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PoWs retained for duty in Holland

Started by charlie, February 18, 2015, 08:46:02 AM

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charlie

Starting at R52624 is a list from the Records Offices of released PoWs retained for duty in Holland, among them some Manchesters.

mancpal

Hello

Would Pte H A Thomas (32669), 21st Mcrs appear on the list? Captured at Bullecourt in May 1917 and resident of Gustrow and Gettorf, possibly Dulmen and Limburg also.  I'm fairly sure he wasn't demobbed until 1920. Amongst his postcards are a few from Holland (undated) which I took to be from one of his sons who was stationed there in WW2 but now wonder if he was retained. Any assistance gratefully received

Simon



charlie

Simon
Pte Thomas is not listed as having been retained for duty in Holland. The ICRC records are known to be incomplete hence the lack of information regarding his repatriation.
Charlie

mack

Herbert had connections to my home town,he never actually lived in my home town,but his parents did,they moved from Churchill st,chorlton on medlock and lived at 9 Fairview ave,levenshulme,herbert was baptised at st.andrews church,levenshulme on 18-3-1905,the vicar must have had strong arms because Herbert was 20yrs old at the time ;D ;D ;D.
Herbert registered his vote in 1918 using his parents address.

did you know that his brother,william was in the manchesters.

pte 341 William,lewis Thomas
6th manchesters
served at Gallipoli attatched to 1/1st east lancs RE,signal section
admitted to 11th casualty clearing station with dysentery 14-9-15,evacuated home and admitted to 2nd western gen hospital,manchester on 27-9-15
enlisted 9-4-1908
worked for the income tax
in 1918 he was a 2/Lt in the RAF[registered his vote from his parents house]

mack ;D

mancpal

Mack,

I'm absolutely astounded with the information you have provided.

Herbert had 7 children (2 prior to joining up) however my mother (87) is the last one. 9 Fairview Ave remained in the family until recently being the lifelong home of Geoffrey Thomas , Berts son, and was sold to cover his widows health care needs. My mother new nothing of Berts late baptism. Bert died in 1954. He was captured at Bullecourt in May 1917 and was interned at Gustrow and Gettorf, if he registered to vote in 1918 does this mean POWs had the vote or that he was home? I'm fairly sure he didn't get back until the end of 1918.

More amazingly until a week ago I only new that William had been a pilot and nothing more. I discovered that he had been part of 48 Squadron and flew in Bristol F2 fighters. It appears that in March 1918 he was involved in an aerial scrap above La Fresnoy with none other than Lother Von Richthofens Jasta 11 Squadron resulting in his plane being shot up but Bill was unscathed. A month later Bill, again in a Bristol F2, was hit by rifle fire and was hospitalised having been shot through the right knee. In January 1919 he was once again in hospital for ten days being treated for jaundice. It can't have done him too much harm as he lived to a ripe old age in Bispham. His pre war service in the Mcrs and the Gallipoli news came as a great surprise to both myself and my mother and I simply must find out more. I'll be looking for his medal index card straight away! I think 1 of his children is still alive but don't know if they could teach me any more as my mother doesn't keep in touch.

I've just begun a search for 3 of Berts sons who served in the RAF during WW2, one of them a Lancaster pilot. My other area to look into is one H.Mulvey also of the Mcrs during WW1 but all I have is a photo which reveals nothing.

Thanks again for your assistance, I'm thrilled.

Simon

mack

hiya simon.
a serviceman could register his vote from anywhere in the world,no matter if hes in the front line or a POW.

mack ;D

mack

there was only one h.mulvey who served with the 2nd manchesters,he was 245284 harry mulvey of 49 chester st,hulme,wounded july 1916 with the lancs fusiliers,he was originally pte 27301 h.mulvey 15th lancs fusiliers.

mack ;D

mancpal

Mack,

If there was only one Harry Mulvey in the Mcrs then he must be the one I have a photo of. It's a studio shot which clearly shows the Mcrs cap badge and three wound stripes. My dad can't confirm his address as he only visited during the day as a child when Harry was at work as a rope maker. He died of lung cancer in 1943 , coincidentally on the same day as Joe Lamb (21202), my grandfather. They died in Withington hospital and neither widow (sisters) knew the other was there.

If Harry was in the 15th LF I assume he went in later as his service number is higher than the those of the original Salford pals. After transfer to the Mcrs his service number changes, do you have any idea when or why?

Thanks for your input. I feel I now have a starting point with my great uncle

Simon

mack

harrys original 15th lancs fus number was 13006 then changed to 27301,his brother 27336 john,henry mulvey was in the 19th lancs fusiliers

his service numbers changed because hes joined another regiment,dont know when that was.

mack ;D