Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 60 Prisoner of War Camp

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Those known to have been held in or employed at
Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 60 Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Anderson MID.. John. Pte.
Gostling AG.
Hyde Geoffrey. L/Cpl.
Joubert John Adriaan. Gnr.
Kelly John Verdun. Sgt.
Myburgh Ronald Philip Abercromby. Bmdr.

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Records from Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 60 Prisoner of War Camp other sources.

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AG Gostling 7th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment

AG Gostling served with the 7th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.

Dan

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Sgt. John Verdun Kelly

The following extracts are from the YMCA Wartime Log Book supplied to Sgt John Verdun Kelley. Captured at Tobruk he passed through various Camps- Derna, Benghazi, PG60 Lucca, PG70, Stalag IVB and Stalag 357. Some of the entries are by Kelley others by "guest" writers.
Benghazi

Barren wastes of stony sand
Dry infertile desert land,
Spiked wire on every hand.
Prisoners of War

Ill clad ,unkempt and underfed,
Trading watches and rings for bread,,
With chilly concrete floors for beds,
Prisoners of War

Queueing for hours in blistering heat,
Receiving a morsal of bread and meat,
Glad, even of scraps to eat,
Prisoners of War.

Crowded together like flocks of sheep,
Bullied and driven from dawn to sleep,
Hearts are filled with hatred deep,
Prisoners of War

Cut off from the news of the outside world,
Sifting truth from taunts that are hurled,
Slightly keeping the flag unfurled,
Prisoners of War.

Striving to keep alive their hope.
Finding at times 'tis beyond their scope,
Drugging themselves with rumour dope
Prisoners of War

Setting new values ion trivial things,
The smell of a flower, a skylark that sings
The beauty,the grace of a butterfly's wing
Prisoners of War

Finding life without freedom is vain
'Tis better to die than live ever in chain,
Thank God! For hope of relief once again,
Prisoners of War

Seeing new meaning in higher things,
In life in Christ and the hope He brings
Thus did they treat the King of Kings
Prisoners of War

Finding at last, if you've the eyes to see
This glorious truth fixed by God's decree,
As long as the soul's unchained you're free.
Prisoners of War

June 23 .We awoke after a cold hungry night. The compound larger than Derna and as we were about 1000 more room to move about .In a separate cage near the gate were a party of Indian troops, used in fatigue work for strengthening the wire .In the other corner was a 40ft tower with machine guns.. Each corner had a water tank (empty) and guards patrolled all sides. We were ordered to form groups of 50 and we became N0o 22. Nothing else happened-it got hotter, more rings etc swapped across the wire for water. Someone paid £2 for a quart. Around 2pm the tanks were filled and after queueing for hours we were given a quart each., a groundsheet and 2 short poles . Rations arrived at 5pm - a tin of bully each and 2 small loaves between 3 men. Eat it all or save some? We had begun the trek down Starvation Road.
More new faces arrived and we hoped to move on- we entered hungry men and left weeks later starving wrecks. More searches-this time anything sharp. A few kept back their jackknives or we would have had no way to open the bully cans. Water ration was increased to 3 pint per day, usual ration arrived at 4pm. The cigarette supply started running out!!! Profiteering took over and cigarettes that were selling for 50 piastres for 50 rose to 10piastres each. The guards realized the opportunity and were soon exchanging cigarettes for clothes etc. Sanitary arrangements were just a row of trenches and the smell would become unbearable. Empty day followed empty day ,bored, dirty ad unshaven the main conversation was about food. At the end of the month the Italians issued cigarettes-2 between 6 men!! By rerolling the dogends we made 2 more.
By July 3 morale was low and sickness high , the MO visited but had nothing to teat anyone. Great excitement on July 6 -the RAF bombed the harbour and again on the 9th , lots of shrapnel falling on the camp but no injuries. Now we were so organised that we could make hot meals at night by soaking dry bread ,adding bully and boiling it up. Fuel was the problem, the guards became unhappy about us ripping pieces off the fence posts. The Indian fatigue troops had plenty but at a cost- 2 cigarettes for a small piece and the price of cigarettes was 5 piastres or a shilling each. Another bombing raid on the 11th and a ship hit in the harbour.
Sunday 12th and a service from a South African Padre, though it must have helped it brought everyone back to thinking of home as they took part in a service knowing family at home were doing the same. We were all given Red Cross Cards to fill in, they were handed in but to this day I never heard of any arriving. By now health was getting poor, walking an effort and dizziness when standing. We were dirty, unshaven and lice started to appear. One by one those who had kept rings etc swapped them with the guards for food-tempted by guards holding up loaves of bread The minds of the guards needed understanding, a good watch worth £5 would get maybe 2 loaves but a cheap ring from the Souk costing pennies would get 5 loaves easily Cigarettes became THE currency and money was used for card games until we found the guards would sell 40 cigarettes for £1 Egyptian. Ersatz coffee was added to our rations but what was it? A Cookhouse was also built but could only feed one compound a hot meal per day so we hot meals every third day.
Our first meal was 17 july a pint stodge of rice peas flavoured with olive oil . this cost us half a tin of bully each. The cooks found the dry rice a valuable trade item and were soon exchanging it for cigarettes. Dysentry broke out amongst the weakest but only the worst cases went to hospital I reckon about 60 died. Daily routine- get up when you felt like it, pass the time somehow until rations were drawn at noon, go to bed early to escape the day. Meals were 9am and 5.30pm and a brew of coffee in between (no milk or sugar)..
July 25 the reality of how weak we had become hit home. New latrines were needed to be dug The labour divided up and each man had 2 minutes of digging to do. Mainy were unable to complete even this.. An escape attempt was made by a couple of guys hanging onto the underside of the rubbish truck, unfortunately this went into the next compound where native SA troops saw the guys and crowding round bending down to look resulted in the 2 heroes retuning in chains for 48 hrs.
On July 27 groups from the next cage started to be moved out . July 31 we were given English bully 1 tin between 2 . We knew we would be soon and had started pooling our food to sustain us on the journey. We eat as much as we could and for the first time since capture I felt full. We paraded at 0330 next day, we had our food and 2 gallons of water why go hungry and thirsty? We were marched to the docks, the water weighed a ton but it was good to see the bombing damage that had been done We embarked on the Rosalino Pilo , although modern she soon took on the look of a slave ship as we were crammed into the holds helped by the Libyans standing on anyones fingers if they were slow on the ladders. More fun was had by throwing buckets of sea water at us through the gratings . The heat was stifling and we dreaded the night, a meal of cold fried bread,bully and water arrived at 11am and we sailed at noon.
Next days rationed were lowered in a bucket at 4pm, tin of bully and a pack of biscuits. We were told next stop was Tripoli then across to Naples. The dysentery cases became so bad that in the end they were allowed on deck. We tried to sleep in the heat with the smell of engine oil and engine noise. It was a long night but as dawn approached the hold was silent save for a few groans and moans when I heard an unknown person playing "solitude" on a mouth organ- knowing my feelings and thoughts I could sympathise with him. We were allowed up on deck at 8am and managed to stay there all day, one man was hauled up unconscious and his body was taken off at Tripoli.. Our 11am meal of biscuits and bully seemed good until we saw the meals being taken to the gun crews who were German even though it was an Iti ship. We reached Tripoli at noon
Sgt John Verdun Kelley
Names in the log book from Benghazi:

Sgt Taylor
John Toole
Dougie Herrage
Charlie Peace
Stitch Taylor
Dodger Green
Bill Fyfe
RQMS Bone
CSM Muldowney
Sgt Graham
Sgt Mc Dermott
Gdsman Hall
Gdsman Simpson

Peter Mason.

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Bmdr. Ronald Philip Abercromby Myburgh 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 4th Bty. SA Artillery

Ron Myburgh on right in a play, Stalag 8A

Ronald Myburgh enlisted as a 3rd year BSc student at University of Cape Town, aged 19, in July 1940 along with a group of mates. Wanted to join the Air Force, but there was a wait, so joined the unit which was being mobilised next. He saw service in East Africa at Mombasa and in Abyssinia; then Egypt and across North Africa. He was captured at Tobruk 20th/21st June 1942 and was shipped to Italy aboard the Mon Viso.
He was held in a number of POW camps, Transit camp P.G.51 at Villa Serena, Altamura (near Bari), P.G. 60, Colle Compecito, near Lucca, P.G. 52 at Calvari, near Chiavari (Nov. 1942) and Stalag 8A, Gorlitz (Sept 1943 to Feb 1945). He was on the The Long March from February to April 1945 and found freedom at Ditfurt on the 11th of April 1945. After repatriation to England, he was in Sussex from May to July 1945. Ron reached Cape Town on 3rd of August 1945, exactly 5 years since he had left by troop train.

