Prisoners of War

[Paul5]

Hello

I have found out that a relative was taken prisoner at Fleurbaix on 9 April 1918 and taken to Friedrichsfeld.

My question is, save for escape, would it be likely that he would have been held as a prisoner of war until the end of the war (and in the same place)? Were there any prisoner exchanges? When did British WW1 POWs get released and return to England?

Thanks in advance

[AllanUK]

If you post his name and if known his regiment and possibly his service number, a look up could be made in the POW records.

[Paul5]

Hi,

Name: R.G. OLIVER - the R.G. stand for Robert and George. Sometimes he was known by one, sometimes the other, but both were his forenames.
Regiment: Middlesex.
Number: 18723.

Thanks!

[AllanUK]

There is a record of him as a POW in the 'Prisoners of the First World War, the International Committee of the Red Cross' -- have you seen it?

My experience of prisoners of war is that they were returned to the UK after 11 November 1918. Quite often names would be published in local newspapers. I have had a look in the British Newspaper Archives but without a 'find'.

[Paul5]

There is a record of him as a POW in the 'Prisoners of the First World War, the International Committee of the Red Cross' -- have you seen it?

Thank you, yes, I've seen that

[Viktoria]

My father was not repatriated until 1919, I always thought May but that seems a long time after the November Armistice .
He was employed in the Krupps Factory , Essen.
Not on weaponry but the pressed steel hearth plates used in many English homes and perhaps German ones too,in front of the big black kitchen ranges.

“ What did you do in the War Dad?”
“ Don’t be so cheeky!”
Viktoria.

[AllanUK]

Looking at British newspapers for December 1918, I found a number of reports of POWs being repatriated to the UK. Searches for January and February 1919 brought up many, many such reports.

[Paul5]

Looking at British newspapers for December 1918, I found a number of reports of POWs being repatriated to the UK. Searches for January and February 1919 brought up many, many such reports.

Thanks. I'll see what I can find. I think this individual soldier was demobbed in 1919 and was still in France that year...

[ALAMO2008]

His Medal Card shows he was Pte 18723 George Oliver of 20th Btn Duke of Cambridges Own
 (Middlesex Regt)
It does not show a Demob Date that some early January and February 1919 Demobs do as Class Z
He would have been probably Repatriated back to England late Summer 1919
I have seen some POWs in 1920
Remember WW1 didn't end until 30 June 1919
Which is why the introduced Class Z in December 1918 till March 1920 for Demob
Did he leave the Army 1919 ?
Or stay on in the Army into the 1920s ?
Like my Granddad till 1921
In which case his Army Records will be in Glasgow now and not Blitzed