Glass Prisoners of War – POW

Stewart Mitchell, a volunteer at the Gordon Highlanders Museum and author of   “Scattered Under the Rising Sun”  ( available to purchase by clicking here )  – an excellent book about The Gordon Highlanders in the Far East 1941-45 – has passed this information to Marina. It is taken from The General Questionnaire for British/American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Joe Reid

2873433  Pte. Joe Reid was born 16 May 1911 and his address was given as Blackbog, Glass, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.  His occupation was given as a forester.

Stewart thinks Joe must have been a pre-war TA soldier as he enlisted on 30/11/ 1927 before he was 17 (the minimum age for a TA soldier)  18 was the age for a Regular soldier and his occupation would not be given if he was a Regular.

He was captured at St Valery on 12^th June 1940 which was when the whole 51^st Highland Division surrendered.

He states he was not wounded  when captured but he was in hospital as a POW for 8 months  (from January until August 1941) with kidney trouble caused by exposure and received adequate medical attention.

He was held in Stalag XXA (Thorn) which is in Poland south of Danzig.    He must have been transferred to Stalag XX-B  (Marienburg also known as Malbork) at some point and worked on a farm perhaps some distance away.   Thousands of POW’s worked on farms in this vicinity.

He wasn’t interrogated after capture, didn’t attempt to escape or collaborate with the enemy.

War Office Details:

Reid: Nationality: British: Service Number: 2873433: Rank: Private: Ship or corps: G’dn H: Conflict World War 2:Archive reference: WO 392/11: Document details: Alphabetical list of prisoners: Category: Military, armed forces & conflict: Subcategory: Regimental & service records  Collections from: Great Britain

Reid: Rank: Private: Army Number: 2873433: Regiment Gordon Highlanders: POW Number: 18580: Camp Type: Stalag: Camp Number: XX-B: Camp Location: Malbork, Poland: Record Office: Infantry Record Office, Perth: Record Office Number 16

First Name: J
Surname: Reid
Fate: Missing
Incident Details: Reported to War Office Casualty Section for the 48 hours ended at 09.00
Incident Date: 22/07/1940
Information: Casualty List No. 261
Rank: Private
Service Number: 2873433
Duty Location: France

First Name: J
Surname: Reid
Fate: Prisoner of War
Incident Details: Reported to War Office Casualty Section for the 24 hours ending at 09.00
Incident Date: 04/09/1940
Information: Casualty List No. 299 Previously shown on Casualty List No. 261 as Missing
Rank: Private
Service Number: 2873433
Duty Location: France

First Name: J
Surname: Reid
Resided Town: Stalag 20a. Thorn Podgorz
Resided Country: Poland
Fate: Prisoner of War
Information: POW No. 16580
Rank: Private
Service Number: 2873433

Campaign Medals: War Medal 1939-1945

As with most Armed Forces Serving Personal during the conflict of World War Two, J Reid was entitled to the War Medal 1939-1945.  This medal was awarded to all full time service personnel who had completed 28 days service between 3^rd September 1939 and the 2^nd September 1945.

1939-1945 Star

Given the information available to us it is likely that J Reid was awarded the 1939-1945 Star for operational Service in the Second World War between 3^rd September 1939 and 2^nd September 1945.

Reid would have been awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service.  Also the award of a gallantry medal or “Mention in Despatches” also produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.

William Angus

  His next of kin lived at Quarryburn, Glass, Aberdeenshire.  He was in the 2^nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders and his No. was 2876757

 He was a battle casualty – shrapnel wound to shoulder on 28 January 1942

 POW Camps:

 Changi, Singapore – February 1942

From the Huntly Express March 13 1942

HUNTLY AND DISTRICT MEN IN THE FAR EAST

During the past few days news has been received that the following soldiers from Huntly and district have been reported missing following the fall of SINGAPORE.

Among them was  –

L/Cpl. William Angus, son of Barbara Jamieson and grandson of the late John Jamieson and Mrs Jamieson, Quarryhead Glass.  He joined the Gordon Highlanders in 1936 and served in Malaya for three years.  Previous to that he was a farm servant in the Huntly district.  He is twenty three years of age and unmarried.

Kanchanaburi, Thailand – March 1943

Kanyu, Thailand – April 1943

Tarsoa Hospital, Thailand – July 1943

Chungkai, Thailand – August 1943

Tamuang, Thailand – May 1944

Survived sinking of Japanese transport ship (Hellship) and ended the war in Fukuoka Camp 25B, Japan – September 1944 to release.

This photo of William Angus was in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal of 19 March 1942  

 

 

 

 

 

 

War Office Details:

Angus: 2876767 Lance Corporal 2 Gordon;  Archive reference: WO 361/1987: Document details: Prisoners of war: Far East: British: 3 Group: Saigon: Americans, all groups: British 4 Group.