Melanie Smith

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Gnr. John Adriaan Joubert Artillery

This is my grandfather's War Diary that is in my cousin's possession. I took the time to type it up and place the 2 books in chronological order.
The Truth
When danger is near and trouble is high God and the soldier Is everyone's cry
When troubles are over And danger is righted God is forgotten And the soldier is slighted
1941
Departed Durban - 29/9/40
Arrived Mombassa - 4/10/40
Do Gil Gil - 6/10/40 Departed Gil Gil - 4/11/40
Arrived Marsebit - 7/11/40
Departed Marsabit - 30/1/41
ived Dukana - 1/1/41
Departed Dukana - 13/2/41
Arrived Kunehuarra - 13/2/41
Departed do - 5/3/41
Arrived Mega - 5/3/41
Departed Mega - 14/3/41
Arrived Yavello - 14/4/41
eparted Yavello - 20/4/41
Arrived Megga Luba - 21/4/41
eparted do - 28/4/41
Arrived Seghelli - 30/4/41
Departed do - 31/4/41
Arrived Uadarra - 31/4/41
Arrived Adola - 15/5/41
Arrived Hula - 26/5/41
Do Uindo - 27/5/41
Do Scioloi - 29/5/41
Do Omo River - 30/5/41
Departed Omo River - 13/6/41
Arrived X Rd Fiume Indodo - 14/6/41
Departed do - 21/6/41
Arrived G (J)imam - 1/6/41
Do Dembi Dola - 24/6/41
Returned Gimma - 31/6/41
Departed do - 19/7/41
Departed Adis for Asmara - 24/7/41
Webra Sina, Giarra, Alomata, Wessil, Mia Biu, Madani Alem, Quiha, Uogora, Adigrat, Sanafi, Adi Caih, Saganetti, Weeamere Asmara - 28/7/41
Nefasit, Ghinda, Dolngollo Basar, Massawa. Arrived Egypt - 7/8/41
Sindi Regegh - 23.11.41

1942
Captured Tobruk - 21.6.42
Arrived Benghazi - 26.6.42
Do Brindisi - 13.7.42
Had fist hot meal 14.7.42 for 3 weeks.
Received Red Cross Parcel 16.7.42 split between 4 men what a feed up we had.
21.7.42 - Wrote Card Home.
2.7.42 - wrote better card receiving a Red Cross parcel
2.23.7 - got our parcel today but what a poor one
27.7 - Left Bari at 3:30 for labor camp at Co? Camp Colle de Compito
29.7 - Received one parcel to five men, quite a good parcel
30.7 - Worked for a painter received ten cigarettes in payment
?.8 - Worked in cookhouse for the day + had a good meal for a change.
12.8 - Wrote home again for a change, have received no parcel for 7 days
?.6.8 - had water and sweet milk today costing about 2 lire not much to eat but very welcome.
17.8 - still no red+ parcel, all the lads looking forward to getting one
18.8- Had two peaches + 4 tomatoes today costing me 1 lira it was very tasty indeed it also included 2 pieced garlic
23.8 - Had 4 peaches +3 pears today Red Cross parcel.
2.9 - Had writing paper today and wrote home, no signs of cigs which we have not had for over a week. Still no signs of the red+ parcels yet. Canteen fruit also getting very scarce now.
4.9 - Got Red cross parcel today 1 to 2 men can have a good feed again.
6.9 - Oscar and myself had porridge for breakfast. Oatmeal supplied by parcel. Made an apple pudding and had a good dinner in the evening. A good day it was
14.9 - The Rev Burger and another padre has arrived in our camp as
15.9 - Musical instruments have arrived in camp for our entertainment
16.9 - Red Cross representative paid us a visit today and promised a more even flow of parcels
17.9 - We received a lot of canteen fruit today and had a good feed again for a change. I think it was it was only to make an impression upon
1.10 - Received one red cross parcel per man today Canadian type we all feel that we are living, and it is a real God sent to us.
4.10 - Had Holy communion today the first since I joined up in the army.
4.11 - There is a general move on again where to no one knows yet. Had drunken mealie porridge this morning with boiled milk and how enjoyable it was.
11.11 - we observed a? muster? this morning as usual and it makes one think very far.
13.11 - A man T.C. Lee died this morning on his way to the station.
15.11 - Had holy communion for the last time at Lucia camp.
16.11 - Left Colle de Campito, arrived at camp 65.
18.11 - In bitter cold weather to find no parcels awaiting us.
22.11 - our food Sunday in new camp, parcels today
23.11 - It is one year today since we made such a desperate stand at Sidi Rezagh. I met a lot of my pals in this camp that were captured there. It was quite a reunion for us after not having seen each other for.

1943
30.1.43 - I have not entered anything in this book for a long time now because I have not had anything worth writing in we have not had red cross parcels for a long time now. 10 men were confirmed tonight the second lot since I have been a prisoner.
31.1 - We had Holy communion this evening the first in this sector in Gravina Camp
25.2 - the Pope's delegate paid us a visit today and sympathized with us and promised us that his Holiness would pray for us.
26.3 - Today the Rev Guido Coma visited us, I was quite surprised to know that he is a Wesleyan minister and that the authorities allows him to visit POW's Any way he is quite a nice stick
4.4 - Major Hunter and several SA medicals left today on repatriation. I hope we will follow soon.
11.4 - I went to my first concert last night since coming to this camp it really helped to show the blues away.
6.5.43 - Received my first letter from home today since I have been captured.
26.5 - We today arrived in the province of Taranto at a place called Mottola we are going to do farm work.
3.7 - I celebrated my second birthday today in Italy we are doing Farm jobs around here mine being wall digging.
23.7 - we arrived in the province of Foggia, at a farm outside San Ferdinando, this is a better farm that the one we were on at Mottola, but we have not met the owner yet.
6.7 - Today we heard that??? Mussolini has left this country and that Marshall Badoglio has taken over, so the end of this country must be in sight.
18-8 - the Fighting in Sicily finished yesterday according to the Iti Press it finished this morning so it cannot be many more months before this life will cease.
20.8 - Left San Samuele this morning on foot for Cerinola and were dumped in an abattoir.
22.8 - After two days in Cerinola we left for Foggia by train.
23.8 - we passed through Foggia on foot this morning and found the town in ruins after being bombed by the RAF and the 192 no trains were able to pass through so we had to walk 10 ?? to the next station.
25.8 - We arrived this morning at Camp 82 Situated in mountains at a place called Laterina, rather a queer name. It is rather nice here and I like the surroundings. I have also met a lot off my old pals here.
27.8 - No cigarettes or parcels here we arrived at camp 65 in similar circumstances 10 months ago and as it is we have had no issue of cigarettes for two months now. Out on the working parties. I seem to have the misfortune to get into a sector where there are always a lot of colored men.
30.8 - There seems to be great expectations in the air everyone seems to be talking of nothing else but peace, I hope it will not be long before Italy withdraws from the war and we can return home again but, these Itis seem to be very stubborn and think they are still going to win the war. We had 10 English cigs today for a change.
4.9 - Very strong rumors today that our forces landed in Italy yesterday and the Iti Sentries recon it will only be ten days then we will be free men again. I hope they are right about it.
9.9 - Last night we heard that the Italians had capitulated and the men took it with great joy. I have just come in from outside and cold see Italian soldiers and civilians running in all direction. Nobody seems to know what all the excitement is about, rumors have it though that the Germans are coming to take over the camp and of our men seem to be very worried about it? Why? I do not know.
11.10 - At 4PM this afternoon there was a concerted escape from this Sector led by the French Foreign Legion. I am sorry to say that some S Africans also took part in it. For my part I would have nothing to do with it as I value my life too much. A certain section is still busy breaking down the barbed wire fence and breaking down he poles.
12.9 - The Italians deserted us this evening leaving us to our own cares, a few of the officers at least had the decency of remaining with us. The camp is in a chaos especially in this sector, the fences being down prisoners are roaming around the fields.
13.9 - Last night more Iti soldiers turned up but by 12 noon they had all departed again, two German officers paid us a visits in the ordinary course of their duties and found us all by ourselves, but said that if the prisoners kept in the camp they would leave us alone, so it is up to the men now to behave themselves if they do not want the Germans taking over.
14.9 - The Germans took the camp over last evening but found it quite in order and very calm. From now on news is going to be very scarce in this camp, so we have to rely solely on rumors which is rather dangerous in a P.O.W. camp. Any way we have it on good authority that the Itis threw open the camps at Genora & Milan and that the Germans are having a busy time rounding up P.O.W. any way they have a thou? From this camp as well.
9.9 - We arrived in this camp this afternoon from Italy in pouring rain. We had rather uncomfortable trip, though through pleasant country, Austria especially is very attractive, so is Germany only too many factories in the Towns, the Germans also treated us very well on the journey over and is still doing so, and I must say very much better than the Italians did.
20.9 - We had rather a busy day as we had to be registered again and we received POW numbers and we find that we are at Stalag V1110. I wonder for how long. The weather is still not treating is well as it is very cold after the rain.
29.9 - The weather is still bad here at Sagan, evidently they have a very early winter around these parts of the country. We have had no Red Cross parcels since coming here and the German supply of food is very little so I hope they will hurry with the red cross parcels so we can have our daily fill.
4.10 - The Germans gave us a sort of Mealie Porridge for lunch today but on the whole the food had been very poor this last week unlike the first week we were here. It is also 3 years today that I arrived up north. There is talk of a working party leaving this camp this week. Up to now we have had no writing material to write home. I recon it is a poor show.
12.10 - Left Sagan yesterday and arrived at Hubereashof today, commencing work in sugar factory this evening. We had a very good breakfast on arriving here.
1.11 - We had a heavy frost last night and it as not too pleasant this morning loading sugar beat on to the trucks.
5.11 - Today we had a slight fall of snow throughout the day and it may continue through the night. This is only the beginning and I dread working in the cold, cold snow.
16.11 - We awoke this morning to a heavy fall of snow, which lasted until about 11 o clock. It was only a few inches deep but of course more is expected.
21.11 - We arrived in Breslan today at a locomotive factory, the food is good and the bread is excellent in the event of an air raid we are well within the target area.
10.12 - It is Eliza's birthday today and oh how I longed to be home. It has also been snowing continuously since yesterday and we had a bit of afternoon fighting during the day.
25.12 - Well another Christmas has come around and I am still in the work house. I hope it will be the last one in captivity, as usual the Red Cross supplied good Christmas fare and we all had a good meal, the clerk of the weather also obliged by making it a white Christmas as it started to snow this afternoon after we had been thinking there was going to be nothing but ice we also had beer which the boys enjoyed very much, but I of course only had a very little having given myself over as a TT lad. I enjoyed myself as much as possible in the circumstances so I pray that 25.12.44 will not find me behind any more barbed wire but at or well on the way.

