Monthly Archives: October 2015

Gunner J. Boyd’s Spoon

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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 has a number on it, 845371 RA.

“I have found the name J Boyd Gnr [in “The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers A–B“], but nothing else.

“All I can find out is that he was in camp 59 in Italy. I was wondering if you could point me in the direction to find any other details. I am really interested in these guys.”

I wrote back to explain I don’t have additional information on J. Boyd.

My late friend Brian Sims provided me with a number of P.G. 59 POWs’ repatriation reports, but unfortunately J. Boyd’s is not among them.

The inside and back of the spoon’s bowl show considerable wear and deformity, as if it had been used as a tool of sorts.

Did this spoon accompany British Gunner J. Boyd in combat, capture, and camp internment, finally to return home to England?

If you have further background about J. Boyd, I would very much like to hear from you. Please email hill@iu.edu.

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J. Boyd’s service number and “RA” for Royal Artillery stamped onto the front of the spoon

A Letter of Tribute to Andrea Scattini

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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 Italian—immediately below—is the text of the letter translated into English by Luigi Donfrancesco, Andrea’s nephew.

21 marzo 1946. Nel dopoguerra il Tenente Uguccione Ranieri (di Sorbello) Bourbon Del Monte, al quale nel frattempo è stata conferita la Medaglia d’Argento, dal suo domicilio di Roma in Via Due Macelli 31, indirizza alla Commissione per il Riconoscimento della Qualifica di Partigiano di Ancona una relazione nella quale descrive l’opera del suo collaboratore Andrea Scattini durante la guerra di liberazione:

“E’ mio dovere segnalare a codesta Commissione l’opera di un mio collaboratore, Andrea SCATTINI, morto l’8 marzo 1944 nella guerra di liberazione.

L’8 settembre 1943, fuggito dai Tedeschi a Cento (Ferrara) dove prestavo servizio, riuscii a raggiungere Termoli, allora appena liberata, dove – previo assenso del nostro Comando di Stato Maggiore – presi servizio in un Comando inglese i cui compiti, di natura riservata, si svolgevano dietro le linee in territorio nemico.

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The Alphabetical List—British Soldiers C–F

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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, British Army.

The Alphabetical List contains the names of thousands of British prisoners of war interned in Italian camps, apparently compiled in 1942 or the spring of 1943.

Below is a list of soldiers C–F who were documented as P.G. 59 internees.

A key to acronyms and abbreviations follows the list.

Page 26
Cade, J. W. – Gnr. – 1433324 – R.A. – R.O. No. 6
Cahill, P. – Tpr. – 3597294 – R.A.C. – R.O. No. 3
Cairns, G. F. – Tpr. 7887665 – R.A.C. – R.O. No. 3
Calder, R. – Drv. – T/17143 – R.A.S.C. – R.O. No. 29
Caldwell, G. – Gnr. – 1438906 – R.A. – R.O. No. 6
Cameron. N. W. – Cpl. – T/128221 – R.A.S.C. – R.O. No. 29
Cammack, H. M. – Gnr. – 1504725 – R.A. – R.O. No. 5

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