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The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers C–F
In “The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers A–B” I explained how in 2013 researcher Brian Sims gave me access to a booklet entitled Italy: Imperial Prisoners of War Alphabetical List, Section 1,...
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A Letter of Tribute to Andrea Scattini
In a letter written after the death of Andrea Scattini, Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello (Bourbon del Monte) pays tribute to his comrade’s heroism and strength of character. Following a transcript in...
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Gunner J. Boyd’s Spoon
The back and front of J. Boyd’s military-issue spoon Recently I received a surprise note from Geoff Sidlow, who lives in the U.K. Geoff wrote, “I have come across a spoon on a car boot sale. The spoon...
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The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers G–J
In “The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers A–B” and “The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers C–F” I explained how in 2013 researcher Brian Sims gave me access to a booklet entitled Italy: Imperial...
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I.S.9 Situation Report—November 1943
SITREP [Situation Report] for November 3–4, 1943 Two years ago my friend researcher Brian Sims sent me a series of I.S.9 rescue operation diaries and situation reports from 1943–44 that he had copied...
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I.S.9 Progress Reports for November 4–21,1943
First page of the progress report issued on November 13, 1943 The transcription and notes in this post are by Dr. Luigi Donfrancesco, nephew of I.S.9 agent Andrea Scattini. Access to the two progress...
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I.S.9 War Diary—November 17–20, 1943
The transcription and notes in this post are by Dr. Luigi Donfrancesco, nephew of I.S.9 agent Andrea Scattini. Access to the war diary (from the British National Archives) was courtesy of researcher...
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Italian Helpers—Two Queries
Two chits on which British soldiers recorded their names and addresses My friend Anne Copley is researching two situations of Italians providing assistance to escaped prisoners of war. Anne wrote,...
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Cameron Highlander J. Drum
Pte. J. Drum I received a note last month from Del MacPhail, whose grandfather was captured in North Africa in 1940. J. Drum was interned in P.G. 59 for a time. He is listed in “The Alphabetical...
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A Small, Unexpected Gift
Edwin A. Wilcher’s dog tag, missing for over 70 years in Italy, which was returned to Edwin’s family in November Chiara Allevi’s grandfather Rinaldo and grandmother Luigia assisted Edwin Wilcher after...
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Charles Simmons’ Recovered Bowling Ring
I received a note early this month from Katy Bochetto, who wrote, “My grandfather was Charles K. Simmons. “My Aunt, Trish Harper, submitted copies of the address book and calendar he kept while a...
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Escaped Prisoner Sheltered in Petritoli
Roberto Lucci’s grandmother, Elvira Lucci (center), was 19 years old when her father sheltered a prison camp escapee in their home. Roberto Lucci is an Italian who is attempting to find the family of...
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The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers K–M
In 2013, researcher Brian Sims gave me access to his photographs of the complete contents of a booklet entitled Italy: Imperial Prisoners of War Alphabetical List, Section 1, British Army, which is...
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I.S.9 War Diary—December 16–29, 1943
First page of the I.S.9 “progress report” for December 16–29, 1943 The transcription and notes in this post are by Dr. Luigi Donfrancesco, nephew of I.S.9 agent Andrea Scattini. Access to the war...
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I.S.9 Situation Report—November 12–13, 1943
A one page I.S.9 “SITREP” (situation report) for November 12–13, 1943 The transcription and notes in this post are by Dr. Luigi Donfrancesco, nephew of I.S.9 agent Andrea Scattini. Access to this...
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I.S.9 Officers—Biography
Dr. Luigi Donfrancesco, nephew of I.S.9 “A” Force agent Andrea Scattini, has discovered a number of online sites that offer information on six key I.S.9 officers. These officers—Andrew Robb (New...
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I.S.9—Periodic Report for January 15–25, 1944
First page of Captain Robb’s seven-page periodic report The transcription and notes in this post—a January 1944 “periodic report” filed by Captain Andrew Robb—are by Dr. Luigi Donfrancesco, nephew of...
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A South African Pilot’s Sacrifice Memorialized
I received word today about an excellent short film available online. The referral was from my friends at Associazione Salerno 1943—a group of Italian volunteers who are dedicated to investigation of...
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Update—Search for the Soldier Hidden in Petritoli
The comune of Petritoli in the Italian Marche. Photograph by Monica Vitali (Wikimedia Commons). There is a new development in the search for information about the escaped POW who was helped in the...
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Sergeant Donald Robinson—Captive and Escapee
Algiers, late 1942. Donald Robinson is on the far right. Sergeant Donald George Robinson, Royal Artillery, was captured on January 21, 1943 during a night skirmish with Rommel’s Afrika Korp at Bou...
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