1944

25.1.44 - We had the first sunshine today for nearly 2 months it was really enjoyable to stand and bask in it. The first SA mail arrived at our working camp today, we also had the news that some men who escaped in Italy had got home safely.
24-2 - After having had snow continually since the 14th we had sunshine again today. Also the first daylight air raid alarms since coming here.
13. - Received my first letter in Germany today. How nice it is to receive news again from the old country.
17.3 - Received another two letters from home today to my great satisfaction and joy.
3.4 - Received another letter from home today.
4.4 - We had some photos taken this evening by a German woman and her father. It was strange to see a woman in the billets she was rather cheerful and could also speak English.
19.5 - Received 13 letters today being addressed to Italy.
6.6 - Heard this morning that the Invasion of France started at midnight. It has been raining here most of the night and morning so I wonder what the weather was like in France. Also received 4 letters 4 from Italy one being over a year old.
13.7 - I celebrated my 3rd birthday today in captivity. It was not so bad though. I had rather many well wishes. Also received a bunch of flowers and a packet of fresh fruit mixed but oh, how I longed to be home with my own darlings.
30.7 - Started on our way to Sagan en route for rest camp.
2.8 - Arrived in the middle of the night at the rest camp after a trying train journey.
4. - Went to Reich's Sports field today it was quite an interesting tour.
6.8 - Had quite an air raid close to this camp today. First experience of Yank high altitude Bombing.
8.11 - Had another air raid yesterday evening lasting hrs.
12.8 - Another Air Road last night this evening we are having a fancy dress cabaret
13.8 - Cabaret a huge success followed by an air raid
15.8 - Another very heavy air raid last night. Capt. Burger arrived here this morning, was very glad to see him again.
18.8 - Went to Potsdam City today to view old historic sights, saw the old castle of Frederick the Great one ???? new castle Sans Souci palace, Garrison Church and Church of Peace.
19.8 - Capt. Henrico also arrived here this morning.
25.(8) - We heard today that Romania capitulated today.
3.9 - Arrived back at work last night, I wonder how long it will still be to the end of the war.
7.10 - It is a long time since I entered anything in this book. The Allied forces are already on the German soil and this evening this town Breslan had its first air raid lasting almost 2 hours.
17.11 - Had my first parcel from South Africa after it had been 19 months on its way also had the first fall of snow yesterday
15.11 - I have had no letters now from home for two months and life is getting very monotonous. Still we are full of expectations that the war will not last long now anymore since the Anglo Americans has reached the Rheine River
22.12 - Capt. Burger paid us a visit here longer and held A service for us and I of course was very glad to see him again being old friends
24.12 - Well this is Christmas eve and rather dreary, having no red X parcels and haven't had any for a long time now. Anyway this is a good sign for us we hope the boys are trying to be happy and I must also say trying to indulge on community singing but their minds seem to be far away somehow we have had some very nice sing songs here in the past.
25.12 - Christmas passed rather quietly, then one cannot expect men to be very happy on a Christmas in a life like this we also did not have any snow.

