The National Ex-Prisoner of War Association
Frequently Asked Questions
ARE YOU SEEKING INFORMATION OR
ASSISTANCE FROM THE ASSOCIATION?
IF SO, PLEASE READ THROUGH THE FOLLOWING BEFORE YOU EMAIL OUR HISTORIAN.
1) IF YOUR REQUEST CONCERNS A FIRST WORLD WAR PRISONER.
Unfortunately most of the WWI servicemen's records were destroyed in the Blitz and a definitive list of 'other ranks' POWs does not exist. We do have details of officer prisoners of war, together with notes on about ten percent of the ‘other ranks’. The surviving servicemen's records are now in the Public Record Office in Kew on microfilm. Consult file WO161/101 for an index of surviving prisoner of war reports. We recommend the book 'Prisoners of the Kaiser' and a review can be found in our POW Books section of the website.
2) IF YOUR REQUEST CONCERNS A SECOND WORLD WAR PRISONER OF THE JAPANESE.
A definitive list of Far East prisoners of war does not exist, If you do not have a copy of the serviceman's record you should contact The Army Personnel Centre, Historic Disclosures, Mailpoint 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow G2 8EX They will supply a copy for a fee. The sum of £10,000 is now being paid as belated compensation to surviving Far East POWs or their spouses and claim forms can be obtained from the War Pensions Agency, Tomlinson House, Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3WP. Helpline 0800-169-2277.3) IF YOUR REQUEST CONCERNS A SECOND WORLD WAR PRISONER OF THE GERMANS OR ITALIANS.
We do have a list of all British and Commonwealth POWs held in Germany and Italy, including the name of the camp to which they were registered in March 1945. A copy of their service record can be obtained from the MOD, see 2) above. We have also discovered that most of the German POW record cards are now held by the War Pensions Agency, address above. If you ask them nicely they may supply you with a copy of the card.
4) IF YOUR REQUEST CONCERNS A KOREAN WAR PRISONER.
We have details of all men taken prisoner by the North Koreans and Chinese and those who are still listed as missing in action. We would recommend the book 'Korean Atrocity' which is described in our POW Book section of the website.5) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR ASSOCIATION?
Membership of the association is available to former prisoners of war and their relatives, together with others who support the aims of the association. We publish a quarterly newsletter and an annual journal. The annual subscription is £5 for former prisoners of war (£10 if living outside the UK) and £10 for relatives of former prisoners of war. Please make cheques out to NEXPOWA and send to Mr Les Allan, 99 Parlaunt Road, Langley, Berkshire SL3 8BE. Members of the association can include requests for help or information in our quarterly newsletters and these requests are also repeated on our website. If you would like to find some of your old comrades or would like to contact someone who knew your father or grandfather in captivity, the 'Where are they now?' section is for you.HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
If you have tried the above avenues and have still not discovered what you are looking for,
contact our Historian Mr Philip Chinnery:
IMPORTANT: SUBJECT LINE MUST READ POW OR WILL BE FILTERED AS SPAM
For a nominal sum he can provide histories or reports on most of the prisoner of war camps in Italy, Germany or Japan and answer questions on subjects not covered by the above. He can also arrange for requests to be included in the newsletter once you have become a member of the association. Please bear in mind that we are all volunteers and carry out association business in our spare time. If you are a college or university student requiring vast amounts of in-depth material we simply do not have the time to devote to your needs. The same applies to TV company researchers and newspaper reporters who usually want the impossible yesterday!
Last Updated 26 October 2006
