Other than the airmen, all the dead before the Armistice of 8 September 1943 were prisoners of war.
During this period most of the prisoners buried in the cemetery died in hospital. There were hospital camps, for example H 201 in Bergamo, and also Italian military hospitals which treated prisoners of war.
For some of them, as in the chart below, it is not possible to say where they died using the information online, and specific requests need to be made to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. However, the British servicemen are registered in the WO 417 series as having died as a prisoner of war. There is no similar document available online for the five South Africans, but given their presence in Italy before the arrival of the allied troops in July 1943 their POW status is assumed. Capt. Taberer, whose death was in July 1943 is recorded in POW register WO 392/21 (issued August 1943) as being held in PG 47.
REASON FOR DEATH AND PLACE UNKNOWN
Number
76893
5109
143982
196535
7885484
10657
105359
2932191
2928685
4463441
T/267893
868067
7639384
4971838
2328302
2695835
76530
2696396
4393984
5438482
T/231558
Rank & Name
Capt F. B. MAY
Pte J. L. JAMES
Pte A. B. BELDON
Pte G. J. DU TOIT
Sgt James MATTHEW
Lt Col Ailwyn H. CLARKE
Sgt Charles E. DONNE
L/Cpl James D. O. SPENCE
Pte Robert BAIN
Pte Leonard ELLISON
Dvr Frederick A. BLANDFORD
Gnr George A. TOMLINSON
Cfn Albert H. BROADHURST
Pte William LAMBERT
Cpl Charles T. JONES
Gdmn John R. BALFOUR
Chaplain The Rev D.B. ELLIOTT
Gdmn Richard THOMSON
Pte Walter G. LANCASTER
Pte William C. PETERS
Dvr George W. LELLO
Unit
Botha U.D.F.
1 R.D.L.I.
1 R.N.C.
S.A.P.
4 R.T.R.
3 Fd. Amb. R.A.M.C.
R.A.S.C.
2 Q.O.C.H.
2 Q.O.C.H.
8 D.L.I.
R.A.S.C.
R.H.A.
R.E.M.E.
1 Forsters
R.C.S.
2 S.G.
R.A.Ch.D.
S.G.
5 Gn. How.
1 D.C.L.I.
R.A.S.C.
Date
11/05/42
03/07/42
18/07/42
02/12/42
14/01/42
23/06/42
21/08/42
07/10/42
05/11/42
24/11/42
25/11/42
29/12/42
06/01/43
15/01/43
16/01/43
31/01/43
01/02/43
07/02/43
12/02/43
07/03/43
09/03/43
Source
WO 417/38
WO 417/3
WO 417/56
WO 417/59
WO 417/65
WO 417/56
WO 417/59
WO 417/59
WO 417/58
WO 417/63
WO 417/58
WO 417/58
WO 417/4
WO 417/60
WO 417/59
WO 417/65
WO 417/59
Grave details
IV.D.9.
IV.D.7.
IV.E.11.
V.C.9.
IV.E.8.
IV. D.6.
IV.E 4.
V.B.8.
VI.A.15.
IV.D.4.
IV.E.15.
IV E.14.
IV.D.11.
V.B.15.
V.B.1.
IV.E.2.
I.E.13.
IV.D.8.
V.A.12.
IV E.12.
V.A.11.
DIED AS POW BEFORE THE ARMISTICE, INITIAL BURIAL KNOWN
Number
946404
9020
7903962
Rank & Name
Gnr J. D.B. MacGREGOR
Rfn G. ANNANDALE
Tpr J. H. JONES
Unit
67 Med. Regt. R.A.
Kaff.R. U.D.F.
R.A.C.
Camp
Work Camp
PG 59
Date
29/03/43
30/06/43
17/08/43
Initial burial
Carpi M.C.
Treviglio M.C.
Mossella
Grave details
V.A.13.
VI.B.1.
VI.B.7.
Source: CWGC
CHIAVARI MILITARY HOSPITAL
The prisoners being held in PG 52 Coreglia Ligure who were suffering from serious illnesses were admitted to this hospital. Fourteen died in this period. Their initial burial was in Cicagna municipal cemetery:
Number
35494
10976
26169
2024001
13434
1414772
17496
1061188
2585250
4448802
83647
13500
24262
88540
Rank & Name
Sgt J. J. DE BEER
Pte F. A. SMITH
Sgt Noel E. W. BOURHILL
L/Cpl George A. WHALEY
Pte Alfred R. HEADS
L/Bdr George E. JOHNSON
Pte Arthur L. ROSS
B.Q.M.S. Robert E. LETBY
Sgm. John BUTCHER
Cpl George E.C. WHITFIELD
Spr T. R. POLE
Cpl Sandy NELSON
Pte Sidney RIPPON
Pte H. R. LESAR
Unit
S.A.I.R.
