| Surname: | Corps |
| Initials: | R |
| Rank: | Warrant Officer II |
| Army Number: | 2655500 |
| Notes: | CMP. 9/5/1932 he enlisted in the Coldstream Guards at Sheffield for 3/9 years, born 9/5/1914 at Mexbroro, Rotherham, occupation telegraphist,3/1/1940 compulsory transfer to CMP. 15/12/35 enlisted in the West Riding Constabulary, PC 191, served in Barnsley, enlisted 1/12/39, 16/1/40 transferred to CMP. Shown as POW in West Riding Police who served in the Forces. 18/1/46 Discharged. Casualty List 865 Middle East, Missing 4/6/1942, S/Sgt. POW Italian POW Camp No. 65, Gravina (near Altamura) rank shown as WO2. Casualty List 904, corrections, List 865, Middle East, Missing, rank A/WOII.. Casualty List 1839, POW, Previously reported POW now not POW, previous list 925, Middle East. General Questionnaire Part II, top secret, MI9/Gen/MIS-X. 2655500, Corps, Ralph, 50 (Northumberland) Div Pro Coy, CMP, born 9/5/14, enlisted 1/12/39, occupation Police Officer, address: 11 West Avenue, Summer Lane, Wombwell, Barnsley, Yorkshire. Captured Gazala, 1/6/42. Were your wounded when captured ? No. Main POW Camps imprisoned:- PG35, Totturano, from 9/6/42 to 15/6/42, PG 65, Gravina, from 15/6/42 to 3/5/43, PG 52, Chiavari, 3/5/43 to 12/9/43, Were you lectured on how to behave in the event of capture ? Yes, Kirkuk, Iraq, Lt. Wickes, Green Howards attached to 50 (N) Div Pro Coy, lecture given 1941. Were you given a lecture in escape and evasion? No. Escapes attempted:- see foot of page 4. 8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice? Yes, construction of a radio set RV, No. 565667 WO C E West, RAF and myself at PG.65, Gravina, transporting set undetected by Italians from aforementioned camp into PG 52 at Chiavari. News distributed every other evening to officers, WO's and others in confidence. Foot of page 4. Escape attempted (1) - PG65, Gravina, 1/43/43, crawling through wire fence, companion No. 565667 WO West, RAF attempted unsuccessful, returned undetected to bungalow same night. (2) PG 65, Gravina, 3/3/43, short circuiting all lights in camp, circuit completed, lights only went dim, crawled through first wire fence and then over the outer fence, down curtain net to freedom. No.565667 WO West, RAF. Intention was to get to Brindisi and steal a JU52 - of which plane my companion was familiar. Re captured at Noci, 9/3/43 by Italian Farmers and Carabineri. Fit myself, though WO West had a relapse of Malaria during the escape, my companion was captured with me. Final Escape & Release. PG52. Chiavari, 8/9/43. Italian Colonel told men to remain calm and not to cause any disturbance or break camp. Gave his word of honour to resist if Germans came. Germans arrived 10am, 9/9/43 and took over camp, many men tried to escape but camp sentries and camp Carabineri refused to co operate, not one shot was fired. 12/9/43 placed in closed wagon at Chiaveri station, wagon doors were locked by Germans from outside. Dolce, North of Verona, 5.30 am, 14/9/42, levering up floor boards of wagon and lowering our selves in between the rails. 565667, WO West, RAF - WO Barker, Indian Army Ordnance Corps, I have not seen Baker since that day. WO West was last see by me at Molina (north of Vernona) on or about the 7/11/42. Owing to Fascist activity in that area we decided to follow our own separate ways, I went south to the PO near Otiglia to try and get across the PO and so proceed south to the allied forces. People in this area were very afraid of the Germans and I could obtain very little assistance. Changing course I went North West back into the mountains in the direction of Switzerland. After a short tie in the mountains gave up any thought of reaching the Swiss frontier and so moved in the direction of Lake Garda, having located two good Italian farmers in this area I decided to await the arrival of the Allies. I stayed in the vicinity of Gavardo, approx 10 km west of Lake Garda (18 km east of Brescia) from 18/12/43 to 30/4/45. On 1/5/45 I was taken into Brescia by the leader of the partisans, arriving there I reported to an allied officer. Allied troops arrived in Brescia, 1/5/45 and reported to them. I was then evacuated via Florence and Rome and arrived "B" No.2 Allied POW Repat Camp on 3/5/45. Ralph Corps. |
Prisoner of War Record: | |
| Imprisonment: | Campo 52 ITALY 🇮🇹 |