I have the index to WO 161 and can do look-ups. Not all POW's are listed by any means; I had a quick tot up tonight and I reckon there are about 6000 or so British names listed . A drop in ocean but worth a try.

A health warning should be attached to WO 161 because if you ever start browsing through it you'll be there all day and forget everything you're supposed to be doing. Its not often you get to see so many contemporary accounts. I found some accounts of Roger Casement's activities at Limburg - absolutely fascinating but 2 hours later I remembered that I was only supposed to be getting the index!

Michael

I'd be grateful if you could have a look for my great uncle, Sgt (?) Ivor Davies, Welsh Regt. POW in the Great War.

Cheers

Theo

Michael, is this just a list of names or do you have access to more details?

Theo

The only Welsh Reg Davies is Private Thomas Davies. There are details on his illtreatment and death at Neubeckum.

Andrew

I just have a copy of the index which is a list of names with particulars of the camp and contents of the report (as above). This would then lead to the actual report in another part of WO161. I'd love a copy of this but there are several massive files, all printed.

Michael,

Would you please check to see if there is any mention of William Gordon Jones who died 30.10.18 in a POW camp in Poland. He served with 1/6th Bn. Durham Light Inf.and is one of the men commemorated on the Rhayader Memorial.
I was also wondering if there are any more details for Thomas Davies (who you mentioned earlier) on the off chance that he could be the same Thomas Davies whose name is on the Rhayader Memorial. There are just a few names that are proving difficult to trace.

Regards

Myrtle

Hi Michael
I would be extremely grateful if you could check whether my grandfather is in the index. His name was Henry Cowe Shirreffs, of the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders. Fingers crossed and thanks in advance.

Danny

Michael
I would be grateful if you could look to see if my Grandfather is listed.

His name is Gilbert Williamson (10089) North Staffs and he was captured April 1918.

Thanks in advance
Paul

Paul, Danny, Myrtle

No joy I'm afraid. My strike rate isn't very high but I'm sure we'll get someone eventually.

Myrtle

The only info I have on Thomas Davies is what I posted already. There will be more detail including (probably) some indication of his home address in the actual report.

Keep 'em coming Pals I'm desperate to get a result here !

Michael

Michael
Thanks for checking W G Jones.

How about Pte E.D.Price 9th Welsh captured 23rd March 1918 ?

Myrtle

Michael,
You asked for more names, so here's a few!! (Seriously, I'm posting this largely as a wind-up so feel free to ignore this!)

Oliver Nix, MGC, 11977 - c. January 1918
P. (possibly Percy) Davies, Lincolnshire, 2180 - c. March-May 1918
Richard Butler, Sherwood Foresters (Bn + number unknown) - 27 May 1918
George Edward Cox, MGC, 126679 - 27 May 1918
Frederick George Croft, Cameronians - c. November 1916
A. Fell, Sherwood Foresters - October 1914
J. Fell, Sherwood Foresters - unknown date
Ormond Pursglove - c. Summer 1916
Ernest Sparham, Sherwood Foresters - 21 March 1918
Sidney Swales, Sherwood Foresters - somewher on the Somme 1916!
and my favourite...
Smith (no other details at all) - March 1918 (bet you can't sort that one out!!!)

Michael

Thanks for the look up on my grandfather. An even longer shot might be that my dad recalls his father being held with another Gordon Highlander he had been captured with on the 20th September 1917 called Tommy Smith. If you have the time to check whether he is on your list it would be invaluable as I have no idea at all where my grandfather was held.

Does anyone know whether men captured together were likely to be incarcerated together?

Thanks again
Danny

Could you please try:

Edward George Hughes (Pte) - wounded, might be different bn at time of wound

J.Doran (Pte) - possibly held at Munster

S.Watkins (Pte) - possibly held at Paderborn(?)

J.S.Strange (Capt)

All 14th Welsh.

Thanks for the help!