U.M.R.
3 Fd.Regt. S.A.A.
1 Worc.
26 Bn.2.N.Z.E.F.
R.A.
20 Bn.2.N.Z.E.F.
37 Med.Regt.R.A.
R.C.S.
8 D.L.I.
S.A.I.R.
U.M.R.
3 Fd.Regt. S.A.A.
S.A.I.R.
Date of death
07/08/42
28/03/43
19/06/42
31/12/42
10/05/42
19/07/43
07/06/42
14/01/4
04/02/42
01/06/43
12/02/43
31/10/42
06/03/42
06/12/42
Grave details
I.D.1.
I.D.2.
I.D.3.
III.A 2.
III.A.4.
III.A.6.
III.A.8.
III.A.10.
III.A.15.
III.B.5.
III.B.9.
III.B.13.
III.B.14.
III.C.15
Sergeant Noel E. W. BOURHILL
3 Field Regiment, South African Artillery
The camp inspection, carried out in June 1943 by Georges Bonnant of the Swiss Legation, contains this entry:
Serious cases are evacuated to the Military Hospital of a neighbouring town which we also visited. The prisoners there have special rooms, well situated and very well arranged. They receive excellent medical attention from an excellent doctor and surgeon, as well as from female nurses. There are two wards with 7 beds, a terrace, two private room, 4 bathrooms and all the necessary equipment. Six patients were there under treatment at the time of my visit. A death occurred this same morning, that of Sergeant Noel Edward Bourhill, as the result of serious bronchial pneumonia and toxemia.
He was intially buried in Cicagna municipal cemetery before being transferred to Milan on 21 November 1945.
Sources: The National Archives WO 361/1890 Prisoners of war, Italy: Camp 52, Chiavari; International Red Cross reports on conditions 1942 May 01 - 1943 Nov 30
CWGC
Photo Fulvio Vigna
PRISONER OF WAR HOSPITAL H 201 BERGAMO
Initial burial: Unico municipal cemetery
Number
1121162
4394047
5436244
837616
1710225
ST/236
894696
911070
1782125
2358109
4385083
6827
16948
7392
31209
26124
Rank e Name
Gnr Robert KENNY
Pte Raymond COWLEY
Pte Albert J. NORMAN
Gdmn Ralph C. WILTON
Gnr Llewellyn DAVIES
Lt Fredrick W. ALLEN
L/Bdr Frank W. SWIFT
Gnr Sidney G.CATE
Gnr Ernest W. HEMBLING
Sgm C.C. STRANGE
Pte John R. NEVISON
Pte George R. GEENTY
Pte Robert G. LEDLIE
Pte Thomas A. WRIGHT
Pte Alfred E. SMITH
WO Robert McLAUCHLAN
Unit
28 Fd. Regt.,R.A.
Gn. How.
1 D.C.L.I.
3 C.G.
1 Lt. A.A. Regt. R.A.
R.I.A.S.C.
107 Regt. R.H.A.
72 Fd. Regt. R.A.
68 H.A.A. Regt. R.A.
R.C.S.
4 Gn. How
22 Bn. 2.N.Z.E.F.
26 Bn. 2.N.Z.E.F.
27 Bn. N.Z.M.B.
N.Z.M.C.
24 Bn. 2.N.Z.E.F.
Date
17/11/42
17/11/42
18/11/42
13/12/42
09/12/42
14/12/42
19/12/42
27/12/42
03/01/43
20/02/43
07/07/43
25/08/42
06/09/42
03/10/42
07/10/42
09/10/42
Illness
Peritonitis/paralisis
Died as POW
Died as POW
Died as POW
Nefritis
Not specified
Nefritis
Dysentery
Bronco-polmonitis
Died as POW
Died as POW
Meningitis*
Myocarditis
Endocarditis
Toxaemia
Pernicious malaria Miocarditis
Source
R.A.C.C.
WO 417/56
WO 417/56
WO 417/56
R.A.C.C.
Not specified
R.A.C.C.
R.A.C.C.
R.A.C.C.
WO 417/65
WO 417/61
website**
website**
website**
website**
website**
Grave
III.D.9.
III D.10
III.D.11.
III.D.12.
III.D.14
III.E.12.
III. E.13.
III E.14
III. E.15.
IV.D.1.
IV.C.14
III.D.4.
III.D.5
III.D.6.
III.D.7.
III.D.8.
