ITALIAN POW -WWII- looking for son

[Seraphina]

Hi again, MarieJosephine.

Have found a genealogy site in Hertfordshire where you can leave a request and they will contact you with an answer, or at least some information.

try: www.hertfordshiregenealogy.co.uk

These local genealogists are usually very helpful and will do their best to answer your query. Keep it nice and simple, and short.
Good luck
Seraphina, UK

[MarieJosephine]

I will cetainly look into everyones suggestions. I never mentioned my fathers name in the positng: His name is Giuseppe Sciallis. I wish I had asked him more before he died,

I don't know how I would have even come this far without the help of everyone on this site. I don't know how to explain the feeling of realization that people still exist that want to help each other.
Thank you all and I will continue my search thanks to everyone!

[Emmy]

Dont know if you've found this link before but there is an email address at the bottom of the first page on this web page where you may be able to get some information.

http://www.kg6gb.org/pow_camps_in_uk.htm

If you highlight the link and copy it then paste it in Google search its the first one that comes up.
(just found out the link works just by clicking on it )

There's quite a few pow camps mentioned in Herts.
Perhaps if you emailed this person and added the photograph with the writing on it you never know he may just be able to solve your problem.
I know just how frustrating this must be for you but keep trying miracles do happen you know there's been quite a few already on this forum.
Emmy

[Emmy]

Have just had another look at the site I posted the link for and it says the peron cant give any other details other than what's printed on that page then it gives another link for relatives who wish to find out information and its the Red Cross site form is there to be filled in on line but it says it could take up to 6 months to get a reply from the Red Cross. Maybe worth trying the red cross again. It also says there is no fee if its a relative who is searching for information.
Emmy

[MarieJosephine]

Emmy, thank you for that site. I took a quick look and will study it further. I did see the email address add I will take your suggestion and email and attach the picture. Maybe I will get a few more suggestions as to how to find out which camp my father was assigned to. All I remember him saying was that he was on a farm and he was a gardener.. Thanks again for the help.

[Emmy]

Wish you luck in your search
Emmyxx

[MarieJosephine]

I did finally receive a response from the red cross after a very long wait, but they need more information to try and find the camp my father was held prisoner.
I also took the suggestion of looking at the map that was suggested by Seraphina. I can't believe how she decoded the back of the old photograph I had. I actually found the places she mentioned on the posting on the map. It all makes sense that my father was probably in that area. What he wrote on the back of the photograph and what is on the map seem to match up to the location. Does anyone know by looking on the map what camps were close by?

[Emmy]

Mariajosephione
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/place/Stando ... 333611.htm

Was this the map you were writing about.

Just a thought have you thought about writing to a local newspaper in that area there could be some old residents still living there who remember the area at that time or perhaps write to the local council offices there to find out if they can give you anymore information.
I'm glad you eventually had a reply from the red cross but its sad that they require more details.

Emmy

[Emmy]

http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk/Con ... ilkie.aspx

Just came across this site it may be of some help You do need to log in to this site before you can ask for help.

Emmy

This is the list of PoW camps listed for Herefordshire

HEREFORDSHIRE
No Name Location
27 Ledbury ------
29 Royston Heath Camp Royston
686 Morton on Lugg Hereford


HERTFORDSHIRE
No Name Location
33 Dancer’s Hill South Mimms
95 Batford Camp Harpenden
128 Meesden Buntingford
235 Gorhambury Park Hemel Hempstead
411 The Wynches Camp Much Hadham

[Emmy]

http://www.herefordtimes.com/

This is a link to a newspaper published in that area. Top right hand section gives you opportunity to post an email to the paper.
Emmy

This is another link I found tonight
http://www.kg6gb.org/pow_camps_in_uk_101_-_250.htm

[dragoni]

an alternative suggestion since the place seems to have been found. in looking at the handwriting there are at least two folks involved and it looks like the rougher form was practicing writing new words in cursive form. and then there are only 2 words in block form...hilda and what appears to be herts. maybe trying to find a hilda hertz who lived in that village. hertz is the more correct germanic form of the word herts which might be waht the writer was trying to spell.

tommaso

[Emmy]

Could perhaps the word Willisonis be meant to be Williams or Williamson these are more common surnames than Willisonis.

Perhaps if your father had been asking an English person to write down the name for him they would be writing down what they 'thought' was being said. Or if it was the other way round if it was your father that was copying down what someone else was saying he would be doing the same writing it down how he heard it. I know my own grandparents when they first came to Britain when other UK people asked for their surname those people copied it down as it sounded and if your father was not 100 percent fluent in English it would be more than possible that the wrong spelling of the words would be written down.
Emmy

p.s. herts. is often written as a short form for Hertfordshire

edited to correct spelling

[MarieJosephine]

Thank you for the information and sites. The handwriting is my fathers that was on the back of the photo of the son he had during WWII when he was held prisoner in one of the camps. I was told that Hilda was the mother of this child. Her last name could be Williams or Hertz maybe. Or Hertz could be as suggested the abbreviation on Hertsfordshire.
I know that the camp was like an estate/farm. Hilda and her mother and sister were servants, and my father worked as the gardener and farmer for the property owner. I don't know if any of these camps were like that or not or it they sent prisoners off to estates/farms to work. I am guessing that since he was there from 1942-1946 (approx), the child in now in his late 60's. Although it is a slim chance that I will ever find this person, at least I have gotten this far in locating an area, until the red cross responds. Thank you all for helping me, I won't give up!

[Emmy]

What you said about your father working on an estate/ farm- maybe your best bet would be to write to that area giving the address/names etc
this is an extract from a document I read recently

"1942 Italian POW were brought to Britain chiefly as farm workers, and purpose-built labour camps and hostels were erected for them. Following Italy’s defeat in September 1943, many Italian PoW accepted the status of co-operators and were effectively able to work as free men. All were repatriated by July 1945"



So perhaps your father finished up living at the farm/estate before he returned home.

Emmy

[Emmy]

MarieJosephine

I've sent you TWO P.M.(private messages)
Emmy