Bernard Lewis

Hi Michael'
My grandfather was a POW in Germany. He was shot in the right arm and right shoulder blade. He told me he was SNIPED from a tree in the forest. I would love to know which camp he was in. The Germans fixed him up and he played poker till he freed. He was very good at it too. His name was John Callender and he was in the 2nd Bat. Sco. Rifles #200791. I have his service / discharge papers but, they don't say where he was held. Dated 9/12/18 in Hamilton.
Thanks, Steve Erwin

Michael,

I would appreciate a few look-ups:

Pte J Geary Leicestershire Regiment
Pte C.H. Whitfield Leicestershire Regiment
Sgt Douglas Doughty Leicestershire Regiment
Ellis Faulks - unknown unit
Joseph Sidney Kendrick - unknown unit.

These came out of a Parish Magazine - and I have sorted out the units for the first three. Unfortunately there are a number of options from the MIC for Joseph Kendrick and I can't find Ellis Faulks at all!

Thanks,
Dave

Michael,
My Gt-Uncle was the batman of a Captain W.G. Pearson of the 1/4th Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Pearson was captured at Festubert on the 15th June 1915 having been wounded leading an attack. Is there any mention?
Cheers,
Anthony

Eureka - I've found one. Lucky old Anthony.
There is a 6 page report on/by Capt W G Pearson, the officer commanding B Coy 1/4 Kings Own Royal Lancs. At last.

Myrtle
No luck with Mr Price

Andrew
Nix - nothing
Davies - Only 1 from the Lincolns, a Captain Davies. 2 privates and a sergeant with no first name or regiment (just Davies)
Butler - None in Notts and Derbys. 1 private with no first name or regiment
Cox - One George in the Suffolks
Croft - One L/Cpl Frederick George Croft in the MGC
A and J Fell - nothing
Pursglove, Sparham, Swales - nothing
Phew

Danny,Bernard,Dave

I haven't forgoten you, give me a couple of days to recover from Andrew's list (only joking mate)

Michael


[B]

Michael,
Brilliant!-I've been trying to find something on this chap for a long time. It's about time I had a bit of luck! Thanks for the look up. I had tried a few avenues but Captain Pearson disappeared during the action and re-surfaced as Major Pearson in the credits for the history of the 4th Battalion written in 1935, with a solicitors firm in Barrow in Furness.My Gt-Uncle spoke very highly of him, but I would be delighted to hear any more details.
Can I just add on to this message a note of optimism for those struggling to piece together the people and events of the Great War; if you keep knocking on various doors eventually one might open.
Cheers Michael,
Anthony

Michael,
I'm a bit confused (but certainly heartened) by the length of your list. What I thought were the indexes to 161 are in a binder behind the desk at the PRO - it certainly did not seem to have as many as 6k names in.
I looked up various people in the indexes so wasn't going to bother with getting out one of the bundles of printed documents (although I did read through one to try to find mention of a particular camp.)
Anyway, I would be grateful if you'd check for a Capt A.McK.Reid (MGC) capt 25.4.1918 and a Col. Otter (Queen's) about the same date (I have more names somewhere or other)
AND can you find any mention of Beeskow (officers) Camp. I have a photo of the British inmates at Beeskopw, I'll try to get it scanned.
JulianB

Michael,

Could you look up a couple of names for me please:

Gerald Featherstone Knight. 3rd Devons attached RFC, who was a POW between November 1916 and September 1917.

Willian John Quinby. Pte 9400. 1st Batt Ox & Bucks, who died on 4/6/16 while a POW in Iraq and is believed to be buried in Mosul.

Thanks

IanC

Michael,
Profuse thanks for wading through my long list of names, especially as it proved a waste of your time. Only one complaint - you didn't solve the Smith!!

Cheers,
Andrew

Michael,

Could you look up my wife's great-grandfather, 24265 Pte William Money 'C Coy' 8th Bn North Staffs. Died in captivity 19/12/16.

Cheers,
Ronnie.

More success, this time for Ian C. There is a 5 page report on/by Lt Gerald Featherstone Knight (Devons and RFC). There are also 10 other references to his bayonetting at Strohen. No joy on the other 2 though

Bernard

No joy on the specific names although there are Hughes and Watkins without any further detail of name or regt.


