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SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by Sharon Sprott, Oct 27, 2018.

  1. Sharon Sprott

    Sharon Sprott New Member

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    Hello, I found this forum whilst researching my papa's role in WWII. He never spoke about the war, and i feel like i can now search since he passed away this year age 93. I have found his POW record and that has him down as a Seaforth Highlander. Now i have hit a brick wall. I know he joined the army when he was only 14(1939) in Scotland and the next record i can find is his POW records. He was held in 1942 at Stalag IV-B Mühlberg, Elbe, Brandenburg POW no 131072.

    Does anyone have any information on how i can find out more about his regiment? Where they were fighting? Just any information at all about what their role was?

    Thank you. I have attached his POW record if that helps. His name is Patrick Scoular. Screenshot_20181027-184002_Chrome.jpg
     
  2. Sharon Sprott

    Sharon Sprott New Member

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    More information.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. sonofacameron

    sonofacameron Member

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    Strange that he has not got a Seaforth army number. If he joined in 1939 he would have had a number in the range of; Seaforth Highlanders 2809001 - 2865000.
    On the first record you posted the camp number F31979 was located somewhere in Northern Italy, the F denoting a field detention camp.
    6th battalion Seaforth fought in Sicily and mainland Italy, while 2nd and 5th Seaforth fought on Sicily and returned home December 1943 to be ready for the Normandy invasion in june 1944.
    He may have been captured, if 1942 is to be believed, in North Africa whilst serving with either 2nd or 5th Seaforth.
    Just noted him being listed with For'ters? on the first list that you posted, which would possibly suggest Sherwood Foresters?
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2018
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  4. Sharon Sprott

    Sharon Sprott New Member

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    So it would appear he was moved camps?
     
  5. sonofacameron

    sonofacameron Member

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    The F 31979 would probably be a makeshift temporary camp, probably a large barb wire enclosure for POW'S until they could be transported to established POW camp such as 20B.
     
  6. sonofacameron

    sonofacameron Member

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  7. sonofacameron

    sonofacameron Member

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    Just reading your initial post, he was 14 years old when he joined 1939? as a boy soldier. In which case he would probably not have been on strength of the Seaforths. His Army number is a general service corps number. which came into being end of 1941/start 1942. Even then he would only have been possibly 17 years old. Are you sure that you have the right P. Scoular
     
  8. Sharon Sprott

    Sharon Sprott New Member

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    I know that he lied about his age to join up, he told us that much. He also mentioned something about being captured/imprisoned by the Japanese but i cant find anything relating to the Japanese being there so maybe he was referencing something/someone else? I cant imagine the horrors he must have seen at 14. He was a remarkable man. X
     
  9. sonofacameron

    sonofacameron Member

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    On find my past he is listed as missing 31/5/1944 and serving with 6th Seaforth, So he was captured somewhere between Anzio and Rome.
     
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