THE GREAT GALLERY

ROOM 18

John Parker, son of Eric, has been trying to locate anyone who may have known his father during WW2.

"I believe this picture was taken in Iraq late 1941/early 1942. He was definitely with the PIA Force in Jan 1942, this info is contained in a letter written by him at that time.

I think he returned to the UK by March of the same year to marry Muriel Annie Baines, possibly in Rutland, although I have not yet confirmed this.
I do know that he was a Prisoner of War in Italy during the latter half of 1943. He escaped (possibly when Italy capitulated) in November 1943, with a friend, and was cared for by an Italian family:-
Iattici Alberto, Via Bellessere, 27, 42035 Castelnovo ne' Monti Regio Emilia, Italy.
Whilst attempting to return to Allied lines he was recaptured.
On 8th December 1943, with many hundreds of other P O W's, he was incarcerated in cattle trucks at Aquila railway station when an Allied air raid took place. Most of the P O W's were killed, including my father.

He was buried at Ancona Military Cemetery. Very many P O W's simply disappeared in the fires. A description of the horrors of the air raid on Aquila can be found in a book "Sulmona & After" by S. F. W. Skinner, also Royal Corps of Signals

Any information would be gratefully received by John who can be emailed at: