| Notes: | CMP. Enlisted in the Cameronians, transferred to CMP. 21/6/1942 Casualty Lists 898, Middle East, missing believed POW, 21/6/1942. Casualty List 931, Middle East, previously shown on casualty list 898 as missing believed POW, 21/6/1942. POW, Italian POW Camp No. 54, Fata-in Sabina (near Rome). Casualty List 1486, Middle East, previously reported POW in Italian hands, not now POW, previous Lists 931 & 1455, Middle East
Hugh McConnell.
Extract from the Western Star, 18/8/1944.
Battersea Sergeant's Experiences in Italy.
Sergeant Hugh McConnel, Corps of Military Police who lives at 43, St. John's Hill, Clapham Junction his home on leave from Italy and has related to a "South Western Star" representative some of his experiences.
He came to London in 1931 from Motherwell, Scotland where he was born in 1913 and enlisted in the Scots Guards. He went to Egypt. After seven years' of service with the colours he joined the Metropolitan Police Force and was stationed at Southwark, M Division. Mobilised on the outbreak of the war, he was transferred from the Scots Guards to the Corps of Military Police and went to France. He returned to this country via Dunkirk.
Later he went to the Middle East and was captured at Tobruk. From June, 1942 to September 1943 he was a prisoner of war in Italy. After the armistice with Italy he was for months, until the fall of Rome, behind the enemy lines.
Referring to life in the concentration camp he said he had nothing bu praise for the Red Cross organisation for their wonderful help to prisoners of war. Continuing he said that the weather conditions were against him in getting through to the British lines, after the armistice. The altitude was high; it was extremely cold, and there was snow and rain.
Sergeant McConnel was married in 1939 to Miss Doris Newman of Hauberk Road, Battersea Rise where they lived until their home was damaged by enemy action last year. |
ITALY