1945
31-12-1-1-45 - We had a concert here tonight staged by men of this Xdo and then hasred the rest of the night with community singing which lasting well into the morning.
11. - Received one parcel to 3 men again today after not having had any for a long time.
18-1 - Had another air raid this evening lasting an hour. The RG have started pushing again and coming on well.
19.1 - Received our Christmas parcels today one to 2 men rather late than never.
20.1 - Got orders to stand by to move at any time men are all packing. RS reported to be well on their way to this place.
22.1 - The Jerrys are evacuating Breslan in a hurry, we are even dismantling machinery for removal from here.
24.1 - We did go out to work today gunfire has been heard all night and today. Jerry ??? not taken away to Frankfort. 1943 Sept Italian days seems to be starting all over again for us, and expectations are great at the present for us.
6.2 - We have now travelled through snow, sleet and mud and are having our first days rest. The Jerries also shot one of our chaps accidentally while shooting at a Russian. We have also had to discard our sleighs for wheeled carts.
8.2 - We have passed by one Stalag and on our way to own now.
15.2 - The weather has turned out for the better and again we have passed our own Stalag
25.2 - Arrive last night at Stalag IX C but were told this morning to be on our way again so we still live on the road and being starved as rations are few and far between and mostly we live by bartering our own personal bit.
27.2 - Were strafed by Anglo American fighters this afternoon and lost six killed and nine wounded. Wally Sheppard of my dept. also being killed.
8.3 - Went out bartering today among the German civilians and had a good feed from them as well, expect to arrive at a Stalag tomorrow.
10.3 - Arrived at Stalag IX A yesterday which is situated in S.W. Germany anyway it is not a good camp it is as bad as our first camp in Italy if not worse from the food point of view the excuse again is that it is a French Stalag and not British. A peculiar thing I have noticed in this part of Germany is the strange way woman dress and make up their hair it reminds one of the dress of woman about 1900
17.3 - Cooked meals are quite good in this camp but could do with more bread ration very small, 7 men to one load and 10 men to one loaf on Fridays, we are all feeling the hunger already and are wishing that our troops were here. Cigs are also very scarce and which to make life very miserable.
20.3 - We are still sleeping on the hard floor and no blankets issued yet we are getting very hungry now and some men are already suffering from black gut ours are very good and it seem to be well pleased for??????????
21-3 - Today I started writing UP in this book as the other one is full, had to go and work for the Germans outside with no extra ration and big complaint on our side, getting hungrier by the day. Mad Yankee Fighter pilot strafed our camp, killing 12 Frenchman and wounding 50. This is my second experience of Yankee strafing.
22-3 - Bad rumours today of 10 men to a loaf of bread as from Monday 26th it is bad enough now on 7 to a loaf, anyway Jerrys end must be in sight. Protective Power representative also in camp today, suppose it will be the usual old promises and nothing done, no news yet of Red Cross parcels.
24.3 - Germans announce General Montgomery big offensive in Northern sector of West front news is generally good for us, Hundreds of Flying Fortresses passed over here this afternoon, dropping only smoke bombs or flares or whatever they were no on knows. Men are still dying in this camp, most from exhaustion, 9th man to date was buried today.
27.3 - It is one month today since we were strafed by Yanks on the Reich Autobahn, food is deteriorating by the day in this camp, news is very good for us and perhaps we will be free men by the end of this month. Anyway we have heard artillery fire in and before we reached this camp. Roll on the big day and CompoPacketo
28.3 - 3 PM Marching orders just came through to us and we will once again be on our way tomorrow morning at 8 how are we going to last on this trip as we are all in a weak condition, we have just marched west now we are marching back east again. I don't know why but I think I am with a Jonah crowd as I seem to miss liberation by the skin of my teeth every time, according to news our forces are not far from here.
8.4 - We have now been on the road for 11 days again and the men are in a bad condition. For the past week we have been getting a cup of thin soup only and then we have had to stand in a queue for hours to get bread, we have not had for a whole week now, The Germans are also marching us by night so we are not going down in condition owing to lack of food but also through lack of sleep as the best. part of the day is spending in waiting for soup
11-4 (1944?) At least the Germans have decided to give us a rest day, but incidentally we cannot do any cooking for ourselves though we have potatoes and wheat of our own to cook, of course we put it all down to reprisals. The Germans still have not come up with any bread rations. Last night a lot of us even went without our broth (drop) of soup and had to walk all night on an empty stomach, of course we got a couple of Red Cross Parcels from somewhere, which we had to share 1 to 25 men so of course Jerry must have thought we had a royal feed though it was just a bare taste for us. Anglo American planes are now flying around this country as if it belongs to them, especially fighter planes are very active strafing all vehicles on roads. The German Air force seems to be non-existent as we have not on any occasion yet seen any of their planes in action against ours. Still no news of when we will be reaching a Stalag again. Anyway roll on the end of the march, roll on victory and peace and Bread. Last night before leaving billets my muckers and myself pinched a rabbit and have just managed to give it at rather bribed a woman to cook it for us, so we are hopefully looking forward to a bit of a feast for three. Roll on the peace bells. Later we have just had a rabbit and spuds which we all agree was the best. meal we have had for 10 days now.
12-4 - Had horse meat first thing this morning, I have always frowned upon horse flesh, but whether it is from hunger I do not know, but it tasted very well, in fact I should say better than beef.
17-4 - I have now been travelling for 3 days with the sick I have been suffering for 14 days with dysentery and still no sign of it coming to a stop, this morning we were left with the major of the village with our guards, but the major seems to be anxious for us to be on our way again, we at least got a very small piece of bread each, which the major thought was a great treat for us. Yesterday we enjoyed some coffee with milk which the farm woman gave us
18-4 - Yesterday passed quite well for us in this village of Langenhau, I've even had some fresh eggs the first I have had in Germany? we are still stopping here and we are quite contended to remain here, as the American force are not very far from here and there just may be a chance of being released. I am now getting weaker by the day and do not know if I will be able to manage a? 30 km walk now.
19-4 (1944) - Last night we were taken to a big town Eder to be handed over to the military authorities again but were refused so we returned to our old cam(p) again. Thousands of bombers have passed over here in the last few days. Today the town near here were heavily machine gunned from the air artillery fire is also much neared today, and our hopes are still high for a speedy release.
20 - The fighting came right UP to this village last night and is still continuing this morning and our hopes are still high for our release
21 - well the town of Selb is supposed to be in the hands of the Yanks and two civvies came along to fetch two of our men away to go to Selb to contact the Yanks at Selb and we are anxiously awaiting their return. Later. The Americans have arrived here with some cigs and chocs and at last we are free men again after 2 years and 10 months to the day. Hooray. Later still we marched into Selb this afternoon and we were received right royalty by the Americans, they simply showered us with cigs and fed us till we could not eat anymore, then found us accommodation and send us in more food which I cooked and have just finished it 11-30 PM. What a treat to be free men again
22 - Believe it or not we did not sleep a wink on the first night of our liberation, though we had an excellent house at our disposal and beds with spring mattresses and white sheets we could not. perhaps it was over eating or drinking too much coffee, these yanks sure have good coffee and I drank dozens of cups of it. This afternoon we moved forward with the yanks nearer to the front and were then promptly sent off from there to Bayreuthe were are supposed to get a plane from here tomorrow to Blighty
23 - we did not leave Bayreuthe today to our disappointment but are leaving tomorrow morning for Erlangen and rumour has it that we will leave from there by plane, so we are all hoping that this is true. Frikkie Els, Pimple Abbot, Nobby Clark, Laurie Gibson and myself today celebrated our liberation with two roast Chickens, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, so I am only hoping that it is not going to have any after effects on me, as my stomach seems to be getting right now, owing I think to eating good food again
24 - We were supposed to have left this morning at 7-30 for Erlangen Port on our way to England but the transport did not arrive until 2-20. I got browned off and made the boys a baked custard in the time of waiting. Any way we arrived at Herzogenaurach aerodrome this afternoon late were disinfected and leave tomorrow for Blighty.
25 - There were thousands coming in and out we arrived at Brussels Air Port at 3:30 and are staying overnight, it is quite delightful to be in a city again that is all lit up and where English is predominant
26 - We left Brussels this afternoon at 5-30 for Ostend by train to catch a boat for England. I am a bit disappointed as I really hoped to fly there. Anyway another day is wasted in getting to England.
27 - Left Ostend at 1-30 this afternoon TBS Vienna, a very smooth running ship though the channel is a bit rough and cold. We landed at Tilbury Docks and were taken for dinner which we enjoyed very much as it was the first lamb we had for many years.
28 - We arrived in Brighton this morning had a good breakfast and then started filling in various, it was like joining the army all over again.

Francois Joubert

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Pte. John Anderson MID. 2nd Btn. Cameron Highlanders

I knew very little about what my father John Anderson did in the War. He died in 1993 and he would not talk about his experiences. All I have managed to find out is that he was Mentioned in Dispatches in October 1945. I know he was also a POW in Campo PG60 and Stalag IV-C. It was at some stage reported to his parents that he was missing in action. He was awarded the Africa Star and I believe he fought in Tobruk before being taken POW. He brought back a strange plate with his name and service number. This could never be explained as it was such a strange item to be given. However, Stalag IV-C was a former porcelain factory so does look like he could well have made this himself. I am sure you can see why he never took this up as a future career.

Steve Anderson

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L/Cpl. Geoffrey Hyde 4th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment

The tank crew he served with for a time taken I believe in 1941 near Tobruk

A photo of a group in Stalag 4F Camp PG70 my Dad Geoff Hyde is on the extreme right back row

The map he used during his escape from the Germans.

My Dad, Geoff Hyde served in the 4th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment from February 1940. He has documented his experiences in a War Diary which he compiled shortly before his death in January 2009.
My Dad was captured during the battle for Tobruk in June 1942. He was wounded as a result of an argument with a German guard during a move from a POW camp in Benghazi to a camp in Tripoli and ended up in a military hospital in Caserta. He always said he had good memories of the way the Italian military treated the wounded and POWs. When his condition improved he was sent to a POW camp PG60 near Capua and then to one known as PG70 near to Fermo in a small town called Valtenna. The camp was across the road from a small chemical plant which is still there. When Mussolini surrendered they were all transferred to camps in Germany and he went to Chemnitz and eventually escaped from a cross country march as the Allied forces advanced on the Germans in April 1945 and met up with a group of American forces who he had a hard time persuading to accept he was British.
During his time in Camp PG70 he was involved in the production of a Camp 'magazine' called Lager Life. I have almost the full set of copies of this. Fortunately, he took a Kodak Brownie camera with him when he was posted overseas and somehow this made its way back to his parents home when he was hospitalised in Cairo during the breakout from Tobruk in 1941.

