Forum POW Database Update Project Investigations

**Resmoroh** · 30th October 2020, 16:21

Hello All,

I have been doing some “back-office donkey-work” for the POW Database Update Project. This is mainly the manual transcription of data that cannot, easily, be input by electronic manipulation. This project concentrates on the European/African TOOs (the FE is “A Spreadsheet Too Far”!!!). We are mainly looking for the missing Forenames (and some Service Numbers). Most of the published data have errors. Some are typos, and some OCR errors - and some are just plain wrong!!
I have just finished trying to reconcile the 800-odd RAAF entries. There are a few I can’t sort out.

BAGNALL, ??, S H, 1945-01-28, ??, 15 Sqn, ??, HK618 – is he RAAF?
BENNETT, ??, J, 1941-11-28, Sgt, RAAF, 11 Sqn, ??, L1317
BRETHERTON, ??, F J, 1943-12-29, ??, RAAF, 102 Sqn, ??, JD412
CHAPMAN, ??, G A, 1942-12-02, Sgt, RAAF, 102 Sqn, ??, W7884
RUSSELL, ??, G G, 1942-07-31, Sgt, RAAF, 14 OTU, 402253, N9062
RUSSELL, ??, G G, 1942-04-04, Flt Lt, RAAF, 457 Sqn, ??, BP859.

There are 3 others, but they’re in the FE. Can anybody help?
It was very easy to work with https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/. The other nations might copy - except that they will, no doubt, quote Data Protection as a reason for not doing so.

I am advised (off-forum) that the RCAF (and there are lots of them!) is very difficult.

The RNZAF should be easier if I can find the site that lists the full details of all RNZAF PoWs?

There are a lot of SAAF, but I only have half-a-dozen Forenames, and have no idea how the SAAF numbering system worked. I am aware (from contacts in that country) that accessing the right department in the RSA military is very difficult – and very time consuming!

The non-Commonwealth (mainly European) Air Forces might be difficult, except(!!) that the data I am after will already be known by the individual national/Unit historians/researchers. Can I have it, please?

TIA
Peter Davies

**wwrsimon** · 30th October 2020, 16:47

Peter

BRETHERTON, F. J. - Francis Joseph Bretherton. See:

https://wartimememoriesproject.com/w...php?uid=206896

BENNETT, J - James Frederick Morgan Bennett? See:

http://aircrewremembered.com/patterson-s.html

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...GAN%20BENNETT/

Regards

Simon

**wwrsimon** · 30th October 2020, 16:54

Also:

CHAPMAN, ??, G A - could this be H. A. E. Charman? See:

http://www.102ceylonsquadron.co.uk/memHAECharman.html

Regards

Simon

EDIT however, this page has H. A. E. Charman 1330642 with 174 Sqn, shot down in Hurricane BP768 and P.o.W. :

http://aircrewremembered.com/hurt-charles-edward.html

**wwrsimon** · 30th October 2020, 17:01

And:

RUSSELL, ??, G G, 1942-07-31 - RUSSELL Guy Barnaby NZ412356. See :

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...-Russell-RNZAF

RUSSELL, ??, G G, 1942-04-04 - George Gray Russell?

Regards

Simon

**wwrsimon** · 30th October 2020, 17:07

And also:

BAGNALL, ??, S H - if you search for HK618 on the NAA.gov.au website, it gives you a link to LACEY, John William, and also names the others on board, including:

BIGNELL Stanley Newton – (Flying Officer); Service Number – 424014

Regards

Simon

**Resmoroh** · 30th October 2020, 17:08

Simon,
Tks for that.
Then who was:-
BRETHERTON Francis Joseph F J 0 1943-03-28 RAAF 489 Sqdn 418518 L3 269830 AN156?

Encapsulates the problem!
Tks again!
Peter Davies

**wwrsimon** · 30th October 2020, 17:33

No problem Peter.

As for BRETHERTON Francis Joseph F J 0 1943-03-28 RAAF 489 Sqdn 418518 L3 269830 AN156 - if you search by Service Number his records are on the NAA.gov.au website. Looks like he's the one on Halifax JD412:

Posted missing 29/12/1943, reported as a P.o.W., date unknown. At Stalag Luft 3 by June 1944, P.o.W. No. 269830. Recorded as being with 102 Sqn, not 489 Sqn. He died in 1956.

The 489 Sqn ORB Form 541 for March 1943 has Brotherton, F.J, just to further confuse matters...?

Regards

Simon

**CZ_RAF** · 30th October 2020, 19:57

Hi Pete, pls check your mailbox.

Pavel

**Resmoroh** · 31st October 2020, 10:14

Pavel,
Got it. Mni tks.
Only BAUMAN was missing from the original s/sheet, but almost all the Forenames were new!!
Rgds
Peter Davies

**vrajm** · 31st October 2020, 12:36

Hi,

174 Sqn CHARMAN Ronald Ellis - (Sergeant); Service Number - 400859 shot down in Hurricane BP768 and P.o.W. (?)

20-9-42 .... cable from a/n. at Gibraltar "Safe well"

22-10-42 ... Safe

https://gallery.its.unimelb.edu.au/i...edia&irn=33664

Report

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws....ge/7320025.JPG

22-10-42 174 Sqn ORB: Ron Charman is married today.

Regards

Mojmir