I have a cigarette case belonging to a POW who was shot down in January 1944. It was signed in the prison camp by several of his POW mates including Bill (?) Docherty (?) who was a Spitfire pilot (although it might have been another Fighter type) who was shot down close to the Albanian coast line. I do not know the date of this.
A Walrus aircraft, alerted presumably by the returning members of his Squadron, then landed to try to rescue him. He swam out towards the plane but it was forced to take off without him due to either German troops appearing on the beach and firing at it or perhaps German fighters making and appearance. Anyway Bill was captured and ended up in the same camp as my friend.
Does this story sound familiar to anyone? If so can you give me the details so I can research the matter further?
The annoying thing is that years before I was given the Cigarette case I read an account of the incident but now I cant remember where! Does anyone know the book it is in?
The case was also signed by a chap called Seery, an Australian and I have no more info on him.
By: JDK - 22nd March 2014 at 08:10
I’ll see how I can best share the Gen. Standby.
By: kirmington - 21st March 2014 at 21:26
Thank you Gents. I will look up the Returning POW Questionnaire for SEERY when I next go to the NA. Thank you Jeff.
Thank you as well James. I have been told about another book that has Docherty in it, ‘249 Squadron at War’. I would really appreciate copy’s of anything you have if it is not too much trouble.
By: JDK - 20th March 2014 at 23:10
The Docherty episode is covered in some detail of Norman Franks’ “Beyond Courage” about the ASR Walrus units of the Med and assoc seas. (Grubb Street) on pp69-70. Happy to share the data (it’s quite long) if interested. Let me know.
By: Reckless Rat - 20th March 2014 at 19:21
Hi Kirmington,
I have found an F J Seery, no. 413435 RAAF, Prisoner number 270080, held at Stalag Luft 3 (Sagan and Belaria) in Ross McNeil’s Air Force PoW lists on rafcommands.com
Using that service number on the National Archives of Australia website (sorry, I can’t link directly), I can find W/O Francis John Seery from Lancaster JB607, shot down on 29 December 1943 near Berlin, and his crewmates
BLIGHT Ambrose Edward – (Pilot Officer); Service Number – 416114
IRELAND, Stanley James – (Pilot Officer); Service Number – 412010
SQUIRES, Maxwell Hope – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 421578
W/O Seery has 3 files that I can see; AWM65 (which I am not familiar with), A9301 (Service file), and A705 (The ‘Casualty’ file). These documents are open access and I believe that they can be digitised for a very reasonable fee.
ETA:- Good Lord I’m slow sometimes! I just looked Docherty up on Ross’s lists and found a W Docherty, No. 658411 RAF. He is recorded as prisoner number 270024 at Stalag 4B (Muhlberg (Elbe)), although he (or Seery) may have subsequently moved to end up at the same place. Being RAF he is more difficult to look up on line, but this may help others – if, indeed, he is your man! Thanks for your patience with my stupidity!
E(again)TA:- buckets more on W/O Seery and his crew on the Oz at war 460Sqn. website (link)
Hope this is helpful,
Jeff
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March 20, 2014 at 1:20 pm