Angus: 2876757 Lance Corporal 2 Gordon: Archive reference: WO 361/2169: Document details: Prisoners of war: Far East: British military personnel: No. 4 Group: Singapore: nominal roll

William Angus: Year 1942: Birth year: 1918: Nationality: Scottish: Residence: Quarry Head, Glass, Huntly: Rank: Lance Corporal: Prison camp or ship: Fukuoka POW camp: Country of: Japan: Conflict World War 2: Archive reference: WO 345/1: Document details: War Office: Japanese Index Cards of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees: Second World War, 1942-1945:

Angus: Year 1943: Nationality: British: Service number 2876757: Rank Lance Corporal: Prison Camp or ship: Changi POW camp: Country of: Singapore: Archive reference: WO 361/2070: Document details: Prisoners of war: Far East: parties transferred overseas and overland from Changi, Singapore

Angus: Year 1943: Nationality: British: Service number 2876757: Rank Lance Corporal: Ship or corps: 2/Gordons: Prison camp or ship: No 4 POW Camp: Country of imprisonment: Singapore: Archive reference: WO 367/2: Document details POW camp registration cards

William Angus: Year 1944: Service number 2876757: Rank 1/Cpl: Prison camp or ship Fukuoka Camp: Country of imprisonment: Japan: Archive reference: WO 361/1742: Document details: Prisoners of war: Far East: sinking of prisoner of war transports:

William Angus: Year 1944: Nationality: British: Service number 2876757: Rank 1/Cpl: Prison camp or ship: Thailand camp or Fukuoka camp: Archive reference: WO 361/734: Document details: Casualties at sea: China Sea: prisoners of war aboard Japanese transport ship Rakuyo Maru, sunk

William Angus: Year 1945: Nationality: British: Service number 2876757: Rank Lance Corporal: Prison camp or ship Branch XXV Shinkai-Machi, Omuda-Shi Fukuoka-Ken: Country of imprisonment: Japan: Archive reference: WO 361/1254: Document details: Japan: Fukuoka POW Camp: name list, as of 15 August 1945

Angus: Year 1946: Nationality: British: Service number 2876757: Rank: Lance Corporal: Archive reference: WO 361/1586: Document details: Far East: Japan: Fukuoka Prisoner of War Camp No 3: nominal roll

Record Details for W. Angus (Gordon Highlanders)
First Name: William
Surname: Angus
Date of Capture: 15/02/1942
Date of Liberation: 02/09/1945
Rank: Lance Corporal
POW Camp: Fukuoka
Service Number: 2876757

Campaign Medals:

War Medal 1939-1945

As with most Armed Forces Serving Personal during the conflict of World War Two. William Angus was entitled to the War Medal 1939-1945.  This medal was awarded to all full time service personnel who had completed 28 days service between 3^rd September 1939 and the 2^nd September 1945.  Eligible personnel who had been “Mentioned in Dispatches” during the War were entitled to wear a bronze oak leaf emblem on the ribbon.  Those eligible for a campaign star, yet who had their service cut short by death, wounds or capture by the enemy, still qualified for this medal.

1939-45 Star

Given the information available to us it is likely that William Angus was awarded the 1939-45 Star for operational Service in the Second World War between 3^rd September 1039 and 2^nd September 1945.

William Angus would have been awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service.  Also the award of a gallantry medal or “Mention in Dispatches” also produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.

First Name: W
Surname: Angus
Date of Action: 15/02/1942
Incident Details: Reported to War Office Casualty Branch for 24 hours ending at 9.00
Incident Date: 05/09/1943
Information: Casualty List No. 1204 Previously posted on Casualty List No. 773 as Missing now reported Prisoner of War
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service Number: 2876757
Duty Location: Malaya

Alexander Ogilvie

 Information courtesy of Stewart Mitchell

His next of kin’s address was his mother Mrs J Ogilvie, Glenmoriston, Glass, Huntly.

