Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp

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Those known to have been held in or employed at
Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

McCarthy John Francis. Pte.
Wilson Alexander. L/Cpl.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records from Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp other sources.

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Want to know more about Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp?

There are:-1 items tagged Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.

L/Cpl. Alexander Wilson 2nd Btn. Cameron Highlanders

My grandfather Alexander Wilson of Clydebank, Glasgow was recruited into Cameron Highlanders in early 1940.
I have telegrams stating missing in action 21/06/42 (Tobruk), confirmed as POW in Italy on 19th of September 1942, but nothing in between. A letter home from PG 70 dated 6th of February 1943 (the handwriting made it tough to decide if it was PG 10 or PG70, but I recently discovered that Jock Forsythe, was definitely sent to PG 70, and I have a letter stating that my grandfather was with him) Then a telegram stating relocation to PG 68 dated 9th of March 1943 then another stating location at PG 55 dated 2nd of April 1943.
At some point after this he escaped with others into Switzerland. I have some letters dated from 11th of March 1944 from various British Legation, Camp d'internment militaire in Switzerland including Caux and Adelboden.
His letters and address book mention various names which may be of interest both military and in Switzerland including:

Jock Forsythe POW from Duntocher (had malaria), Cameron Highlanders, 2932248
R. Baptist. Durham Light Infantry (with him in pg70 and pg55 and in Switzerland) 4455336
E.H Fitzpatrick, 1691862, RAF, Lincolnshire.
A. Fitzpatrick, 14528658, Ormskirk.
and from Switzerland;

Brigette Noscote, Zurich.
Alice Naegel, Grindelwald.
Hanni Schmoker, Merringen
Frau Norton. possibly Morton, looks like a ski instructor! Bad handwriting.
I have quite a small archive of pictures, letters and telegrams which I'd be happy to share if you're interested. I'd love to be able to fill in all the blanks, but I've only just started researching.

Alistair Wilson

Add to this record.

Pte. John Francis McCarthy Scots Guards

John Francis McCarthy was the second son of a WW1 veteran, Patrick McCarthy, who was a member of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. His father was a mustard gas victim but still was able to sire 8 children (with Jessie, nee McKinnon) before he died in 1937, aged 47. Before Patrick died he would often say to his son John, "I'll put you in the army" if John was unruly. On his 17th birthday, 7th June 1938, John enlisted with the Scots Guards and began training in London. He was on guard at Windsor Castle when the Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, would play in the grounds. In 1940 John was shipped to Egypt with his Regiment and saw action at Bengazi and Halfaya Pass. He met Australians for the first time and got a taste for Aussie beer. The A.I.F. mischievously called the Scots Guards, with S.G. on their lapels, "Society Girls". John McCarthy was captured by Italian forces just weeks before his 21st birthday in 1942 and shipped to Camp 55 in southern Italy. He saw a lot of starving prisoners there and decided he couldn't stay. On escape John walked north towards Switzerland before being given up by a Italian farmer. He was then put on a prison train, destination Poland. Stalag 344 was described by John as a large working town or small city. One of John's jobs was to clean the beer vats between brewings. Depleted of good diet, John would eat the residue of the vats for sustenance. Similar to Vegemite. After 3 years John heard that the end to the war was near. He hid in an attic for 4 days and then broke out during a loud nighttime thunderstorm and headed towards Czechoslovakia. When he arrived in Prague he was sheltered by the 'Nazi hating' partisans and was privy to all their activities, which were ramping up. With war's end almost upon Europe, John made his way to the Austrian border and was 'processed' by the U.S. Army. Processing involved an utter physical beating by the yanks because they didn't believe that this disheveled young man with a foreign (Scottish) accent was what he was claiming to be, an Allied soldier. He didn't mind the pain of the beating because he knew that he would be home soon. After reuniting with his family and some recuperating John began a career in policing with Perthshire police. After 8 years John, and his wife Dorothy (nee Haggart) emigrated to Melbourne, Australia where he spent another 28 years with Victoria Police, retiring as a Senior Sergeant of the golfer's paradise district of Cobram, Victoria. John died on 28th May 2002, just short of his 82nd birthday. He was survived by his daughter, Fiona and grand-daughters, Alice and Jen. He was a lovely man. From your mate.