Dave

There is be a possibility for you. There's areference to a pte Geary at Remise Ingolstadt. Probably worth a look if you're at the PRO. No specifics on the rest.


Danny

The only Smiths in the Gordons were aL/cpl A.C and a Pte Patrick


Steve

No Callendars


Julian

No joy but you should find details in their service documents


Ronnie

No moneys



Michael

Thanks, Michael for looking.

Ronnie.

Michael

Could you please look for my great-uncle Harry Inglis Spiller. He was captured 16/8/1917 and repatriated 27/12/1918. He was a serjeant in the Queen Vics (1/9th Bn London Regt) and his number should be 6607007 although it might be listed as his previous number which was 394231.

Many thanks

Andy

Michael,

Thanks very much for that info. Something to add to the list for my (unfortunately) infrequent trips to Kew. If I am not imposing too much, can I add a further four names:

Pte J. Hurd Leics Regiment
2/Lt M Mills Leics Regiment
Pte W. Sharpe Leics Regiment
A.B W Bingley RND - not sure if he would appear on WO file?

As a general point, is it true that most of the names would be POWs from 1917 and before?

Thanks very much,
Dave

Many thanks for the look ups Michael. I really appreciate your time and effort.

Danny

Hi there,
Could you look up a name for me. Only one POW in my family - it would interesting to find out if he is mentioned.I know little about his time as a POW. He was my grandfather.

Pte George Henry Phillips - South Wales Borderers No: 9165
Captured 21/10/1914 at Poelcappelle.

Any help - even deadends are appreciated!

Many thanks

Jemimajane

Michael,

Can you look up 8637 L/C Stanley Hall, KORLR for me?

Much appreciated.

Andy.

Michael

If it isn't too much trouble would you please check if my next door neighbour's grandfather is mentioned. He was Pte. George Westlake Kersey 330165 Suffolk Regiment. He was taken prisoner in March 1918.

Regards

Myrtle

Michael

Could you please look up my any information that may be available concerning my Grandfather, family history states that he was a POW in WW1, taken possibly during The Battle of the Somme.

809 George Sumner, Lancashire Hussars ( Yeomanry )



Many thanks

Many thanks for the look up and please excuse the very long delay in my reply. I just haven't looked at this thread for a while. Cheers anyway - I still live in hope of finding some info on my great uncle.

Michael

Could you do a look up on Frank Townsend Pte 260032

1st Btn Monmouthshire Rgt.

The only info I have is Died Germany 7/5/18

I'm presuming from this he was a POW.

Thanks Doug

Guys and Girls

My apologies for the delay - I have 7 separate indexes to check for each name.

At last we are starting to get some results. I'll start with the positives

Andy
There is a report on Lance Corporal Stanley Hall, KORLR

Mike
Are you sure its THOMAS Last, because there is a report on Pte James Last 1st Bn Suffolks ? Worth checking.

Myrtle
Are you sure its Kersley, becasue there is a report on a Kersey, Suffolks at Hobenschonhausen. No forenames listed. Worth checking in case of a typo on the index

Ian
There is a report on a Charles Sumner LN Lancs at Metz. Are you sure its George ?

Doug
No Townsends in the Monmouths

Andy
No Spillers

Jemimajane. Can I call you Jemima ?
No Phillips in the SWB

Dave
No Hurds
No Sharpes in the Leics
No Bingleys
The only Mills officer is AIF
Dave, can you tell me the forename of Mills, it wouldn't be Michael by any chance ?. Have you checked his service record ?
There are records for RN ratings in the index. The index gives no clues about dates so I can't answer your query about whether its only pre 1917


Hope this helps everyone

Keep 'em coming

Michael

Michael.

Thanks for looking

Doug

Michael

Thanks very much for looking

Andy

Michael,

Excellent news about Stan Hall!

Cheers.

Andy.

