Mead, F W

,

Major Frederick William Mead

Family/Last name:
Mead
Forename(s) and initial(s):
Frederick William
Place of birth:
London
Date of birth:
7/3/1905
Nationality:
British
Service number:
104901
Military Unit:
British Army, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Rank when captured:
Major
Place of capture:
Tobruk
Date of capture:
22/6/1942
POW number:
3066
Camp
PG 21 Chieti, PG 19 Bologna (Due Madonne), Oflag VA Weinsberg, Stalag IIB Hammerstein–Schlochau, Marlag und Milag Nord
Data sources
The National Archives (UK)Other Sources (The National Archives (UK)Other Sources (WO416 records transcribed by and held at the UK National Archives. Data processed and prepared by Rick Catt and Brian Cooper) + Relative's Report)
View a commemorative certificate for this prisoner

Information provided by Anne Vincent (Nee: Mead).

During family research for my step brother we discovered the following information.    Also, very recently we discovered that a book has been written about Camp 21 Chieto.

“An Extraordinary Italian imprisonment, The Brutal Truth of Camp 21, 1942-3”, Author Brian Lett.   Published by Pen & Sword.

Available from Amazon

Frederick William Mead  – Major in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers served in the Middle East Forces and travelled through the Western Desert, Libya, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Persia.   Captured Tobruk 22nd June 1942.

POW Record Details:

1943

 

First Name:

F W

Surname:

Mead

Fate:

Prisoner of War in Italy

Information:

P.O.W. Camp number 21, Chieti Old Convent, postal mark number 3300

Rank:

Major

Service Number:

104901

Duty Location:

Italy

Service:

British Army

Primary Unit:

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Archive Reference:

WO392/21

 

1945

 

First Name:

F W

Initials:

F W

Surname:

Mead

Resided Town:

Oflag 5a, Weinburg (Wurttemberg)

Resided Country:

Germany

Fate:

Prisoner of War

Information:

POW No. 3066

Rank:

Major

Service Number:

104901

Service:

British Army

Regiment:

Royal Electrical And Mechanical Engineers

Camp No.                    Location                                  From                Till

21                                Chieti  Italy                              August 1942    August 1943

19                                Bologna  Italy                          August 1943    Sept. 1943

5                                  Weinsberg  Germany              Oct. 1943        Oct. 1944

Military Prison            Grauden 2  Poland                  Oct. 1944        Jan. 1945

Hospital Stalag 2B       Hammerstein  Germany         Jan. 1945         Feb. 1945

Marlag, 0                    Westertimke  Germany           Feb. 1945        April 1945

 

Health:

Suffered Bronchitis, Jaundice & Frostbite due to conditions and forced evacuation march.

 

Escape record:

Attempted escape from Tobruk with CO (Lt Col H R P Ralphs) & others 20th June but all captured night 21st 22nd .

Attempted escape during transit from Italy – Germany Sept 1943 but unsuccessful.  Captain F Lawrence R.T.R. & I believe 2 others of party reached home, method cutting out of railway truck organised by myself.

Attempted escape by tunnel Weinsburg April 1944 with party organised by myself.   Unsuccessful.

Escaped successfully from column during evacuation March April 1945 with Captain J Greenwood 9th Lancers & returned to Melay awaiting arrival of Allied troops who by then were in that area.

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