David

Add to this record.

L/Cpl. Alexander Wilson 2nd Btn. Cameron Highlanders

My grandfather Alexander Wilson of Clydebank, Glasgow was recruited into Cameron Highlanders in early 1940.
I have telegrams stating missing in action 21/06/42 (Tobruk), confirmed as POW in Italy on 19th of September 1942, but nothing in between. A letter home from PG 70 dated 6th of February 1943 (the handwriting made it tough to decide if it was PG 10 or PG70, but I recently discovered that Jock Forsythe, was definitely sent to PG 70, and I have a letter stating that my grandfather was with him) Then a telegram stating relocation to PG 68 dated 9th of March 1943 then another stating location at PG 55 dated 2nd of April 1943.
At some point after this he escaped with others into Switzerland. I have some letters dated from 11th of March 1944 from various British Legation, Camp d'internment militaire in Switzerland including Caux and Adelboden.
His letters and address book mention various names which may be of interest both military and in Switzerland including:

Jock Forsythe POW from Duntocher (had malaria), Cameron Highlanders, 2932248
R. Baptist. Durham Light Infantry (with him in pg70 and pg55 and in Switzerland) 4455336
E.H Fitzpatrick, 1691862, RAF, Lincolnshire.
A. Fitzpatrick, 14528658, Ormskirk.
and from Switzerland;

Brigette Noscote, Zurich.
Alice Naegel, Grindelwald.
Hanni Schmoker, Merringen
Frau Norton. possibly Morton, looks like a ski instructor! Bad handwriting.
I have quite a small archive of pictures, letters and telegrams which I'd be happy to share if you're interested. I'd love to be able to fill in all the blanks, but I've only just started researching.

Alistair Wilson

Pte. John Francis McCarthy Scots Guards

John Francis McCarthy was the second son of a WW1 veteran, Patrick McCarthy, who was a member of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. His father was a mustard gas victim but still was able to sire 8 children (with Jessie, nee McKinnon) before he died in 1937, aged 47. Before Patrick died he would often say to his son John, "I'll put you in the army" if John was unruly. On his 17th birthday, 7th June 1938, John enlisted with the Scots Guards and began training in London. He was on guard at Windsor Castle when the Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, would play in the grounds. In 1940 John was shipped to Egypt with his Regiment and saw action at Bengazi and Halfaya Pass. He met Australians for the first time and got a taste for Aussie beer. The A.I.F. mischievously called the Scots Guards, with S.G. on their lapels, "Society Girls". John McCarthy was captured by Italian forces just weeks before his 21st birthday in 1942 and shipped to Camp 55 in southern Italy. He saw a lot of starving prisoners there and decided he couldn't stay. On escape John walked north towards Switzerland before being given up by a Italian farmer. He was then put on a prison train, destination Poland. Stalag 344 was described by John as a large working town or small city. One of John's jobs was to clean the beer vats between brewings. Depleted of good diet, John would eat the residue of the vats for sustenance. Similar to Vegemite. After 3 years John heard that the end to the war was near. He hid in an attic for 4 days and then broke out during a loud nighttime thunderstorm and headed towards Czechoslovakia. When he arrived in Prague he was sheltered by the 'Nazi hating' partisans and was privy to all their activities, which were ramping up. With war's end almost upon Europe, John made his way to the Austrian border and was 'processed' by the U.S. Army. Processing involved an utter physical beating by the yanks because they didn't believe that this disheveled young man with a foreign (Scottish) accent was what he was claiming to be, an Allied soldier. He didn't mind the pain of the beating because he knew that he would be home soon. After reuniting with his family and some recuperating John began a career in policing with Perthshire police. After 8 years John, and his wife Dorothy (nee Haggart) emigrated to Melbourne, Australia where he spent another 28 years with Victoria Police, retiring as a Senior Sergeant of the golfer's paradise district of Cobram, Victoria. John died on 28th May 2002, just short of his 82nd birthday. He was survived by his daughter, Fiona and grand-daughters, Alice and Jen. He was a lovely man. From your mate.

David

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Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp

Those known to have been held in or employed at
Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project - Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp during the Second World War -

Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp

Those known to have been held in or employed at Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Campduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp during the Second World War -

Those known to have been held in or employed at
Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 55 Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.