Italian WW2 POWs in England

[fedagent]

Good Morning. My Dad was taken prisoner in 1942 in North Africa and shipped to England, landing at Liverpool. He then was stationed in several Camps and worked on various farms. In 1942 he was in Camp 18 in Featherstone Park, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. He then was sent to Camp 52 in Nether Headon Ladywell Rise, East Retford, Lincolnshire. I was fortunate to find and visit this Camp with the great assistance of a couple wonderful people in the area. His last Camp was No. 138 the Rectory Camp in Bassingham, where he stayed until early 1946. I was also able to visit this Camp.  Any information you can provide to help my research, it is very much appreciated. Thanks.

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Have you looked at The National Archives site?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/pow-displaced-persons.htm


Nanny Jan

[fedagent]

Yes, thanks, I did look at the site. It is a daunting task to search in it and many records are not digitized. I don't mind paying for records, but I 1st need to know what it is I'm getting.

[nanny jan]

Hi,

If you are not able to get to Kew I wonder if the Anglo-Italian FHS would be able to help; either with records or to recommend a specialist researcher?

http://www.anglo-italianfhs.org.uk/


Nanny Jan

[ADM199]

All I can tell you is that Major J E Burman was in Command at 138 Btn Bassingham near Lincoln, but that was 1945.

Brian

Good Morning. My Dad was taken prisoner in 1942 in North Africa and shipped to England, landing at Liverpool. He then was stationed in several Camps and worked on various farms. In 1942 he was in Camp 18 in Featherstone Park, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. He then was sent to Camp 52 in Nether Headon Ladywell Rise, East Retford, Lincolnshire. I was fortunate to find and visit this Camp with the great assistance of a couple wonderful people in the area. His last Camp was No. 138 the Rectory Camp in Bassingham, where he stayed until early 1946. I was also able to visit this Camp.  Any information you can provide to help my research, it is very much appreciated. Thanks.

[fedagent]

Brian, thank you for the information. I visited the Rectory in Bassingham, but I was not able to find any information, pictures, etc., about the camp, the prisoners held there, etc. My Dad was there for at least 3 years and worked on local farms and spoke highly of his time there. One of the farmers he worked for was a Mr. Graves or Greaves, not sure which is correct, but have been unsuccessful in finding out anything about that either. Again, thanks for the info and if you can point me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated.

[mathsmal]

Hi

The National Archives have reports on 52 Working Camp, Nether Headon Camp, East Retford, Nottinghamshire -
FO 939/301
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1367120
and
FO 939/134
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1366953

These will contain information on the structure of the camp, leaders, re-education activities, etc.

Matt

[fedagent]

Matt, thank you much. I'm ordering copies of the records. Again thanks for the reference.

[mathsmal]

Hi

No problem - I hope they are interesting and useful.