POW Resettlement Training Centres

[PeteT]

Does anyone have any information regarding the numbers and locations of the Resettlement Training Centres set up by the RAF for the resettlement of POW after the war.

I am guessing that all POW came through 106 Personnel Centre (Resettlement) at Cosford and were then posted to one of these centres for resettlement (which I understand was compulsory). Again, my understanding is that the army had a similar scheme "Civil Resettlement Units" which was not compulsory.

As a starter for ten, I think these may be some of the centres:

108 Cosford?
113 Scarborough (*)
114 Rugby
115 Ascot
116 Chorley

It may well be that these units appear on service records of RAF POW as nnn RTC (after 106 PDC).

Any thoughts would be much appreciated

Regards

Pete

(*) "The RAF Resettlement Centre at Scarborough was the first one set up to help repatriated prisoners of war readjust to civilian life. Those entering the centre stayed for three months and then most were readily able to return to civilian employment. The former prisoners were allowed to wear either their uniforms or civilian clothes and the only compulsory activities were lectures and discussions focused on changes that had occurred in society over the period of their imprisonment. A wide range of educational and vocational courses were on offer and much emphasis was placed on getting the men involved in sports."

[PeteT]

The following provides an update on this subject:
________________________________________

The Cosford Operations Record Book from June 1945 (where 106 PDC was based) shows that POW were dispersed from there as follows:

1. To Refresher Centres, for all who expressed a wish to remain in Service and were medically fit (Four Centres No. 109 to No. 112)

2. To direct release, for those who wished to leave the RAF and were eligible to do so, and who could show that civil employment was actually available

3. To Resettlement Centres, for those eligible for release but for whom no ready-made employment was available (Three Centres No. 113 to No. 115 (*))

4. To selected postings arranged by the Air Ministry

(*) It is known that 116 was added later.
________________________________________

My thanks go to Nick Fenton for obtaining the information from the National Archives.

Regards

Pete

[NickFenton]

Pete,

There was also quite a bit about 'Toning' up any returning POW's, all services, who were going to remain in the service, that was the intention of centres 109 - 112.

Regards,

Nick
KenFentonsWar.com

[PeteT]

Picking up on Nick's point, the ORB shows that all POW that were deemed medically fit were granted 42 days leave, after which they were required to return to 106 PDC.

They would then attend a medical board and if it was agreed they needed "toning up" they would be posted to No. 4 Medical Rehabilitation Unit (Cosford) before they were dispersed through one of the routes in my previous post.

The ORB adds that a system of call ups and leave periods had to be introduced to cope with the volume of personnel and the number of available spaces at each centre.

I guess the next question is, where were 109 - 112 based? ..... the search goes on.

Regards

Pete