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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Cazza47 on Thursday 14 October 10 20:37 BST (UK)
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I am trying to trace a Italian Prisoner of War. He was in the Merrythought prisoner of war camp. Sent to work on my Grandmother's farm near Plumpton in Penrith, Cumberland. The farm was called Scrathmere Scar Farm near Plumpton. Would there be anyway of tracing him?
He was called Joe but that does not sound very italian so maybe that was just a name he used or an english version of his real name.
Carol
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On a holiday to Tuscany (I think 1996) I took a car day trip to Bologna to visit family.
We went out for a meal and they brought along an old gentleman friend.
He asked me if I knew Penrith,I told him yes I did.
He then told me that he was a POW and had a "girl friend" in Penrith.
I could see the sparkle in his eyes as he was reminiscing.
He told me that she wanted him to stay, but he wanted home to his mother.
Could this be your man ? What a story it would make !
I will make enquiries from my family and get his name.
I live in Ireland and my Italian is poor, but I have bilingual contacts.
Hope to report back soon.
Billy
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Dear Carol
I have been informed that the old gentleman I referred to died in 1997.
His name was Louigie Santatori (I may not have the exact spelling)
Apparently he originally came from Naples, were he is now interred.
Would be interested to know the out come of your quest.
Billy
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Carol
I'm afraid you will find it almost impossible to find details of individual POWs in the official British records as most were either destroyed, returned to the respective countries or handed over to the Red Cross.
Of the offical records held by Germany and Italy, and the Red Cross, the best bet will be the RC. However, it is neither guaranteed nor cheap. The IWM have produced a useful guide:
www.iwm.org.uk/upload/pdf/famhist_pow2007.pdf
I know how hard it is to find records because I spent a long time trying to get info on a POW work camp that supposedly held Italian POWs. Even that was nigh on impossible, but along the way I found out just how little info the British authorities still held on their POWs.
K
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Thank you both for your help.
Carol
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I see this is quite an old thread now but I stumbled across it (and the site) whilst doing some family research...
I had an uncle who died in 1996 called Giuseppe Seminara (always known in the UK as Joseph or Joe). He was at MerryThought camp and, initially the camp tailor went to work on somebodies farm, Scrathmere Scar Farm, near Plumpton. It was from here that he met my aunt and, after returning to Sicily after the war, decided to move to the UK in 1949 and set up his own tailoring business in Carlisle, Cumbria.
Do you think this could be your man? If so, please feel free to contact me!
Regards,
Fiona
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Thank you for your response.
I will have to check with my mother to see what she remembers, my grandmother died in 1994. I know my mother said he used to make them spaghetti bolognaise.
Apparently they were all very fond of him.
Carol
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Would you have a photo of your uncle when he was younger, i could see if my mother recognises him?
Carol
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Hi Carol,
The earliest picture of my uncle we have in the family is from 1954ish. I will get it from my mother's tomorrow and scan it onto the computer to send to you :)
Fiona
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This is a picture of the farm, it is set in lovely surroundings.
Carol
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Hello everyone! Even my grandfather Giuseppe Antenori was a prisoner in the field 76 during the Second World War. He worked at a farm in the area such as insider horses. The owner was a Mrs. Barbara. Do any of you remember anything?
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What is the field 76, is that the Merrythought camp?
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Yes! Is MerryThought camp. I apologize for my english is not perfect!
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Do you remember anything? :)
I created a discussion:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=760708.0
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Hi,
I know this post is from a long time ago! However, my grand mother is attempting to trace her Italian father who was a POW in this camp. She does not know his name, however we know that he had a relationship with her mother who lived in Lazonby. I wondered if the above post mentioning a girlfriend who wanted him to stay might be a coincidence? If anyone could reply that would be amazing! Long shot, I know.