Steve Hyde

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AG Gostling 7th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment

AG Gostling served with the 7th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.

Dan

Sgt. John Verdun Kelly

The following extracts are from the YMCA Wartime Log Book supplied to Sgt John Verdun Kelley. Captured at Tobruk he passed through various Camps- Derna, Benghazi, PG60 Lucca, PG70, Stalag IVB and Stalag 357. Some of the entries are by Kelley others by "guest" writers.
Benghazi

Barren wastes of stony sand
Dry infertile desert land,
Spiked wire on every hand.
Prisoners of War

Ill clad ,unkempt and underfed,
Trading watches and rings for bread,,
With chilly concrete floors for beds,
Prisoners of War

Queueing for hours in blistering heat,
Receiving a morsal of bread and meat,
Glad, even of scraps to eat,
Prisoners of War.

Crowded together like flocks of sheep,
Bullied and driven from dawn to sleep,
Hearts are filled with hatred deep,
Prisoners of War

Cut off from the news of the outside world,
Sifting truth from taunts that are hurled,
Slightly keeping the flag unfurled,
Prisoners of War.

Striving to keep alive their hope.
Finding at times 'tis beyond their scope,
Drugging themselves with rumour dope
Prisoners of War

Setting new values ion trivial things,
The smell of a flower, a skylark that sings
The beauty,the grace of a butterfly's wing
Prisoners of War

Finding life without freedom is vain
'Tis better to die than live ever in chain,
Thank God! For hope of relief once again,
Prisoners of War

Seeing new meaning in higher things,
In life in Christ and the hope He brings
Thus did they treat the King of Kings
Prisoners of War

Finding at last, if you've the eyes to see
This glorious truth fixed by God's decree,
As long as the soul's unchained you're free.
Prisoners of War

June 23 .We awoke after a cold hungry night. The compound larger than Derna and as we were about 1000 more room to move about .In a separate cage near the gate were a party of Indian troops, used in fatigue work for strengthening the wire .In the other corner was a 40ft tower with machine guns.. Each corner had a water tank (empty) and guards patrolled all sides. We were ordered to form groups of 50 and we became N0o 22. Nothing else happened-it got hotter, more rings etc swapped across the wire for water. Someone paid £2 for a quart. Around 2pm the tanks were filled and after queueing for hours we were given a quart each., a groundsheet and 2 short poles . Rations arrived at 5pm - a tin of bully each and 2 small loaves between 3 men. Eat it all or save some? We had begun the trek down Starvation Road.
More new faces arrived and we hoped to move on- we entered hungry men and left weeks later starving wrecks. More searches-this time anything sharp. A few kept back their jackknives or we would have had no way to open the bully cans. Water ration was increased to 3 pint per day, usual ration arrived at 4pm. The cigarette supply started running out!!! Profiteering took over and cigarettes that were selling for 50 piastres for 50 rose to 10piastres each. The guards realized the opportunity and were soon exchanging cigarettes for clothes etc. Sanitary arrangements were just a row of trenches and the smell would become unbearable. Empty day followed empty day ,bored, dirty ad unshaven the main conversation was about food. At the end of the month the Italians issued cigarettes-2 between 6 men!! By rerolling the dogends we made 2 more.
By July 3 morale was low and sickness high , the MO visited but had nothing to teat anyone. Great excitement on July 6 -the RAF bombed the harbour and again on the 9th , lots of shrapnel falling on the camp but no injuries. Now we were so organised that we could make hot meals at night by soaking dry bread ,adding bully and boiling it up. Fuel was the problem, the guards became unhappy about us ripping pieces off the fence posts. The Indian fatigue troops had plenty but at a cost- 2 cigarettes for a small piece and the price of cigarettes was 5 piastres or a shilling each. Another bombing raid on the 11th and a ship hit in the harbour.
Sunday 12th and a service from a South African Padre, though it must have helped it brought everyone back to thinking of home as they took part in a service knowing family at home were doing the same. We were all given Red Cross Cards to fill in, they were handed in but to this day I never heard of any arriving. By now health was getting poor, walking an effort and dizziness when standing. We were dirty, unshaven and lice started to appear. One by one those who had kept rings etc swapped them with the guards for food-tempted by guards holding up loaves of bread The minds of the guards needed understanding, a good watch worth £5 would get maybe 2 loaves but a cheap ring from the Souk costing pennies would get 5 loaves easily Cigarettes became THE currency and money was used for card games until we found the guards would sell 40 cigarettes for £1 Egyptian. Ersatz coffee was added to our rations but what was it? A Cookhouse was also built but could only feed one compound a hot meal per day so we hot meals every third day.
Our first meal was 17 july a pint stodge of rice peas flavoured with olive oil . this cost us half a tin of bully each. The cooks found the dry rice a valuable trade item and were soon exchanging it for cigarettes. Dysentry broke out amongst the weakest but only the worst cases went to hospital I reckon about 60 died. Daily routine- get up when you felt like it, pass the time somehow until rations were drawn at noon, go to bed early to escape the day. Meals were 9am and 5.30pm and a brew of coffee in between (no milk or sugar)..
July 25 the reality of how weak we had become hit home. New latrines were needed to be dug The labour divided up and each man had 2 minutes of digging to do. Mainy were unable to complete even this.. An escape attempt was made by a couple of guys hanging onto the underside of the rubbish truck, unfortunately this went into the next compound where native SA troops saw the guys and crowding round bending down to look resulted in the 2 heroes retuning in chains for 48 hrs.
On July 27 groups from the next cage started to be moved out . July 31 we were given English bully 1 tin between 2 . We knew we would be soon and had started pooling our food to sustain us on the journey. We eat as much as we could and for the first time since capture I felt full. We paraded at 0330 next day, we had our food and 2 gallons of water why go hungry and thirsty? We were marched to the docks, the water weighed a ton but it was good to see the bombing damage that had been done We embarked on the Rosalino Pilo , although modern she soon took on the look of a slave ship as we were crammed into the holds helped by the Libyans standing on anyones fingers if they were slow on the ladders. More fun was had by throwing buckets of sea water at us through the gratings . The heat was stifling and we dreaded the night, a meal of cold fried bread,bully and water arrived at 11am and we sailed at noon.
Next days rationed were lowered in a bucket at 4pm, tin of bully and a pack of biscuits. We were told next stop was Tripoli then across to Naples. The dysentery cases became so bad that in the end they were allowed on deck. We tried to sleep in the heat with the smell of engine oil and engine noise. It was a long night but as dawn approached the hold was silent save for a few groans and moans when I heard an unknown person playing "solitude" on a mouth organ- knowing my feelings and thoughts I could sympathise with him. We were allowed up on deck at 8am and managed to stay there all day, one man was hauled up unconscious and his body was taken off at Tripoli.. Our 11am meal of biscuits and bully seemed good until we saw the meals being taken to the gun crews who were German even though it was an Iti ship. We reached Tripoli at noon
Sgt John Verdun Kelley
Names in the log book from Benghazi:

Sgt Taylor
John Toole
Dougie Herrage
Charlie Peace
Stitch Taylor
Dodger Green
Bill Fyfe
RQMS Bone
CSM Muldowney
Sgt Graham
Sgt Mc Dermott
Gdsman Hall
Gdsman Simpson

Peter Mason.

Bmdr. Ronald Philip Abercromby Myburgh 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 4th Bty. SA Artillery

Ronald Myburgh enlisted as a 3rd year BSc student at University of Cape Town, aged 19, in July 1940 along with a group of mates. Wanted to join the Air Force, but there was a wait, so joined the unit which was being mobilised next. He saw service in East Africa at Mombasa and in Abyssinia; then Egypt and across North Africa. He was captured at Tobruk 20th/21st June 1942 and was shipped to Italy aboard the Mon Viso.
He was held in a number of POW camps, Transit camp P.G.51 at Villa Serena, Altamura (near Bari), P.G. 60, Colle Compecito, near Lucca, P.G. 52 at Calvari, near Chiavari (Nov. 1942) and Stalag 8A, Gorlitz (Sept 1943 to Feb 1945). He was on the The Long March from February to April 1945 and found freedom at Ditfurt on the 11th of April 1945. After repatriation to England, he was in Sussex from May to July 1945. Ron reached Cape Town on 3rd of August 1945, exactly 5 years since he had left by troop train.

