Hello everyone, just signed onto the Forum.Hoping to make some new friends and renew aquaintances with old ones. My main interest is Prisoners of war and P.O.W.Camps in North Africa and Italy. Brian
Welcome Brian, I hope you enjoy the site - have a look around and join in when you are ready. Regards Hugh
G'day Brian, welcome aboard. I sincerely hope you enjoy it here. Have you seen the thread with posts by Appotomax asking about PG73 in Carpi? About the only reference I can think of with regard to North African prison camps is Charles Lamb's experience in his excellent War in a Stringbag.
Hi Brian, Care to tell the forum members about your area's of expertise? Again, good to have you on board! Cheers Geoff
Areas of research As Geoff knows over the years I have researched P.O.W, who were lost at sea in the Mediterranean. Over 2,000 members of the Allied forces were killed when the ships transporting them as P.O.W. to Italy were sunk by British Submarines. One of them was my Father. Over the past 18 or so months I have created a catalogue by name of all the Escapers and Evaders Reports that are available. 96 Files in total. Being retired makes the time to visit T.N.A. Available. Along with having a very understanding wife. If anyone thinks I could help just ask. Thanks for the welcome Brian
Welcome Brian, One of my Didcot lot was killed on one of those ships. I'll have to see if i can find his record and see if you are able to help. Anyway, welcome to the forum and may your stay be a long and happy one. Sniper eep:
The S.S.Scillin The ship was the S.S.Scillin,she was sunk 35:15N - 11:17E at roughly 19:50hrs on the 14/11/42 by P212 Sahib. The submarine picked up 27 Allied survivors,six of which I met over the years. In 1998 I was over the wreck scattering the ashes of a survivor who had died earlier in the year. Brian
ss SCILLIN built in 1902 as H.M PELLAT official number 114446. 1920 renamed MEMLING 1924 renamed NICOLE LE BORGNE 1934 renamed GIULIANA PAGAN 1935 renamed SCILLIN SECONDO 1937 renamed SCILLIN History Canadian Lake & Ocean Navigation Co (Wm Petersen, Newcastle). 1911 Merchants Mutual Line. 1916 To Canadian Northern Steamship Co (operated by Canada Steamship Lines). Ocean service in WW1. 1937 Last owner, Fratelli Bianchi Soc di Nav, Genoa. Torpedoed & Sunk - 13/11/1942. Shelled and torpedoed by HMS SAHIB when 9 miles north of Kuriat, Tunisia on passage Tripoli for Trapani Regards Hugh
S.S.Scillin Hi Hugh, that's the ship my Father died on,and one I have researched since 1992 when I first discovered how dad had died. The date you give must be from Italian sources as they always get it wrong. The ship left Tripoli on Friday the 13th at 13:00hrs.This was after a delay of 3hrs,and was sunk on the 14th. An article telling the full story of my research into the ship and its R.A. Casualties was published in the R.A. Journal of September 2006. Also a few years ago earlier the H.A.C. planted a tree to the members of the 11th Rgt. who were lost at sea as P.O.W. during 1942. Six years this coming May,a Service was held at T.N.M.A. to dedicate a Memorial on the North Africa Plot. A tree was also planted to the Memory of those lost at sea as P.O.W. Three survivors and quite a few Families attended,along with Veterans and representatives from the Worcester and Foresters Association. In all about eighty attended. Brian
Hi Brian, If you have any information on the Didcot guy or the trip that led to his death i certainly would appeciate anything you are able to tell me. Thanks Sniper eep:
Thank you for that Brian, I can sympatise with you regarding incorrect dates and information. I have the same problem with the ship that I have researched for years now....unfortunately some books and websites have the wrong information and it is quite hard to get the correct information out. When it comes to information best to trust sources that have researched deeply for years. So I am with you on the dates. Regards Hugh
Hello Brian from a newbie in Canada. I have only been here a short while and they do seem to be a great bunch. Very helpful and they don't pick on us newbies unless we really set ourselves up for it! Sorry I can't help you with your research as I am really a Great War Researcher who came here for an education. As such, I look forward to reading your posts and learning. I understand there were a lot of POW camps in Canada during WWII. Something I will look into in the future. Richard
Scillin Casualties Hi, all the men who were lost on the Scillin were originally in the Larger Camp at Benghazi. This was to the South of the City,on high ground overlooking the Saltflats. The Camp was prepared by the Italians under the Command of an Engineer Captain called Palermo,and was in use from the 3rd week in June 1942. At maximum the Camp held 24,000 allied P.O.W. Towards the end of October over 1,000 of the prisoners were sent by lorry and trailer to a camp in Tripoli called Campo Benito. The jouney was one of 3 days. Here they stayed until the morning of Friday the 13th November when they were taken to the docks for transportation to Italy via Trapani. The Scillin wasn't ready for sea when they arrived at the Spanish Quay. However when they did begin to board it was clear that there wasn't room for all of them and 195 were left on the Quay. The Scillin sailed at 13:00hrs.This was a delay of 3hrs to the timings given by Ultra intercepts. The remaining 195 sailed the following morning at 3am. Hope this gives a little more into the background of those lost. Brian