Out of interest, Stan Hall was captured at or just after Le Cateau (I suspect he was wounded and was rounded up during the retreat). He came home in 1916 as part of a prisoner exchange organised by the Red Cross (health deteriorating) but died three weeks later. Sadly the CWGC never commemorated him but with enough evidence I may be able to sort that out (his death cert lists him as a serving soldier).

Andy.

Many thanks for your kind offer Michael. I hope you realised what you were letting yourself in for!

I would be grateful if you can have a look for:

33112 Pte Edwin Harding, 14th Bn Hampshire Regiment

Regards
Marc

Marc

No problem at all. Its nice to give someting back to the forum, having taken so much from it. No mention of your Harding I'm afraid.

Michael

Michael,

Just thought I would let you know that armed with the info you gave me, (I had never heard of these POW reports until I saw your offer), I made a flying visit to the NA and came away with the report by Gerald Knight. This man died in 1919 and is not commemorated by the CWGC, I have contacted then to try and put this right, so any extra info I can get is always useful.

Thanks again.

IanC

Great news Ian. Good luck with the CWGC. Did he die as a result of his bayonetting do you think ? Any chance of a copy of the report - it sounds interesting.

Michael

Michael,

He actually died of sarcoma, which I think is a cancer. But in some of the stuff I have seen it says he died as a result of the conditions while in captivity and during his escape. I have yet to find out if his type of cancer could be caused by these factors or if this was just a case of trying to pin his death on his captivity. The report is printed in a long, thin paragraph, once I can work out how best to scan it I will willingly send you a copy. Let me have your email address and I will send it direct.

IanC

Thanks for looking. 2/Lt. Mills was a Montague, not a Michael. He was captured on 21 March 1918, whilst serving with 1st Leicesters. On this date only one Company officer of the Battalion came out of the action, and he was wounded! The local press reported him missing and quoted his C.O as writing to Lt.Mills' parents something along the lines of - your son was with a company which was surrounded and fighting bravely. I hope we hear that he was captured, but I think it is unlikely.

His file at the PRO exists and has the statement Lt. Mills wrote on his return which shows that he was wounded, and became unconscious. However, nothing about where he was a POW.

I digress a little off the strand but I think that the March Offensive was the Leicester's finest hour as the 1st Bn, 11th Bn, and the Leicestershire Brigade (110th) all made brave showings.

Dave

Michael,

Can you add any further detail on my uncle.

1928 Rifleman John East,1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment.
Captured 8 May 1915 at Frezenburg.Died 12 October 1915.
NOK were told he was buried in the "French POW Cemetery at Wesel".

Where was the POW camp associated with this cemetery?.It seems that a number of men from the battalion were imprisoned at Geissen but this location appears to be remote from Wesel.

1922 reinterred at Zollstock Military Cemetery,Cologne.

Regards

Frank East

Michael

Thank you very much for checking your lists for Pte Kersey and coming up with a result. It is likely to be the same man. I hope to find out more before his grandson comes back from holiday.

Regards

Myrtle

Thats great Myrtle. Let me know how you got on.

Michael

Frank

There is only one East in the indexes, he's from the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Michael

Michael,
Any chance you could look for 8546 Pte. William J Stroud, 2nd Wilts, Captured at Reutal on the 24th October 1914.
Thanks in advance,
Ski

Michael,

Thank you for your attempt at supplying further information on my uncle.1928 Rifleman John East.(POW)

Short of some official source such as the International Red Cross or Government records I can only surmise that John was initially buried at Friedrichsfeld POW Cemetery which is about 5kms from Wesel and appears to fit the description of the location of his burial given to his parents after his death.

I might add that the information contained in the appropriate CWGC Register of dead brought in from what are now recognised as temporary cemeteries to a concentrated cemetery can be helpful in determining the location of a POW camp.In this particular case even though the CWGC indicates a burial period of 1916-1918 I think that Friedrichsfeld was his initial resting place and close to or the site of a POW camp.

Regards

Frank East

Mick

Could you please check for 28400 Private Frank Galsworthy, 8th Somerset LI. Probably POW April 1918.

Thanks