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Letters
Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial G'day, I am on the committee of the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Wall project in Ballarat, and am currently researching names of Australian merchant sailors who became internees or POWs during WW1. After a read through your excellent website it is obvious that many merchant mariners were captured by the German armed raiders. Can you assist by helping me identify sources for names of these men, please? Ted Lynes
I am pleased to help in any way I can, but it is a very tough road to have to hoe. Firstly I would contact Billy McGee in UK, at w.mcgee@ntlworld.com and tell him I have suggested you contact him and explain your mission and problem. He is the best source I have found about the Merchant Navy and his site is great, but, it is more to do with WW2. Next have a look at Cindy's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, the URL is: http://www.cyndislist.com/miluk.htm It has a remarkable list of sites, and I suggest you look for the Merchant Navy in WW1. Then look at the National Maritime Museum Site at Greenwich London, and their Research Guide C9. The Merchant Navy: World War One. See the URL: http://www.port.nmm.ac.uk/research/c9.html The Public Record Office at Kew In London does not keep a comprehensive list of all POW's from WW1, in my research, the only full list is held by the International Committee of the Red Cross at Geneva, they have a list of all known POW's and internees of all nationalities for WW1. Searches are only made in response to a written enquiry, and I believe they charge an hourly fee. Their address is: International Committee of the Red Cross, Archives Division, 19 Avenue de la Paix CH-1202, Geneva, Switzerland. Ted, I think I would start by enquiring at your local branch of the Red Cross in Ballarat, working up to Victoria when you have a contact, then using your top name to go to the Red Cross Australian Head Quarters in Canberra or wherever they live, and seek their help. Finally, have you explored the old WW1 Australian Newspapers? the Latrobe Library in Melbourne would have them all on file probably on Microfish, they often printed lists of casualities, and no doubt POW's. I do not believe there is any easy way to unearth your names you need for the memorial, it sheer bloody persistence, and hard slog that will win out in the end. Now, I may not have been much use to your cause, tell me how I may be of futher help. Good luck, Sincerely,
Wow!! and thanks. That gives me some hope.... and plenty of work. Ted |
