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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Monmouthshire => Topic started by: 'Trish' on Thursday 14 May 20 23:28 BST (UK)
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I am looking to confirm the family legend that my Uncle Glyn Roberts was a POW in Singapore taken 1942.
However the family maintain that he was a POW in Italy.
He has said the experience caused mental health issues. He turned to alcohol for solice. He passed away in the 1970's.
He was born in Blaina, South Wales in 1921.
His parents were Thomas & Sarah Roberts of Glanyrafon terrace, Blaina.
I would be eternally grateful.
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WW2 service records are still with the MoD
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this link might help:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14571
jds1949
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There are WW2 PoW records available (on FindMyPast for instance) but with a name like Roberts you are going to need his service number.
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Where would I get his service number please. There is 141 on there.
Regards Trish
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If you know his exact date and place of birth, it might be worth applying for his service records - although it costs £30 it might help your with your research. The service records will tell you his service number.
WW2 service records are still with the MoD
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records
(You do not need to know his service number to apply for his service records.)
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If you have access to his medals, his service number should be engraved on the edge.
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Unfortunately I have nothing, no RAF number, no medals.
Regards Trish
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So he was in the RAF?
Do you have his date of birth and can you confirm his first name? ("Gyn" seems a bit unusual)
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Yes he was in the RAF, his name GLYN Roberts born November 1921, Blaina, South Wales.
His parents Thomas J Roberts his mother Sarah A Austin 22 Glanyrafon terrace, Blaina. He joined up between 1939-1942. In 1942, he said he was in Singapore & was taken POW & put in Changi camp.
His family said he was taken prisoner in Italy.
I have a date of 15/02/1942, which is the fall of Singapore, it's either a coincidence or he was there.
Regards Trish
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Were they still in Blaina in 1939?
I had a twiglet who was born about the same time, and was recorded in 1939 register just prior to being mobilised in the army. At that time he was in the territorials and his service number was recorded.
I managed to track him from newspaper snippets when he was first of all missing and then reported as a POW after the fall of Singapore. Later snippets when his parents finally got the news that he had been liberated from the POW camp and taken to Australia for medical attention before finally being returned to the UK.
It did take me a long while to find the newspaper reports as the OCR produced synopsis is often garbled so I had to look at a LOT of newspaper editions but it paid off in the end.
Boo
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Yes he was still at home in 1939 working as a coal hewer's assistant. He was 18.
Many years ago I saw his RAF record which says POW 15/02/1942. That date is significant. Pity at the time I didn't pay much attention to it, I should of taken his RAF no down but when you're young....
I spoke to Singapore Museum but they couldn't help, but they agreed it was significant. My mother Glyn's sister, told me about the family belief that he was POW in Italy.
Regards Trish
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I think the only way that you will resolve this without his service number is to order a copy of his RAF records. You'll need his date of birth and a copy of his death certificate.
Both FindMyPast and Ancestry have Allied PoW records from WW2 but there are an awful lot of "G Roberts" listed.
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Thank you everyone regards Trish