SECTION 5 – SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY

So far I have only been able to identify 2 South African Officers listed as being present at PG 49 at the time of this document, despite the fact that The Table published by the Swiss Legation that inspected the Camp on 14th May 1943 indicates that there were 3 Officers at Fontanellato and 45 Men.

No.	Name	Initials	Officer	Pers. No.	Regt. or Corps.
1	Berman	M. (Marcus) Kane-	Capt.	176048	African Medical Corps (Dentist)
2	Whyte	D.R.D.	Lt.	123974	Union Defence Forces
3

The 2 named above are confirmed by the Nominal Role published in Appendix 8 of the book edited by Ian English entitled “Home by Christmas?” (see below)

But, thanks initially to having read the remarkable story submitted to Keith Killby and the Monte San Martino Trust by the family of Paul Randles, I have started to unearth some of the “Other Ranks” who were brought into PG 49 to “look after” the Officers. Hopefully I can now start to identify all the ‘Batmen’ and ‘Orderlies’ who helped make Fontanellato one of the most comfortable Prison of War Camps in World War 2.

Appendix 8 of the book edited by Ian English entitled “Home by Christmas?” provides the Nominal Roll for members of the South African Army who were present in PG 49 at Fontanellato at the time of the Italian Armistice in September 1943.

No.	Name	Initials	Other Rank	Pers. No.	Regt. or Corps.
1	Botha	C.J.	Pte.	21753
2	Butler	A.C.	Gnr.	105606
3	Chennells	G.J. (“Jinks”)	Pte.	5386	Umvoti Mounted Rifles
4	Cumming	E.D.K.	Pte.	12253
5	Eloff	T.S.	Pte.	198030
6	Field	F.W.	Pte.	11269
7	Godfrey	M.E.T.	Sig.	110450
8	Grant	R.H.	Sig.
9	Hattingh	C.J. (Christian Johannes)	Pte.	SAP/197003
10	Jacobs	B.	Pte.	87808
11	Jenkeson	A.G.	Pte.	45431
12	Johnson	C.K.	Pte.	142777
13	Lee	W.A.	Pte.	185617
14	Lind	D.G.	Pte.	75070
15	Louw	W.C.	L/Cpl.	12294
16	Lowe	H.A. (Harry Anthony)	Gnr.	13888	S.A. Med. Corps.
17	Muller	J.J.	Pte.	SAP/198347
18	Myburgh	W.J.	Sig.	145827
19	Odendaal	G.H.	Pte.	SAP/197033
20	Potgieter	J.T.	Spr.	141387
21	Prins	F.E.	Gnr.	144061
22	Randles	P.J.L. (Paul John Leonard)	Pte.	5268	Umvoti Mounted Rifles
23	Redmond	T.J.	Pte.	88295
24	Rigby	W.L.	Pte.	107791
25	Seppings	E.C.	L/Cpl.	88940
26	Silbert	P. (Philip)	Sig.	82634	1st S.A. Div. Signals
27	Sivertsen	A.J.	Pte.	1704
28	Smith	C.	Spr.	189570
29	Smith	H.	Pte.	SAP/196377
30	Smith	J.K.	Pte.	242363
31	Smith	W.K.	Pte.	242475
32	Sparg	K.F.	Gnr.	114784
33	Trollope	H.J.K.	Pte.	12170
34	Van Greuning	J.H.	Sig.	289528
35	Van Rensburg	H.J.J.	Pte.	79589
36	Viljoen	H.J.	Pte.	79100
37	Viljoen	J.L.	Pte.	241749

Pages of Other Ranks in the South African Army who appear in PG 49.