ITALIAN POW -WWII- looking for son

[johnnyonthespot]

Could it be?

Plumber unearths WWII prisoner of war camp for 10,000 German soldiers in his back garden

"Incredible find: David Murray discovered a World War II Prisoner Of War camp when he was digging at the bottom of his back garden in Hertfordshire."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... arden.html

[johnnyonthespot]

I know the OP has been researching this for some time but do not know what information she has found and what would be new to her.

For example: No. 95 P.O.W. Camp, Batford, opened in May 1943 for Italian prisoners, originally housed in tents which were gradually replaced by huts. It accommodated about 600 men. In October 1943 the Italian government signed a peace treaty with the Allies, and shortly afterwards declared war on Germany. This altered the status of the Italians. Although still prisoners, they would be granted certain privileges and better treatment. In July 1944 the camp was re-designated as an Italian Labour Battalion Camp. The men were employed mainly on local farms. In November 1944 the Italians were moved out: some into hostels, and some were lodged at the farms where they were working.

http://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/page_id ... 4p97p.aspx

[johnnyonthespot]

MarieJosephine,

I know I am coming into this late so, again, apologies if you have already crossed this bridge.

Is it safe to presume you know the name of the comune your father was born in? If so, have you considered writing to the provincial archives to request a copy of his full military records? These might include the name of the POW camp where he was held prisoner; if not, they will certainly name the unit he was serving with and that info might help with determining when he was captured and where he was sent.

You can use a letter like this, addressed to the state archives of the province which includes your father's birth comune:

26 maggio 2011

[your name]
[your address]

Archivio di Stato di [insert province name]
[insert address here]
ITALY

Egregi Signori,

Mi chiamo [your name here], ed abito negli Stati Uniti all'indirizzo sopradetto.

Vi scrivo affinché mi aiutiate a reperire:

* FOGLIO DI CONGEDO ILLIMITATO
* FOGLIO MATRICOLARE
* REGISTRO DI LEVA

per il mio padre:

* [father's name, last name first, all caps] nato nel Comune di ______, in data [date of birth or 'circa 1850'], paternità [his father's given name if you know it else 'incerto'], maternità [mother's full maiden name if you know it "SMITH JANE" else 'incerto']

Vi prego di farmi sapere quanto dovuto per il servizio e per i costi di spedizione.

Distinti saluti,

[your signature]

The cost for these documents is typically less than €5; the archives will usually send an email or a letter requesting payment. Sometimes they mail the documents at the same time and use an honor system to ensure payment; other times they wait until payment is received before mailing the docs.

[MarieJosephine]

Thank you very much. I did receive my father's records from the Red Cross and found out the camps he was transferred to. Now I am trying to find out the name of the farm where he worked when he was in this camp. Any ideas how to find that information if I have the camp #128?

[Nellen]

When I first saw this thread I thought maybe your father was my grandfather! But alas no, my search continues.


I'm afraid I can't help you with locating the farm, although my own experience of trying to trace what farm my grandfather was working on tells me that you probably wont find any information from the internet! Its going to be a local residents memeory kind of thing.


I did find some records on ancestry, I'm not sure if you're already aware of them.

I found a Hilda Beatrice Saggers born in 1920 and baptised in Standon. In 1940 she married an Arthur Willson, in 1945 she gave birth to Michael G Willson and in 1947 she gave birth to Leonard Willson. It would be nice to check Arthur's service records, but they're locked away until 2020!

Hilda's parents seem to have been older when they had her as they have several children before her and appear on the 1911 census, which I haven't viewed yet, although it would have their address on it. I thought I would tell you this information before checking the census, as you might have ruled this woman out already.

I thought these names matched the back of the photo quite well anyway. I checked the phone book and there are a few Willson's still scattered around the area.

[MarieJosephine]

Nellen, this certainly sounds like what I have been looking for! How do I find more information on this Michael G. Willson like where this person lives etc. Please respond back...my email address is mjldreamer@comcast.net

[MarieJosephine]

Nellen, I really think you have somehow gotten some information that I have been looking for. This may be it looking at the back of the photo I have. It is the closest information I have gotten. Please if you have any other info of who I can contact to find this person, let me know.

[Nellen]

Hi there, I have emailed you some more information!

[carmine1917]

Johnny on the Spot, I was wondering the same thing, where was your father from?

What is the latest?

NEVER EVER give up, everyone told me I would not find my great grandfathers birth record, because he was adopted, I found it.

I have some other ideas, but we need more information on where your father was from, where he lived after the war etc.

[MarieJosephine]

Hi there, I haven't given up yet...still trying. Nellen, the other post has found some names for me and I will put together a letter and mail it to all the address I have gotten for a Hilda Willson or maiden name Saggers. This has been the closest decoding of the back of the photograph of my half-brother who is somewhere.

To answer the last post. My father was from Italy, I still have relatives there. He was in WWII and held prisoner in England in Camp 128 in 1945 near Well Pond Green, Hertfordshire. He worked on a Farm/Estate and met an english woman whose husband was a war also. It was my understanding she worked on this estate with her family (maybe as a servant). I wonder how many wealthy estates were in that area during that time. I only know she gave birth to a son and then her husband came back. My father lost touch with any information after that. He went back to Italy and later married my mom. In 1958 he moved the the U.S. My father is dead now over 6 years and I am still pursuing the possibility that someday I will find this half-brother or family. I always hope that someone out there may also be looking. In the meantime I am going to put together a letter and do a mailing to the addresses that I received from one of the other posts (Neville) who provided me with some information that may be a lead.

Thanks eveyone for all your help.

[carmine1917]

Where in Italy was he from?

[carmine1917]

Did I miss the posting on where your father was born or lived in Italy?

[Humbleseeker]

I wish you luck...I am 66, female and my Father was an Italian POW in Witton Birmingham England. He must have been at a camp nearby. I would dearly like to trace him/his family (my family)My Mother was Patricia, Irish from Dublin. She already had small children. I think she thought they would stay together somehow. I was adpoted, I would appreciate any input and help...as I have no name as yet or photo. I am hoping my Irish family may turn up something...this is my song about them I an a singer songwriter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOUjGtEmw5I

[MarieJosephine]

Hello Humbleseeker, I hope you have some luck too. I have been trying for a very long time and almost was close with help from someone in England who saw my post and was interested. It is hard to search from the United States. My father passed away about 6 years ago and as you can see from all my posts I only have a picture of the child with writing of my fathers on the back and a womans name- hilda....The red cross sent me all the camp numbers ...so I have hit a dead end. Don't know if I will ever find my half-brother. Did your mother ever give you a name of your birth mother? That would be a start.

[Humbleseeker]

No...I do not have an Italian name...but will still try. I hope my Irish family may find something useful for me. Happy New Year...