Clarkson, W P
Private William Paul Clarkson
From Jim Clarkson. 17/03/2024
William, known as Paul, travelling on the ship ‘Jason’, sometimes referred to as ‘Jantzen’ and sometimes the ‘Sebastiano Venier‘ was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Porpoise. Initially he was held captive at Pylos Castle, at Acacia, which became known as ‘Dysentery Acre‘, and then Patras in Greece in late 1941. In April 1942 he was transferred via a sea journey to Bari, Italy.
He was then held in Tuturano Prison Camp, PG 65 Gravina, PG 129 in Macerata-Montelupone and PG 145 Campotosta. When Italy capitulated he escaped and was for 8 months loose in the Grand Sasso Mountains.
Finally he was recaptured and transported to Stalag VIIA in Moosburg, Germany.
He was in the working party at Leipzig, employed in open cast coal mining.
Source: NZ War records and family knowledge.
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