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Pte. Thomas Swinton Robertson
British Army 1st Btn. Gordon Highlanders
from:Leven
(d.28th Jan 1944)
On the 28th January 1944, a train carrying 800 Allied prisoners of war was bombed when it was crossing the Allerona bridge in Italy. The POWs had been evacuated from POW camp PG Campo 54 at Fara in Sbina, Italy. My father Thomas Robertson was on that train which was bombed by American B-26 aircraft (friendly fire).
The men were being moved to Germany in unmarked cattle cars. The POWs were padlocked in the cars and were crossing the bridge when the B-26s arrived and blew up the bridge. The train driver stopped the train on the span, leaving the prisoners locked inside to their fate. While many escaped, approximateley 400 were killed, my father being one of them. I was only 18 months old at this time and never knew my father.
I contacted the Military Records Office and asked for his service records. They told me if I paid £30.00 they would give me a copy but it would take up to a year to get them, which I thought was unreasonable. After all, my father gave his life for his country and Britain puts a price on it. Is there anyone out there who had relatives on that train or who were in that Regiment - I would love to hear from you.