 

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War Office Details:

Name: Alexander Ogilvie: Nationality: British: Service number 275: Rank: PSM: Ship or corps: 2 Gordons: Conflict World War 2: Archive reference: WO 367/3: Document details: POW camp registration cards

Record set: Prisoners of War 1715-1945: Category: Military, armed forces & conflict: Subcategory: Regimental & service records: Collections from: Great Britain

Name: Alexander J. Ogilvie: Year: 1942: Service numver: 2873275: Rank: P/Sgt Maj@ Ship or corps A: Prison camp or ship: MA: Conflict: World War 2: Archive reference: WO 392/25: Document details: War Office: Directorate of Prisoners of War: Prisoners of War Lists, Second World War, 1943-1945: Record set: Prisoners of War 1715-1945: Category: Military, armed forces & conflict: Subcategory: Regimental & service records: Collections from: Great Britain. Document available here

Name: Alexander Ogilvie: Year 1942: Birth year: 1910: Nationality: British: Residence: Aberchirder: Residence county: Banffshire: Residence country: Scotland: Rank: P S M: Prison camp or ship: Malaya POW camp: Country of: Mlaya: Conflict: World War 2: Archive reference: WO 345/38: Document details: War Office: Japanese Index Cards of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees: Second World War, 1942-1945: Record set: Prisoners of War 1715-1945: Category: Military, armed forces & conflict: Subcategory: Regimental & service records: Collections from: Great Britain. Document available here

Name: Alexander James Ogilvie: Year: 1944: Nationality: British: Service number 2873275: Rank: PSM: Prison camp or ship: Malalya POW camp: Country of imprisonment: Malaya: Conflict: World War 2: Archive reference: WO/361/1948: Document details: Malaya POW Camp Name list: Record set; Prisoners of War: 1715-1945: Category: Military, armed forces & conflict: Subcategory: Regimental & service records: Collections from Great Britain. Document available here

Name: A. Ogilvie: Year 1945: Nationality: British: Service number: 2873275: Rank: PSM: Ship or corps: 2/Gordons: Prison camp or ship: Changi POW camp: Country of: Singapore: Conflict: World War 2: Archive reference: WO 361/2229: Document details: Prisoners of war; Far East; Changi Camp; Singapore; nominal roll, as of 5 September 1945: Record set: Prisoners of War 1715-1945: Category: Military, armed forces & conflict: Subcategory: Regimental & service records: Collections from: Great Britain. Document available here

A newspaper article about A. Ogilive’s divorce can be found here.

From the Huntly Express November 8 1940

 Prisoners of War

There are at least 2,000 Officers and Men from the North-east of Scotland Prisoners of War in the hands of the enemy.  The British Red Cross Society is the only authorised channel through which Parcels of Food etc. may be sent to these men, and on behalf of the Scottish Branch of this Society, an Appeal, under the convenership of Major M.V. Hay of Seton, is being made for the Counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine, Orkney and Shetland for Funds for this purpose.

To collect Money for this Fund, a Local Organisation is being set up in the Huntly Area which includes the Burgh of Huntly, the Parishes of Cairnie, Drumblade, Forgue, Gartly and Glass and the Districts of Kinnoir and Longhill.  This local organisation will encourage the formation of Groups of People willing to combine to “Adopt” one or more Prisoners.

Meanwhile, Subscriptions are urgently required; these should be sent to the Treasurer for the Huntly Area, Mr George F. Dickson, 1 Old Road, Huntly, who will transmit Local Subscriptions to Major M.V. Hay, Convenor of the Prisoners of War Appeal, Amicable House, Aberdeen.

The Sub-Controller and Local Treasurer beg to acknowledge with thanks the following Donations:-

Drumblade Ladies’ Work Party, per Mrs Mitchell, Schoolhouse £16.7s.8d.

Gartly Church Women’s Guild per Mrs A.J. Johnstone, Schoolhouse £7.0s0d

Rev R.S. and Mrs Thomson, Strathbogie Manse £5.0s0d

Cairnie War Work Party per Miss A. Geddes, Braehead £3.3s.0d.

Kinnoir W.R.I. per Mrs M. Gordon, Boginspro £2.0s.0d.

Employees of Huntly Laundry Ltd. Per Mr F. Alastair Smith (contribution for two weeks) £1.0s.0d.

Mrs Kilgour, 28 Bogie Street £1.0s.0d.

Mr & Mrs Mitchell, Merrick, East Park Street £1.0s.0d.

Mr & Mrs Lobban, Rowanlea, Gladstone Road £1.0s.0d.

Mrs Jessie C,. Riddell, 10 Castle St. £0.5s.0d

Total £37.15s.8d.

They would further thank the following Groups for promises to Adopt Prisoners of War –

Huntly Townswomen’s Guild  4 prisoners

Glass Comforts Fund  2 prisoners

Employees of Huntly Laundry Ltd.  1 prisoner

Staff Huntly Gordon Secondary School  1 prisoner

Kinnoir W.R.I.  1 prisoner

Gartly Church Women’s Guild  1 prisoner

Ronald. S. Thomson

Sub-Controller

George F. Dickson

Secretary and Treasurer, Huntly Area, North East of Scotland Prisoners of War Appeal.