* Full description of injuries:Fractured skull injury. Brain purulent. Meningitis due to Shrapnel wounds
**https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph
PROBABLY DIED IN H 201 BERGAMO
Number
UML/58608
Rank e Name
Pte Sebaiga BESUERI
Date
19/11/42
Unit
A.A.P.C. (E. Africa)
Initial burial
M.C. Bergamo
Grave details
VI.B.10.
PAVIA MILITARY HOSPITAL
Number
3658195
Rank e Name
Pte George MILNE
Unit
2 H.L.I.
Date
16/07/43
Camp
PG 70
Initial burial
Pavia Cimitero Monumentale
Grave details
II.B 6.
Source: CWGC
PIACENZA PRISONER OF WAR HOSPITAL( I COLLEGI MORIGI ED ALBERONI)
Inital Burial: Piacenza municipal cemetery
Number
1709236
4131616
973956
973683
1684913
1022936
851435
919167
1105468
Perhaps
6098888
Rank e Name
L/Bdr William E. ELMS
Gnr Albert S. A. FORD
Gnr Brian GIBSON
Gnr Victor H. SAUNDERS
Bdr Reginald E. ROSE
Bdr Henry J. BUNTING
L/Bdr John W. TURNER
Gnr James KYNESTON
Gnr William BOWMAN
Pte David H. SAUNDERS
Unit
1 Lt. A.A. Regt. R.A.
61 Lt. A.A. Regt. R.A.
68 Med. Regt. R.A.
157 Fd. Regt. R.A.
57 Lt. A.A. Regt. R.A.
72 Fd. Regt. R.A.
28 Fd. Regt. R.A.
95 Fd. Regt. R.A.
28 Fd. Regt.R.A.
1/6 Queens
Date
24/01/43
28/01/43
06/03/43
19/02/43
05/08/42
01/02/43
31/12/42
18/11/42
21/10/42
02/11/42
Cause of death
Severe anaemia & organic decay
Acute enteritis
Acute enteritis
Acute enteritis/ cachexia
Died
Gastro-enteritis
Dysentery/enteritis
Died of wonds
Compound crushed fracture
Died of wounds
Grave
IV.D.2
IV.D.3.
IV.D.10.
IV.E.5.
IV.E.6.
IV.E.7.
IV.E.9.
IV.E.10.
IV.E.13.
IV.D.5.
Sources: WO 417/71
C.W.G.C.,
R.A.C.C.
PARMA MILITARY HOSPITAL 'ANGELO MAZZA'?
Initial burial: Parma municipal cemetery
Number
SX/2187
4751875
4133189
Rank e Name
Sgt John E. AMOS
Pte William G. EDWARDS
Pte Joseph A. THOMPSON
Unit
2/8 Fd. Amb. A.I.F.
4 Gn. How.
R.A.C.
Date
07/03/43
02/02/43
25/10/42
Cause
Sickness (PG 106)
Not specified
Not specified
Source
C.W.G.C.
WO 417/59
WO 417/55
Grave
V.C.12
V.C.13
V.C.15
MODENA
UNSPECIFIED HOSPITAL
Number
1100075
1894768
Probably
1472877
Rank e Name
Gnr John R. GREENYER
Cpl Percy H. BARBER
B.Q.M.S. Norman W.
LANCASTER
Unit
67 Med. Regt.R.A.
232 Fd. Coy.R.E.
25 Lt. A/A Regt. R.A.
Date
19/12/42
21/01/43
19/11/42
Cause
Acute nefritis
Blocked intestine
Tuberculosis
Initial burial
Modena M.C.
Modena M.C.
Unknown
Source
R.A.C.C.
R.E.C.C.
R.A.C.C.
Grave
V.B 2.
V.B.14.
V.B.3.
CIVILIAN HOSPITAL RAMAZZINI, MODENA
2070009
Spr Frederick BEST
235 Fd. Pk. Coy. R.E
26/11/42
Cardiac arrest following
diphtheria
Modena M.C.
R.E.C.C.
Grave
V.B.13.
Sapper Frederick BEST
235 Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
M. Minard.i in his essay I Nemici. I prigionieri di PG 73, reported that there was a real risk of infectious diseases spreading in the camp, and everyone was very apprehensive. In response to a letter dated 4 August 1942, sent by the head of the Department of Public Health of the Municipality of Carpi following the first case of diphtheria, recorded a few weeks after the opening of the camp, the prisoners were subjected to mass vaccination, generally unwelcomed by them for the modality in which it was performed and for the discomfort it caused many of them in the days which followed.
1056916 Aircraftman 2nd Class E. Barrington noted ironically in his diary (held in the Imperial War Museum in London), that discontent was circulating among the tents. He wrote: "In itself the thing was nothing, although the needle was a little blunt after several hundred inoculations." On November 26 of the same year, despite this vaccination, Sapper Frederick Best died of cardiac arrest following diphtheria in the Ramazzini civil hospital in Modena.
