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World War Two / Re: POW William Stephen Kennaird Walker
« on: Saturday 03 December 22 16:32 GMT (UK) »
Just to add my experience with these records.
The ICRC do have some basic PoW records, but it may take a long tome to arrive (ICRC reasonably prioritise their more current work), and the results are not very comprehensive.
As said, try the record set WO 416 at National Archives. The index is online, so you can search before you pay. If you can travel to Kew you may hold the original German card(s). The German WO 416 card MAY have photos, fingerprints and medical data, or it may not, but to see the actual card (which your PoW probably never did) is fantastic. I did this for my Father's card. If travel is not possible, they will scan the card(s) for a fee.
The ICRC do have some basic PoW records, but it may take a long tome to arrive (ICRC reasonably prioritise their more current work), and the results are not very comprehensive.
As said, try the record set WO 416 at National Archives. The index is online, so you can search before you pay. If you can travel to Kew you may hold the original German card(s). The German WO 416 card MAY have photos, fingerprints and medical data, or it may not, but to see the actual card (which your PoW probably never did) is fantastic. I did this for my Father's card. If travel is not possible, they will scan the card(s) for a fee.