Which was followed up on 6^th  December 1940 by this

WAR CHARITIES ACT 1940

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that it is proposed to apply to the CIOUNTY COUNCIL of the COUNTY OF ABERDEEN for the registration under the above-mentioned Act of GLASS WAR COMFORTS FUND, the objects of which are to provide Comforts for local men and women serving in His Majesty’s Forces; to provide Woollen Garments for other members of the Allied Forces; and to support the Prisoners of War Appeal; and the administration centre of which is situated at Invermarkie Lodge, Glass.

Any objection to the proposed registration should be sent in writing to the above-named Council within Fourteen Days of the date of this Notice.

(Mrs) J. INGLEBY, Convenor

For and on behalf of the above-named Charity

2^nd December 1940

Click on the image below for a larger version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any further information about any POW Soldiers from the Glass area, or if they belonged to any Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, please do contact us by clicking here or by making a comment in the comments section at the bottom of this web page.

 

From the  Huntly Express April 27 1945

 

PRISONERS OF WAR APPEAL

SPLENDID RESPONSE CONTINUES

In welcoming five liberated prisoners of war back from Germany, who were present at a gathering of next-of-kin of prisoners pf war om Huntly Church Hall on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs Ingleby, area organiser, who presided, said they were very pleased to see them, and hoped they were the forerunners of a great many more.  The five returned men are Pte. Frank Bonner, Pte. W. Dey, L/Cpl. Wm. Gordon, Cpl. Alistair McEwen and Cpl. Alexander John Neish.

Immediately prior to the next-of-kin meeting, the half-yearly meeting of the committee of the Prisoners of War Appeal was held, Mrs Ingleby presiding.  Mr George F. Dickson, Hon. Treasurer, gave a summary of the donations for the past half-year, which revealed that £961.lls.5d. had been subscribed.  He also submitted the financial report, showing that the total amounts subscribed in the area for the half-year ending 31^st March 1945 were as follows: – Huntly £544.5s.4d.: Kinnoir £100: Cairnie £73.3s.8d.: Drumblade £121.6s.2d.: Forgue £30.5s.: Corse £23.9s.10d.: Gartly £12: Glass £52.1s.6d.

Reviewing the accounts, Mr Dickson said these were again very satisfactory indeed.  The Huntly total was slightly down from last half-year, £544.5s.4d. as compared with £592.0s.2d. the previous half-year, but since the statement had been made up, quite a few donations had come in, including a donation of £100 from Garrison Theatre.  Kinnoir had a most successful effort organised by the W.R.I. and they had handed £100 to the appeal.  Cairnie was always doing well, while Drumblade did extraordinarily well.  They organised a sale in December which realised £196.2s.11d.   The contributions from Forgue and Corse were steady and it had to be remembered that part of the Gartly contribution went through Insch district.  Glass was slightly above last half-year.  The total amount collected throughout this area since the appeal started was £8191.15s.8d., a really extraordinary total, and as honorary treasurer of the appeal he would like to congratulate all the helpers throughout the whole area for the great work they do in producing this money.  One or two outstanding amounts received during the current half-year were: – Garrison Theatre, £75 (apart from the £100 he had mentioned); Drumblade sale, £106: Kinnoir sale, £100: Huntly F.P. Dramatic Club £27.15s.1d.: and as an individual effort he would like specially to mention Mrs Gordon, 1 Nelson St. who had helped the appeal every year since its inception, and who this year had raised £60.

Mrs Ingleby said they were indebted to the “Huntly Express” for the help they gave the appeal.  She was sure that without the “Express” they would not have had such a good response to the fund.

On the suggestion of Mr Harry Crighton, the committee, decided that if next-of-kin would inform Mr Dickson or any of the committee when they received word of prisoners coming home, they might be able to do something to help as the committee were only too anxious to do all they could in this direction.

NEXT-OF-KIN MEETING

Following the half-yearly meeting of the committee of Prisoners of War, Mr Dickson welcomed the five liberated prisoners from Germany, who had been invited to the meeting of next-of-kin that afternoon, and hoped they would soon be restored to health.  Mr Dickson read a circular about the food situation in Germany, telling of the efforts made by the International Red Cross to get food through to prisoners, both in camp and on the march, by means of trains, lorries or any other available transport.  He invited suggestions for providing entertainment for prisoners as and when they came home.  It might be that they would come in driblets as they had been doing, and it might be that a complete collapse of Germany in the near future, might result in European prisoners all coming home in a batch.  If that was so they might be able to arrange some sort of meeting for them all.  They were going to consider it in the light of experience and see how they did get home, but he invited suggestions.  Mr Dickson explained to next-of-kin that when they had news of any of the men coming home, they were authorised to arrange for a car to meet the train and convey the prisoner home.  They might also let him or a member of the committee know.

An informal talk was enjoyed and a service of tea was provided by a committee of ladies.