Sources:
http://www.centrostudifossoli.org/PDF/dbminardi.pdf
findmypast.co.uk: Royal Engineers Casualty Cards
Photo: Fulvio Vigna
BOMBING OF POW HOSPITAL H207 MILAN
Inital burial : Maggiore municipal cemetery, Milan
Number
37849
37978
113960
164231
62250
-
Rank e Name
Pte Dennis D. TUFFLEY
Pte Gordon O.WILLIAMS
Capt William R.RICKARDS
Lt Peter W. A. CLAUSE
Pte Maurice SULLINGS
Lt George O. CURPHEY
Unit
6 Fd. Amb. N.Z.M.C.
28 Fd. Regt. R.A.
R.C.S.
21 Bn. 2N.Z.E.F.
C.I.C.
Date
14/08/43
14/08/43
14/08/43
13/08/43
13/08/43
14/08/43
Campo
PG 57
PG 57
PG 66
H206
PG 57
H207
Grave details
II.A.9.
II.A.11.
II.A.13
II.B.1.
II.C.7.
II.C.9.
Private Maurice SULLINGS
21 Bn. 2N.Z.E.F.
Photo: Fulvio Vigna
On 13 August 1943 Private Sullings, previously detained in PG 57 Grupignano, lost his life in a 'friendly fire' incident. He was a patient in hospital H 207 and was fatally injured during an air raid on Milan, carried out by 321 Lancaster and 183 Halifax bombers of the R.A.F.
The 'Senior British Officer' in the H 207 hospital was Major Peter Oldfield (Royal Armoured Corps and 1 SAS), who had been taken prisoner in North Africa and transferred to Milan from hospital H 206 Nocera. From his obituary, which appeared in the Daily Telegraph on July 29, 2002, we learn that twenty-five British prisoners were trapped under six metres of debris. No assistance was provided by the guards and the only tools available were three shovels. Oldfield, who by then had partially recovered, organized a rescue team, and after four hours of gruelling work in the smoke-filled basement, fifteen men were pulled out alive.
The seven dead were temporarily buried in the Maggiore municipal cemetery in Milan before being transferred to the city's British and Commonwealth War Cemetery.
Among these were three New Zealanders from the 2 New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Private Sullings and Privates D.D. Tuffley and G.O. Williams, both of 6 Field Ambulance, New Zealand Medical Corps, all previously detained in PG 57 Grupignano, Udine. The latter two may have been transferred to H 207 as medical attendants rather than patients. The three allied officers, Captain W.R. Rickards, 28 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, formerly in PG 66, Lieutenant P.W.A. Clause, Royal Corps of Signals, previously in H206, and Lieutenant G.O. Curphey, Canadian Intelligence Corps - the only one of the seven registered in Prisoner of War register WO 321/21 as in H207 - would have been treated for his injuries, and also the Indian Subadar Sham Din, Royal Indian Army Service Corps, previously detained in PG 63 Aversa. On 20 June 1946 Subadar Sham Din was taken from the war cemetery in Milan to a new burial in the Indian War Cemetery in Forlì.
Sources:
The National Archives. WO 392/21: Imperial Prisoners of War held in Italy
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1402852/Major-Peter-Oldfield.html
ILLNESS IN POW CAMPS
Number
5497837
1473225
201496
Rank e Name
L/Cpl Thomas R. GILES
Gnr Alfred HIND
Capt. T.C.M. TABERER
Unit
2 Hamp
R.A.
S.A.R. Mech.Tp.
Date/place
30/06/43 PG146
28/04/43 PG 73
07/07/43 PG 47
Cause
diphtheria
unspecifed
thrombosis of the heart
Source
web
R.A.C.C
see below
Initial burial
Borgo S. Siro M.C.
Carpi M.C.
not specified
Grave
III.C.11.
V.A.9.
V. A.5.
information on Capt. Taberer with kind permission of AB64, ww2talk,com
WAR CRIMES
Number
T/186272
32134
NX716597
Rank & Name
Dvr Robert John KAHN
Pte Lambros TOFI
Pte John Ernest LAW
Unit
R.A.S.C. 2 Armd.Div.
Cyprus Regiment
2/17 Bn., A.I.F.
Date
27/08/41
16/07/43
15/06/43
Camp
41
62
106
Source
WO 311/312
WO 311/307
WO 311/1219
Grave
I.C.8.
VI.B.12.
I.E.3.
For the full titles of the War Crimes files see Post-Armistice page.
JANET KINRADE DETHICK
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