Melanie Smith

Gnr. John Adriaan Joubert Artillery

This is my grandfather's War Diary that is in my cousin's possession. I took the time to type it up and place the 2 books in chronological order.
The Truth
When danger is near and trouble is high God and the soldier Is everyone's cry
When troubles are over And danger is righted God is forgotten And the soldier is slighted
1941
Departed Durban - 29/9/40
Arrived Mombassa - 4/10/40
Do Gil Gil - 6/10/40 Departed Gil Gil - 4/11/40
Arrived Marsebit - 7/11/40
Departed Marsabit - 30/1/41
ived Dukana - 1/1/41
Departed Dukana - 13/2/41
Arrived Kunehuarra - 13/2/41
Departed do - 5/3/41
Arrived Mega - 5/3/41
Departed Mega - 14/3/41
Arrived Yavello - 14/4/41
eparted Yavello - 20/4/41
Arrived Megga Luba - 21/4/41
eparted do - 28/4/41
Arrived Seghelli - 30/4/41
Departed do - 31/4/41
Arrived Uadarra - 31/4/41
Arrived Adola - 15/5/41
Arrived Hula - 26/5/41
Do Uindo - 27/5/41
Do Scioloi - 29/5/41
Do Omo River - 30/5/41
Departed Omo River - 13/6/41
Arrived X Rd Fiume Indodo - 14/6/41
Departed do - 21/6/41
Arrived G (J)imam - 1/6/41
Do Dembi Dola - 24/6/41
Returned Gimma - 31/6/41
Departed do - 19/7/41
Departed Adis for Asmara - 24/7/41
Webra Sina, Giarra, Alomata, Wessil, Mia Biu, Madani Alem, Quiha, Uogora, Adigrat, Sanafi, Adi Caih, Saganetti, Weeamere Asmara - 28/7/41
Nefasit, Ghinda, Dolngollo Basar, Massawa. Arrived Egypt - 7/8/41
Sindi Regegh - 23.11.41

1942
Captured Tobruk - 21.6.42
Arrived Benghazi - 26.6.42
Do Brindisi - 13.7.42
Had fist hot meal 14.7.42 for 3 weeks.
Received Red Cross Parcel 16.7.42 split between 4 men what a feed up we had.
21.7.42 - Wrote Card Home.
2.7.42 - wrote better card receiving a Red Cross parcel
2.23.7 - got our parcel today but what a poor one
27.7 - Left Bari at 3:30 for labor camp at Co? Camp Colle de Compito
29.7 - Received one parcel to five men, quite a good parcel
30.7 - Worked for a painter received ten cigarettes in payment
?.8 - Worked in cookhouse for the day + had a good meal for a change.
12.8 - Wrote home again for a change, have received no parcel for 7 days
?.6.8 - had water and sweet milk today costing about 2 lire not much to eat but very welcome.
17.8 - still no red+ parcel, all the lads looking forward to getting one
18.8- Had two peaches + 4 tomatoes today costing me 1 lira it was very tasty indeed it also included 2 pieced garlic
23.8 - Had 4 peaches +3 pears today Red Cross parcel.
2.9 - Had writing paper today and wrote home, no signs of cigs which we have not had for over a week. Still no signs of the red+ parcels yet. Canteen fruit also getting very scarce now.
4.9 - Got Red cross parcel today 1 to 2 men can have a good feed again.
6.9 - Oscar and myself had porridge for breakfast. Oatmeal supplied by parcel. Made an apple pudding and had a good dinner in the evening. A good day it was
14.9 - The Rev Burger and another padre has arrived in our camp as
15.9 - Musical instruments have arrived in camp for our entertainment
16.9 - Red Cross representative paid us a visit today and promised a more even flow of parcels
17.9 - We received a lot of canteen fruit today and had a good feed again for a change. I think it was it was only to make an impression upon
1.10 - Received one red cross parcel per man today Canadian type we all feel that we are living, and it is a real God sent to us.
4.10 - Had Holy communion today the first since I joined up in the army.
4.11 - There is a general move on again where to no one knows yet. Had drunken mealie porridge this morning with boiled milk and how enjoyable it was.
11.11 - we observed a? muster? this morning as usual and it makes one think very far.
13.11 - A man T.C. Lee died this morning on his way to the station.
15.11 - Had holy communion for the last time at Lucia camp.
16.11 - Left Colle de Campito, arrived at camp 65.
18.11 - In bitter cold weather to find no parcels awaiting us.
22.11 - our food Sunday in new camp, parcels today
23.11 - It is one year today since we made such a desperate stand at Sidi Rezagh. I met a lot of my pals in this camp that were captured there. It was quite a reunion for us after not having seen each other for.

1943
30.1.43 - I have not entered anything in this book for a long time now because I have not had anything worth writing in we have not had red cross parcels for a long time now. 10 men were confirmed tonight the second lot since I have been a prisoner.
31.1 - We had Holy communion this evening the first in this sector in Gravina Camp
25.2 - the Pope's delegate paid us a visit today and sympathized with us and promised us that his Holiness would pray for us.
26.3 - Today the Rev Guido Coma visited us, I was quite surprised to know that he is a Wesleyan minister and that the authorities allows him to visit POW's Any way he is quite a nice stick
4.4 - Major Hunter and several SA medicals left today on repatriation. I hope we will follow soon.
11.4 - I went to my first concert last night since coming to this camp it really helped to show the blues away.
6.5.43 - Received my first letter from home today since I have been captured.
26.5 - We today arrived in the province of Taranto at a place called Mottola we are going to do farm work.
3.7 - I celebrated my second birthday today in Italy we are doing Farm jobs around here mine being wall digging.
23.7 - we arrived in the province of Foggia, at a farm outside San Ferdinando, this is a better farm that the one we were on at Mottola, but we have not met the owner yet.
6.7 - Today we heard that??? Mussolini has left this country and that Marshall Badoglio has taken over, so the end of this country must be in sight.
18-8 - the Fighting in Sicily finished yesterday according to the Iti Press it finished this morning so it cannot be many more months before this life will cease.
20.8 - Left San Samuele this morning on foot for Cerinola and were dumped in an abattoir.
22.8 - After two days in Cerinola we left for Foggia by train.
23.8 - we passed through Foggia on foot this morning and found the town in ruins after being bombed by the RAF and the 192 no trains were able to pass through so we had to walk 10 ?? to the next station.
25.8 - We arrived this morning at Camp 82 Situated in mountains at a place called Laterina, rather a queer name. It is rather nice here and I like the surroundings. I have also met a lot off my old pals here.
27.8 - No cigarettes or parcels here we arrived at camp 65 in similar circumstances 10 months ago and as it is we have had no issue of cigarettes for two months now. Out on the working parties. I seem to have the misfortune to get into a sector where there are always a lot of colored men.
30.8 - There seems to be great expectations in the air everyone seems to be talking of nothing else but peace, I hope it will not be long before Italy withdraws from the war and we can return home again but, these Itis seem to be very stubborn and think they are still going to win the war. We had 10 English cigs today for a change.
4.9 - Very strong rumors today that our forces landed in Italy yesterday and the Iti Sentries recon it will only be ten days then we will be free men again. I hope they are right about it.
9.9 - Last night we heard that the Italians had capitulated and the men took it with great joy. I have just come in from outside and cold see Italian soldiers and civilians running in all direction. Nobody seems to know what all the excitement is about, rumors have it though that the Germans are coming to take over the camp and of our men seem to be very worried about it? Why? I do not know.
11.10 - At 4PM this afternoon there was a concerted escape from this Sector led by the French Foreign Legion. I am sorry to say that some S Africans also took part in it. For my part I would have nothing to do with it as I value my life too much. A certain section is still busy breaking down the barbed wire fence and breaking down he poles.
12.9 - The Italians deserted us this evening leaving us to our own cares, a few of the officers at least had the decency of remaining with us. The camp is in a chaos especially in this sector, the fences being down prisoners are roaming around the fields.
13.9 - Last night more Iti soldiers turned up but by 12 noon they had all departed again, two German officers paid us a visits in the ordinary course of their duties and found us all by ourselves, but said that if the prisoners kept in the camp they would leave us alone, so it is up to the men now to behave themselves if they do not want the Germans taking over.
14.9 - The Germans took the camp over last evening but found it quite in order and very calm. From now on news is going to be very scarce in this camp, so we have to rely solely on rumors which is rather dangerous in a P.O.W. camp. Any way we have it on good authority that the Itis threw open the camps at Genora & Milan and that the Germans are having a busy time rounding up P.O.W. any way they have a thou? From this camp as well.
9.9 - We arrived in this camp this afternoon from Italy in pouring rain. We had rather uncomfortable trip, though through pleasant country, Austria especially is very attractive, so is Germany only too many factories in the Towns, the Germans also treated us very well on the journey over and is still doing so, and I must say very much better than the Italians did.
20.9 - We had rather a busy day as we had to be registered again and we received POW numbers and we find that we are at Stalag V1110. I wonder for how long. The weather is still not treating is well as it is very cold after the rain.
29.9 - The weather is still bad here at Sagan, evidently they have a very early winter around these parts of the country. We have had no Red Cross parcels since coming here and the German supply of food is very little so I hope they will hurry with the red cross parcels so we can have our daily fill.
4.10 - The Germans gave us a sort of Mealie Porridge for lunch today but on the whole the food had been very poor this last week unlike the first week we were here. It is also 3 years today that I arrived up north. There is talk of a working party leaving this camp this week. Up to now we have had no writing material to write home. I recon it is a poor show.
12.10 - Left Sagan yesterday and arrived at Hubereashof today, commencing work in sugar factory this evening. We had a very good breakfast on arriving here.
1.11 - We had a heavy frost last night and it as not too pleasant this morning loading sugar beat on to the trucks.
5.11 - Today we had a slight fall of snow throughout the day and it may continue through the night. This is only the beginning and I dread working in the cold, cold snow.
16.11 - We awoke this morning to a heavy fall of snow, which lasted until about 11 o clock. It was only a few inches deep but of course more is expected.
21.11 - We arrived in Breslan today at a locomotive factory, the food is good and the bread is excellent in the event of an air raid we are well within the target area.
10.12 - It is Eliza's birthday today and oh how I longed to be home. It has also been snowing continuously since yesterday and we had a bit of afternoon fighting during the day.
25.12 - Well another Christmas has come around and I am still in the work house. I hope it will be the last one in captivity, as usual the Red Cross supplied good Christmas fare and we all had a good meal, the clerk of the weather also obliged by making it a white Christmas as it started to snow this afternoon after we had been thinking there was going to be nothing but ice we also had beer which the boys enjoyed very much, but I of course only had a very little having given myself over as a TT lad. I enjoyed myself as much as possible in the circumstances so I pray that 25.12.44 will not find me behind any more barbed wire but at or well on the way.

