The "Klim Orpheans" of Campo 54

This page is recording my research into the "Klim Orpheans" a band that was formed by the men held in Camp P.G. 54 in Passo Corese, near Rome. My research is based on some material once owned by a friend's father who was at the camp. Whilst I hope to develop a longer narrative, for now this page just records some of my notes.

If you think you know any of these people, please get in touch with me at jamesd@fettle.org.uk.

The band

Others

These are not members of the bands, but people otherwise mentioned or connected to the material I'm studying.

George Cameron Allison (1568082)

Rank: Gunner
Unit: Royal Artillery
Date of birth: 14/1/1912
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionnaire gives 8 Foulis Street, Anniesland, Glasgow, W3 as his address.
He was captured at Tobruk 21/6/1942.
He escaped from Camp 54 but was recaptured 15/2/1944 near Valletri, about 50km south of the camp.

William Reginald Carter (943490)

Rank: Gunner
Unit: 67th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
Date of birth: 22/11/1918
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionnaire gives his address as 36 Margaret Street, Coalville. He was captured at Tobruk 21/6/1942. He escaped from Camp 54 but was recaptured 22/9/1943.

Harold Farrington (3714328)

Rank: Private
Unit: 1st Battalion Worcester Regiment / Kings Own Royal Regiment Lancaster.
Date of birth: 30/10/1916
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card

James Robert Norfolk (T/78521)

Rank: Lance Corporal
Unit: 49th Company Royal Army Service Corps
Date of birth: 20/7/1918
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionnaire gives his address as 21 Galleywood Road, Chelmsford, Essex
He was captured at Tobruk 21/6/1942
He escaped but was recaptured 20/9/1943 in Monteflavio, about 15km South East of the camp along with Fantham (T/270388) and Swaysland (T/64250)

James John George Gibson (196278)

Rank: Sergeant
Unit: 1st South African Police
Date of birth: 8/2/1904
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionnaire gives an address of 154 Vos Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria, South Africa.
He was captured at Tobruk 21/6/1942

Edward Harder Black (7911661)

Rank: Trooper
Unit: 4th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment
Date of birth: 8/5/1915
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

George Thomas Reynolds (22456)

Rank: Signaller
Unit: unknown unit, Union Defence Force
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionnaire gives an address of 227 Church Street, Kenilworth, Johannesburg, South Africa.
He was captured at El Adam 21/6/1942
He made escape attempts in Tobruk and Italy.

Douglas Osmond Hamilton Buyskes (108875)

Rank: Bombardier
Unit: unknown unit, Union Defence Force
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

Martin John Desmond (SAP/75960)

Rank: Corporal
Unit: unknown unit, Union Defence Force
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

Jack R Duthie (9554)

Rank: Private
Unit: unknown unit, Union Defence Force
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

Ronald Cecil Haxell (917222)

Rank: Lance bombardier
Unit: 67th Medium Regiment. Royal Artillery
Date of birth: 21/2/1919
Place of birth:
Role in band: Accordion
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionnaire gives an address of 52 Dales View Road, Ipswitch.
He was captured 10/1/42 to 17/1/42, and again at 21/6/1942.
He made an escape attempt on 14/4/1945 but was recaptured the same day.

William Edward Archibald Downey(8915)

Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Kaffrarian Rifles, Union Defence Force
Date of birth: 17/6/1902
Place of birth:
Role in band: Susaphone
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POw Questionaire gives his address as Quarry House, Southernwood, East London, South Africa.
His wife is Dorothy Downey.
His father is George Edward Downey
His mother was Rowles.
He was captured at El Adem 21/6/1942.
He appears to have been unwell. His POW card gives a diagnosis of Methemoglobinemia.

Keith L Gillings (112929)

Rank: Private
Unit: unknown unit, Union Defence Force
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Role in band: unknown
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

Hector Robert Ford (7895582)

Rank: Trooper
Unit: 42nd Royal Tank Regiment
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionaire gives an address of Holly House, 9 Church Road, East Molesey.
He was captured at Tobruk 22/6/1942.

Ford was later moved to Stalag XVIIA, and work camps at St Marien and Buchberg in the Steiermark. He successfully escaped from the work party at the end of the with Milgate and was sheltered from the advancing soviet army by a family in a water mill in the village of Sankt Ilgen in Austria.

Ford appears to be the owner of some of the material that I'm studying. The oral history is that he won it in a raffle and then at some stage it was passed to Styles. Since Styles also had a bible from Milgate, it seems reasonable to assume that both were given to him at Stalag XVIIA.

Brian William Milgate

Rank: Lance Corporal
Unit: 42nd Royal Tank Regiment
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

His POW Questionnaire gives an address of "Maybank", Sheldwich, Faversham, Kent.
He was captured at Tobruk 22/6/1942.
He details a failed attempt by himself, Styles, and others, to tunnel out of Camp 54 in May 1943.
Milgate escaped alongside Ford. He gave a bible to Styles.

Ronald Butcher (90467)

Rank: Sergeant
Unit: unknown unit, Union Defence Force
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

Frank "Jock" Leslie Ruxton (2937020)

Rank: Sapper
Unit: Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
Date of birth: 5/2/1916
Place of birth:
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

Ruxton appears to have been born in South Wales and had connections with family in Corby, Northamptonshire. He later moved to Tywyn in North Wales where he died 20/3/2009.

Thomas Pilkington (3713987)

Rank: Corporal
Unit: Worcester Regiment
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA

Farrington was from Copull in Lancashire and escaped from Camp 54 with Pilkington. His escape was successful.

Charles Joseph Styles (7924941)

Rank: Trooper
Unit: 42nd Royal Tank Regiment
Date of birth: 29/06/1916
Place of birth:
TRACER | POW Questionnaire | POW Card | NARA