on 15 November 1943. On 24 December 1943 Dad was moved to Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel.
• A camp leader communication was received by the NZ Army on 23 January 1944 advising Dad was in Stalag XIB as POW number 138645.
• On 25 December 1943 he was moved to work camp KDO 7002 at Ufingln, where he worked building air raid shelters.
• On 6 August 1944 he was moved to Arbeitskommando 7001 at Halendorf where he worked in a steel works. He stayed there until 9 April 1945. Both work camps were attached to Stalag XIB.
• At Stalag XIB, on 13 April 1945, the German Commandant announced that the British Forces were very close and that he proposed to move his guard company, leaving a token guard on the camp to avoid possible interference by SS troops in the area. Senior prisoner NCOs then took over the complete administration of the camp, even to issuing leave passes to the German guards. On the morning of 16 April British tanks of units of the 7th Armoured Div (the Desert Rats) arrived at the camp gates and the POWs were released from Stalag XIB at 0837 hours 16th April 1945.
• Dad’s records show him being reported “safe in the UK” on 23 April 1945.
• Dad’s records show him embarking in England on 18 June 1945.
• Dad arrived back in NZ on 19 July 1945 (I was then nearly 7 and my brother Denis was 5).
Kevin McKenna
Pte. John Trevor "Ted" Robinson 21st btn.
My father, Trevor Robinson, served with the 21st Battalion, 2NZEF. He was captured on the 28th November 1941 in Sidi Rezegh and was a POW in PG57, Italy. Udine Gruppignano. He was then tranfered to Germany to Stalag X1A, camp 341 Altengrabow, Germany. His prisoner of war number was 139761. He was a POW for the majority of the 2nd World War and suffered the consequences for the rest of his life. I would be most grateful if someone could please give me details of these camps, when and how the prisoners were transported to Germany and then after the war to England and my father's journey home back to New Zealand. Any information at all during that time would be gratefully appreciated.Pam Silvester
Recomended Reading.
Available at discounted prices.
Links
|
The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items. The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small
to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV - All Rights Reserved We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites. |
