Prisoner of War Questionnaires

The following information has been taken from questionnaires completed by liberated Prisoners of War. The collection is held by the National Archives, catalogue reference WO 344, and it can be viewed on the Ancestry website, https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62114/

WX1081 Cpl Ernest Gerald Abbott

        Unit: 2/11th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (see also Stalag XVIIB)

        Work Camp: E3 Blechhammer (12th November 1943 to 9th December 1944)

        Sabotage: Yes, by pouring pots of paint every day into pumping machines at Bleckhammer Oil Refinery & also draining the oil pumps so as to cause dislocation of works. 12/5/44 & 19/5/44.

        Collaboration: On 24/12/44 S.Major J. Hobbs gave his word of honour to the German officials that no man would attempt to escape & when three men escaped & was brought back to camp he ordered them to be beaten up.

5384240 Cpl Stanley Eric Abbott

        Unit: 1st Bucks Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

        Work Camp: Gleiwitz Silesia (Coal mine, November 1940 to May 1941)

        Escape: I escaped in Sept 1943 in company with L. Odell of the H.A.C. from Lamsdorf. We were free two days, and were recaptured at Falkenberg, Silesia.

        Sabotage: Whilst employed in the coal mines we succeeded in burying quantities of pneumatic mining tools. Naturally minor acts were committed whenever possible.

6515851 Bombardier William Charles Henry Abbott

        Unit: 44th Light Anti-Aircraft, 51st Highland Division

        Work Camp:  Cosel Hospital (In charge of cookhouse, 12th September 1943 to 1st September 1944)

        Sabotage: Yes, in small way daily on motor cars [possibly at Stalag XXA, where Abbott was held from 15th October 1940 to 6th August 1943, and worked as an interpreter] also on escape from Cosel Hospital set light to a petrol wagon results I do not know.

F94398 Flight Sergeant Zygmunt Abramik

        Unit: 300 Squadron, Bomber Command.

        Captured: 6th March 1943, Essen.

        Camps: Dulag Luft (6th to 11th March 1943), Stalag 8B (15th March to 18th August 1943), Stalag Luft I (12th August to 5th November 1943), [possibly Stalag IVB] (9th November 1943 to 11th February 1944), Stalag Luft 6 (17th February to 27th September 1944), Stalag 357 (23rd July to 7th August 1944), Stalag IVB (9th to 23rd August 1944), Stalag 357 (27th August 1944 to 8th April 1945), Marching (9th April 1945 to 2nd May 1945).

        Notes: Stalag 8b whole time in chains. Stalag 357 Jan 45 palliasses removed etc as reprisal.

        Interest Note: This Sgt was in Russia in 1941. He is amazed that the R Army was forced to retire as far as the Moscow Stalingrad line. He was in various places in Russia and much impressed at that time by their armed strength. Big guns, tanks & motorized transport were the order of the day. Little cavalry & very little horse drawn transport in evidence then. Lots of dud a/c [aircraft]

7614430 Private Christopher Achilles

        Unit: Light Aid Detachment, 64th Medium Regiment, R.A.

        Captured: Egypt, 28th June 1942.

        Camps: Benghazi (June to November 1942), P.G. 59 (December 1942 to June 1943) Stalag 344 (July to August 1943)

        Work Camps: E711 (August 1943 to February 1944), E714 - E769 (General labouring, February 1944).

        Illnesses: Dysentery. Cause: Bad conditions. Duration: 6 weeks. Illnesses: Gastritis. Duration: 3 weeks. Illnesses: Tonsilitis, Neuralgia. Cause: Cold, hunger. Duration: 3 weeks. Did you receive adequate medical treatment? For Dysentery - no. Gastritis, yes. Tonsillitis, Neuralgia, no.

        Escapes: Escaped from E769 to try and reach Russian front. In June 1944. Disguised in blue overalls, army uniform underneath. After two days was recaptured by German soldier. Travelled 50 kilometres.

        Sabotage: Made leakages in acetylene bottles regularly. Sand in machines. Place Heydebreck [E711]/ Helped in mopping up operations after release by Americans.

        Notes: Was forced to march on foot for over 1000 kilometres with little food. Sometimes none at all. From Jan 45 till April when we got food parcel at 13A Stalag.

2930550 Private Andrew Derie Adams

        Unit: Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, 2nd Division.

        Captured: 3rd October 1940, Cysong, France.

        Camps: Stalag 102 (1940 to 1941), Stalag VIIIB (1941 to 1944)

        Work Camps: [Bethune?] (Railway works, 1944 to 1945)

        Escape: I and 7 other mates escaped by Gleiwitz & were recaptured by the Red Army. The names of my mates is Wood, Pledger, Griffiths, Larkin, Verney, Brockall and an other English man. Don't know his name. Were you physically fit? Yes. What happened to your companions? Went home by the 1st boat.