POW Lists Italy

[Brian S]

I scrutinised WO 392/21

[Brian S]

To continue.

In 2011 I spent a week scrutinising WO 392/21 which is said to be a list of POW in Italian Hands August 1943.

The File lists 521 POW lost on the S S SCILLIN sunk 14/11/1942. This includes 6 Naval Casualties.

Also listed are 91 Prisoners lost on the NINO BIXIO Torpedoed 17/7/1942. 15 of the 91 are buried at Phaleron, Greece.

The File does not include the names of those known to have died in Italian Camps, or reported as lost at sea by survivors.

Over 200 are still listed as being in Libyan Camps.

Conclusions.

WO 392/21 is a compilation of lists of members of the Allied Forces that were reported by Italian and Red Cross sources at various times between 1940 and 1943 as prisoners in Italian Hands.

Camp Locations where given are where the men where last known to be in most cases. Some who died at sea in 1942 are given as still located in Italian Camps.
The only way to get an accurate Camp is by checking the mans Escape or Liberation Report. That is if he was ever in Italy

This is not a list of Allied P.O.W. in Italian hands at the date of compilation :- August 1943

POSTED AS A "sticky" on ww2talk.com by myself as ADM199.

Kew were told of the Files flaws some time ago, but as of yet are making no comment.

At present the only element of WO 392/21 that is considered to be vaguely reliable is the Service Nos given.

[WhiteFWR]

not sure if this is any use to members interested in POW camp in Italy. see: https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/...ueryExact=True

[Brian S]

Thanks for that.
I already have copies of Camp Locations in Italy along with most of Reports made by the Red Cross on visits to the Camps.
This includes those mis-filed in the WO 361 Series.

All the Escape and Evasions made from Italy including those for Switzerland. Those Available Reports for Escapers through the Lines Post Armistice are very incomplete though. At least two series are "missing" and only a very few of the 4,000+ made by C.S.D.I.C. can be found.

My data base also contains details of UK Camps; 1943 - 1945 - 1947. All of which come from Official Documentation.

[BJ Smith]

I don't suppose among your UK records you have any information on 2048 Italian POWs brought to the UK from Sicily on the Duchess of Richmond landing at King George V Dock Glasgow on 18 March 1944. My Dad was part of the escort and I just wonder where these men ended up.

Thank you Brian

[Brian S]

I am afraid I have no information regarding the movement of Italian POW, but if you know your Dads unit the information should be in the War diary covering the date.

[BJ Smith]

Brian thank you I have the war diary and nothing is covered on disembarkation of the prisoners. Although disembarking in Glasgow the Unit was heading for Southend so I suppose the POWs could have ended up anywhere.

Many thanks Brian

[Brian S]

Either anywhere or very close to Glasgow.

Must dig out my Reference.

[Brian S]

The File Description given for WO 392/21 on Discovery has been corrected.

It now includes my findings and Conclusions.

[Brian S]

Tom

I am most surprised that the sticky you posted regarding Lists of POW in Italian hands hasn't been amended or deleted.
It is greatly misleading to anyone not knowing better.

What makes matters more confusing for those who are not familiar with "Discovery", the UK National Archives Catalogue, will be even more confused by the link you give on FWR which is WO 392/12.

This is section Two of POW Lists in Germany and German Occupied Territory .

"Australian Imperial Forces"


Brian