Royal army service corps. WW2. POW

[Kaz22]

Hi
I am trying to put together history of husbands great grandad who fought in the Second World War.
He is very interested in his grandfathers history so this is a special birthday present I'm putting together. I have some info but can't seem to find much else out. The info I have is below.

David Hume
Born 29 th June 1914
Edinburgh
Royal army services corps
Driver
Army number T/2827823

I believe he was based in Africa and was captured and taken to Italy to a POW camp, the record of this I have found online is that he was in P.O.W. Camp number 53, Urbisaglia Macerata, (Also listed as Sforza Costa), postal mark number 3300

I'm sure he was there for a couple of years.

Also online it says he was in another pow camp in Austria stalag 17b, Gneixendorf.
POW No. 153486
He also had a pow plate which says stalag viia which from what I could see is a different camp to the stalag one stated above.
Apparent while in one of the camps he was very injured and was due to be killed .
None of the family knew  much about the history as understandably it was very difficult to talk about .

He so has two badges that are from the seaforth highlanders, if there is any info regarding this?
Any information as to how I could find out more would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Karen

[Neil Todd]

This looks like required reading National Archives site on War records.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-subject/secondworldwar.htm

It would seem that not all records are able to be searched online even in person as they have restricted access, I find that unusual as all Australian records are available. A visit to Kew may be necessary.

Neil..
Good Luck and welcome to Rootschat

[Neil Todd]

You will need this and if deceased for over 25years ? then you need to supply his DC and cough up 30quid sterling.....yoicks

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records#how-to-apply-for-service-personnel-records

Neil

[whiteout7]

He most certainly would have been at two Stalags, he would have been transferred from Stalag 7A to Stalag 17B. This is why he has the metal tag with Viia on it.

I never did get my grandfathers service record, so it is interesting to read other english pow's stories about their experiences and compare to what you do know to get an idea of their ordeals

[Drew5233]

Ok very simple. Records online are not 100% accurate ignore these.

Your first port of call should be The National Archives to see if he completed a POW Liberation Questionnaire. If he did (around 50% of PoWs completed one) they will/should list his date and place of capture and the camps he was held in.

Regarding service records, these are a must for any reliable research. The down side is they can take around six months to arrive and cost £30, £30 well spent in my book if you want proper research. Along with the £30 you will need to provide proof of death and next of kin approval, don't get to excited about the whole NOK thing like many do. If you're related I'd just fill the form in. If the soldier died more than 25 years ago you don't need NoK approval to gain access to all his records.

Once you have his records it's another trip back to The National Archives to look at his units war diaries, the units he served with will be listed in his service records. These will give you a day by day account of what his unit was doing and where in the world they were doing it.

Any Q's?

[Kaz22]

This is great information.
Thank you all for your help


Karen

[Drew5233]

Service Records
https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

Death Certs
https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

[Neil Todd]

I BELIEVE I HAD ALREADY SUPPLIED THOSE ADDRESSES AND INFORMATION. DREW5233 

Neil 

[Drew5233]

I BELIEVE I HAD ALREADY SUPPLIED THOSE ADDRESSES AND INFORMATION. DREW5233 

Neil 

I must have missed the one for the death certificates SORRY