Mead, F W
Major Frederick William Mead
Information provided by Anne Vincent (Nee: Mead).
During family research for my step brother we discovered the following information. Also, very recently we discovered that a book has been written about Camp 21 Chieto.
“An Extraordinary Italian imprisonment, The Brutal Truth of Camp 21, 1942-3”, Author Brian Lett. Published by Pen & Sword.
Frederick William Mead – Major in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers served in the Middle East Forces and travelled through the Western Desert, Libya, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Persia. Captured Tobruk 22nd June 1942.
POW Record Details:
1943 |
|
First Name: |
F W |
Surname: |
Mead |
Fate: |
Prisoner of War in Italy |
Information: |
P.O.W. Camp number 21, Chieti Old Convent, postal mark number 3300 |
Rank: |
Major |
Service Number: |
104901 |
Duty Location: |
Italy |
Service: |
British Army |
Primary Unit: |
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
Archive Reference: |
WO392/21 |
1945 |
|
First Name: |
F W |
Initials: |
F W |
Surname: |
Mead |
Resided Town: |
Oflag 5a, Weinburg (Wurttemberg) |
Resided Country: |
Germany |
Fate: |
Prisoner of War |
Information: |
POW No. 3066 |
Rank: |
Major |
Service Number: |
104901 |
Service: |
British Army |
Regiment: |
Camp No. Location
21
19
5
Military Prison Grauden 2 Poland Oct. 1944 Jan. 1945
Hospital Stalag 2B Hammerstein Germany Jan. 1945 Feb. 1945
Marlag, 0 Westertimke Germany Feb. 1945 April 1945
Health:
Suffered Bronchitis, Jaundice & Frostbite due to conditions and forced evacuation march.
Escape record:
Attempted escape from Tobruk with CO (Lt Col H R P Ralphs) & others 20th June but all captured night 21st 22nd .
Attempted escape during transit from Italy – Germany Sept 1943 but unsuccessful. Captain F Lawrence R.T.R. & I believe 2 others of party reached home, method cutting out of railway truck organised by myself.
Attempted escape by tunnel Weinsburg April 1944 with party organised by myself. Unsuccessful.
Escaped successfully from column during evacuation March April 1945 with Captain J Greenwood 9th Lancers & returned to Melay awaiting arrival of Allied troops who by then were in that area.
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