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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Richard Knott on Monday 03 November 14 18:19 GMT (UK)

Title: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: Richard Knott on Monday 03 November 14 18:19 GMT (UK)
When Gerard Laing married in May 1946 he listed his occupation as ham curer (driver, Royal Army Service Corps).

The Forces War Records site has an entry for a G T Laing, a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps, who was in Stalag XXb (Marienburg) in 1945.

Gerard Laing's birth entry (1920 Glasgow) lists him as just Gerard, but his mother's maiden name was Trayner, so the T might stand for that.

What is the easiest way to establish whether these two people are the same: it seems unlikely that two drivers from the RASC would be called Gerard Laing.

(His POW number was 6387 and his service number was 121276).

Richard
Title: Re: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: Drew5233 on Tuesday 04 November 14 23:31 GMT (UK)
I would not trust anything on Forces War website, let alone pay for anything. The quick way is to see if he completed a PoW Liberation Questionnaire at the end of the war. They are at the National Archives in London but only around 40% to 50% of PoWs completed them. The 100% accurate way is to apply for a copy of his service records from the MoD.

Title: Re: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: CaroleW on Tuesday 04 November 14 23:36 GMT (UK)
Some info here about applying for a copy of WW2 records

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=651361.0
Title: Re: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: Richard Knott on Wednesday 05 November 14 07:08 GMT (UK)
OK; thanks. I thought that was probably the only way forward.

R
Title: Re: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: totemtwo on Thursday 25 June 15 18:22 BST (UK)
Hi.  Find attached the POW capture list. G Laing is lower left hand side.
Admitted to Stalag XXB.

Anyone wanting capture details, I have the complete list for Europe WW2
Regards. tomtomtwo
Title: Re: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: Richard Knott on Thursday 25 June 15 19:09 BST (UK)
Welcome to Rootschat; and thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately nothing seems to be attached.

Richard
Title: Re: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: totemtwo on Friday 26 June 15 09:20 BST (UK)
Sorry Richard. Upon checking, the file was too big, it was the page that contained capture details, I think you may have them anyway. Regards. Keith.
Title: Re: Was Gerard Laing a POW?
Post by: totemtwo on Friday 26 June 15 09:27 BST (UK)
Hi. I clipped the page, so the file should come through.
Regards. K