1944

25.1.44 - We had the first sunshine today for nearly 2 months it was really enjoyable to stand and bask in it. The first SA mail arrived at our working camp today, we also had the news that some men who escaped in Italy had got home safely.
24-2 - After having had snow continually since the 14th we had sunshine again today. Also the first daylight air raid alarms since coming here.
13. - Received my first letter in Germany today. How nice it is to receive news again from the old country.
17.3 - Received another two letters from home today to my great satisfaction and joy.
3.4 - Received another letter from home today.
4.4 - We had some photos taken this evening by a German woman and her father. It was strange to see a woman in the billets she was rather cheerful and could also speak English.
19.5 - Received 13 letters today being addressed to Italy.
6.6 - Heard this morning that the Invasion of France started at midnight. It has been raining here most of the night and morning so I wonder what the weather was like in France. Also received 4 letters 4 from Italy one being over a year old.
13.7 - I celebrated my 3rd birthday today in captivity. It was not so bad though. I had rather many well wishes. Also received a bunch of flowers and a packet of fresh fruit mixed but oh, how I longed to be home with my own darlings.
30.7 - Started on our way to Sagan en route for rest camp.
2.8 - Arrived in the middle of the night at the rest camp after a trying train journey.
4. - Went to Reich's Sports field today it was quite an interesting tour.
6.8 - Had quite an air raid close to this camp today. First experience of Yank high altitude Bombing.
8.11 - Had another air raid yesterday evening lasting hrs.
12.8 - Another Air Road last night this evening we are having a fancy dress cabaret
13.8 - Cabaret a huge success followed by an air raid
15.8 - Another very heavy air raid last night. Capt. Burger arrived here this morning, was very glad to see him again.
18.8 - Went to Potsdam City today to view old historic sights, saw the old castle of Frederick the Great one ???? new castle Sans Souci palace, Garrison Church and Church of Peace.
19.8 - Capt. Henrico also arrived here this morning.
25.(8) - We heard today that Romania capitulated today.
3.9 - Arrived back at work last night, I wonder how long it will still be to the end of the war.
7.10 - It is a long time since I entered anything in this book. The Allied forces are already on the German soil and this evening this town Breslan had its first air raid lasting almost 2 hours.
17.11 - Had my first parcel from South Africa after it had been 19 months on its way also had the first fall of snow yesterday
15.11 - I have had no letters now from home for two months and life is getting very monotonous. Still we are full of expectations that the war will not last long now anymore since the Anglo Americans has reached the Rheine River
22.12 - Capt. Burger paid us a visit here longer and held A service for us and I of course was very glad to see him again being old friends
24.12 - Well this is Christmas eve and rather dreary, having no red X parcels and haven't had any for a long time now. Anyway this is a good sign for us we hope the boys are trying to be happy and I must also say trying to indulge on community singing but their minds seem to be far away somehow we have had some very nice sing songs here in the past.
25.12 - Christmas passed rather quietly, then one cannot expect men to be very happy on a Christmas in a life like this we also did not have any snow.

