211157 Gnr. John William Hodgkinson British Army Royal Artillery from:Findern My Uncle, John Wm Hodgkinson, known as Bill to distinguish him from his father also John Wm, was a prisoner of war during WW2. Like many others he spoke little of his experience but he did tell me this just before he died. He joined the Army, 25th Field Reg. Royal Artillery,in 1935 and was sent to Woolwich then Newcastle for training. From there he went to Mhow & Jansi in India. When War was declared this became part of the 7th Indian Div. and he was sent to Kirkee then Egypt as part of Army of Nile (later 8th Army). He was captured and he was a POW in Italy outside the Vatican. On Xmas Eve 1942 the prisoners began to be moved to Stalag 8B. He told me that nuns came out of the Vatican and took all the prisoners to Midnight Mass. Catholics were at the front of the church others at the back. All were given coffee & biscuits then 2 nuns escorted all the prisoners back. When Russia entered the war all POWs in Italy were marched to Germany. He remembered that Russian planes were painted white and used to straffe the camp guards after flying over the camp. After the war he transferred to REME as an armourer until he left the army in 1950. He died in 2004.
From War Office records on Find my past - Prisoners of War - J W Hodgkinson - rank Gunner, camp 344 POW no. 847460 Royal Artillary (Field), Record Office Foots Cray, Sidcup, Kent, Camp type STALAG Camp 6c Lamsdorf. regiment: Royal Artillery.
I have a brass plaque with my uncle’s name and no. 847460 RFA engraved on it.
|