1945
31-12-1-1-45 - We had a concert here tonight staged by men of this Xdo and then hasred the rest of the night with community singing which lasting well into the morning.
11. - Received one parcel to 3 men again today after not having had any for a long time.
18-1 - Had another air raid this evening lasting an hour. The RG have started pushing again and coming on well.
19.1 - Received our Christmas parcels today one to 2 men rather late than never.
20.1 - Got orders to stand by to move at any time men are all packing. RS reported to be well on their way to this place.
22.1 - The Jerrys are evacuating Breslan in a hurry, we are even dismantling machinery for removal from here.
24.1 - We did go out to work today gunfire has been heard all night and today. Jerry ??? not taken away to Frankfort. 1943 Sept Italian days seems to be starting all over again for us, and expectations are great at the present for us.
6.2 - We have now travelled through snow, sleet and mud and are having our first days rest. The Jerries also shot one of our chaps accidentally while shooting at a Russian. We have also had to discard our sleighs for wheeled carts.
8.2 - We have passed by one Stalag and on our way to own now.
15.2 - The weather has turned out for the better and again we have passed our own Stalag
25.2 - Arrive last night at Stalag IX C but were told this morning to be on our way again so we still live on the road and being starved as rations are few and far between and mostly we live by bartering our own personal bit.
27.2 - Were strafed by Anglo American fighters this afternoon and lost six killed and nine wounded. Wally Sheppard of my dept. also being killed.
8.3 - Went out bartering today among the German civilians and had a good feed from them as well, expect to arrive at a Stalag tomorrow.
10.3 - Arrived at Stalag IX A yesterday which is situated in S.W. Germany anyway it is not a good camp it is as bad as our first camp in Italy if not worse from the food point of view the excuse again is that it is a French Stalag and not British. A peculiar thing I have noticed in this part of Germany is the strange way woman dress and make up their hair it reminds one of the dress of woman about 1900
17.3 - Cooked meals are quite good in this camp but could do with more bread ration very small, 7 men to one load and 10 men to one loaf on Fridays, we are all feeling the hunger already and are wishing that our troops were here. Cigs are also very scarce and which to make life very miserable.
20.3 - We are still sleeping on the hard floor and no blankets issued yet we are getting very hungry now and some men are already suffering from black gut ours are very good and it seem to be well pleased for??????????
21-3 - Today I started writing UP in this book as the other one is full, had to go and work for the Germans outside with no extra ration and big complaint on our side, getting hungrier by the day. Mad Yankee Fighter pilot strafed our camp, killing 12 Frenchman and wounding 50. This is my second experience of Yankee strafing.
22-3 - Bad rumours today of 10 men to a loaf of bread as from Monday 26th it is bad enough now on 7 to a loaf, anyway Jerrys end must be in sight. Protective Power representative also in camp today, suppose it will be the usual old promises and nothing done, no news yet of Red Cross parcels.
24.3 - Germans announce General Montgomery big offensive in Northern sector of West front news is generally good for us, Hundreds of Flying Fortresses passed over here this afternoon, dropping only smoke bombs or flares or whatever they were no on knows. Men are still dying in this camp, most from exhaustion, 9th man to date was buried today.
27.3 - It is one month today since we were strafed by Yanks on the Reich Autobahn, food is deteriorating by the day in this camp, news is very good for us and perhaps we will be free men by the end of this month. Anyway we have heard artillery fire in and before we reached this camp. Roll on the big day and CompoPacketo
28.3 - 3 PM Marching orders just came through to us and we will once again be on our way tomorrow morning at 8 how are we going to last on this trip as we are all in a weak condition, we have just marched west now we are marching back east again. I don't know why but I think I am with a Jonah crowd as I seem to miss liberation by the skin of my teeth every time, according to news our forces are not far from here.
8.4 - We have now been on the road for 11 days again and the men are in a bad condition. For the past week we have been getting a cup of thin soup only and then we have had to stand in a queue for hours to get bread, we have not had for a whole week now, The Germans are also marching us by night so we are not going down in condition owing to lack of food but also through lack of sleep as the best. part of the day is spending in waiting for soup
11-4 (1944?) At least the Germans have decided to give us a rest day, but incidentally we cannot do any cooking for ourselves though we have potatoes and wheat of our own to cook, of course we put it all down to reprisals. The Germans still have not come up with any bread rations. Last night a lot of us even went without our broth (drop) of soup and had to walk all night on an empty stomach, of course we got a couple of Red Cross Parcels from somewhere, which we had to share 1 to 25 men so of course Jerry must have thought we had a royal feed though it was just a bare taste for us. Anglo American planes are now flying around this country as if it belongs to them, especially fighter planes are very active strafing all vehicles on roads. The German Air force seems to be non-existent as we have not on any occasion yet seen any of their planes in action against ours. Still no news of when we will be reaching a Stalag again. Anyway roll on the end of the march, roll on victory and peace and Bread. Last night before leaving billets my muckers and myself pinched a rabbit and have just managed to give it at rather bribed a woman to cook it for us, so we are hopefully looking forward to a bit of a feast for three. Roll on the peace bells. Later we have just had a rabbit and spuds which we all agree was the best. meal we have had for 10 days now.
12-4 - Had horse meat first thing this morning, I have always frowned upon horse flesh, but whether it is from hunger I do not know, but it tasted very well, in fact I should say better than beef.
17-4 - I have now been travelling for 3 days with the sick I have been suffering for 14 days with dysentery and still no sign of it coming to a stop, this morning we were left with the major of the village with our guards, but the major seems to be anxious for us to be on our way again, we at least got a very small piece of bread each, which the major thought was a great treat for us. Yesterday we enjoyed some coffee with milk which the farm woman gave us
18-4 - Yesterday passed quite well for us in this village of Langenhau, I've even had some fresh eggs the first I have had in Germany? we are still stopping here and we are quite contended to remain here, as the American force are not very far from here and there just may be a chance of being released. I am now getting weaker by the day and do not know if I will be able to manage a? 30 km walk now.
19-4 (1944) - Last night we were taken to a big town Eder to be handed over to the military authorities again but were refused so we returned to our old cam(p) again. Thousands of bombers have passed over here in the last few days. Today the town near here were heavily machine gunned from the air artillery fire is also much neared today, and our hopes are still high for a speedy release.
20 - The fighting came right UP to this village last night and is still continuing this morning and our hopes are still high for our release
21 - well the town of Selb is supposed to be in the hands of the Yanks and two civvies came along to fetch two of our men away to go to Selb to contact the Yanks at Selb and we are anxiously awaiting their return. Later. The Americans have arrived here with some cigs and chocs and at last we are free men again after 2 years and 10 months to the day. Hooray. Later still we marched into Selb this afternoon and we were received right royalty by the Americans, they simply showered us with cigs and fed us till we could not eat anymore, then found us accommodation and send us in more food which I cooked and have just finished it 11-30 PM. What a treat to be free men again
22 - Believe it or not we did not sleep a wink on the first night of our liberation, though we had an excellent house at our disposal and beds with spring mattresses and white sheets we could not. perhaps it was over eating or drinking too much coffee, these yanks sure have good coffee and I drank dozens of cups of it. This afternoon we moved forward with the yanks nearer to the front and were then promptly sent off from there to Bayreuthe were are supposed to get a plane from here tomorrow to Blighty
23 - we did not leave Bayreuthe today to our disappointment but are leaving tomorrow morning for Erlangen and rumour has it that we will leave from there by plane, so we are all hoping that this is true. Frikkie Els, Pimple Abbot, Nobby Clark, Laurie Gibson and myself today celebrated our liberation with two roast Chickens, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, so I am only hoping that it is not going to have any after effects on me, as my stomach seems to be getting right now, owing I think to eating good food again
24 - We were supposed to have left this morning at 7-30 for Erlangen Port on our way to England but the transport did not arrive until 2-20. I got browned off and made the boys a baked custard in the time of waiting. Any way we arrived at Herzogenaurach aerodrome this afternoon late were disinfected and leave tomorrow for Blighty.
25 - There were thousands coming in and out we arrived at Brussels Air Port at 3:30 and are staying overnight, it is quite delightful to be in a city again that is all lit up and where English is predominant
26 - We left Brussels this afternoon at 5-30 for Ostend by train to catch a boat for England. I am a bit disappointed as I really hoped to fly there. Anyway another day is wasted in getting to England.
27 - Left Ostend at 1-30 this afternoon TBS Vienna, a very smooth running ship though the channel is a bit rough and cold. We landed at Tilbury Docks and were taken for dinner which we enjoyed very much as it was the first lamb we had for many years.
28 - We arrived in Brighton this morning had a good breakfast and then started filling in various, it was like joining the army all over again.

Francois Joubert

Pte. John Anderson MID. 2nd Btn. Cameron Highlanders

I knew very little about what my father John Anderson did in the War. He died in 1993 and he would not talk about his experiences. All I have managed to find out is that he was Mentioned in Dispatches in October 1945. I know he was also a POW in Campo PG60 and Stalag IV-C. It was at some stage reported to his parents that he was missing in action. He was awarded the Africa Star and I believe he fought in Tobruk before being taken POW. He brought back a strange plate with his name and service number. This could never be explained as it was such a strange item to be given. However, Stalag IV-C was a former porcelain factory so does look like he could well have made this himself. I am sure you can see why he never took this up as a future career.

Steve Anderson

L/Cpl. Geoffrey Hyde 4th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment

My Dad, Geoff Hyde served in the 4th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment from February 1940. He has documented his experiences in a War Diary which he compiled shortly before his death in January 2009.
My Dad was captured during the battle for Tobruk in June 1942. He was wounded as a result of an argument with a German guard during a move from a POW camp in Benghazi to a camp in Tripoli and ended up in a military hospital in Caserta. He always said he had good memories of the way the Italian military treated the wounded and POWs. When his condition improved he was sent to a POW camp PG60 near Capua and then to one known as PG70 near to Fermo in a small town called Valtenna. The camp was across the road from a small chemical plant which is still there. When Mussolini surrendered they were all transferred to camps in Germany and he went to Chemnitz and eventually escaped from a cross country march as the Allied forces advanced on the Germans in April 1945 and met up with a group of American forces who he had a hard time persuading to accept he was British.
During his time in Camp PG70 he was involved in the production of a Camp 'magazine' called Lager Life. I have almost the full set of copies of this. Fortunately, he took a Kodak Brownie camera with him when he was posted overseas and somehow this made its way back to his parents home when he was hospitalised in Cairo during the breakout from Tobruk in 1941.

Steve Hyde

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Those known to have been held in or employed at Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 60 Prisoner of War Campduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

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

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Want to know more about Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 60 Prisoner of War Camp?

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- Prigione di Guerra (Campo) P.G. 60 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. 60 Prisoner of War Camp
during the Second World War 1939-1945.