Pte (later LCpl) John Hamilton, No.11 Commando. PoW 22/11/1941 Libya

[Photo courtesy of his son Ian Hamilton].

Rank: Private (later Lance Corporal)
Unit / Base: 11 Commando and 'C' Bn., Layforce.
Regiment/Corps: Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Service: Army
Service Number: 2937948
Italian P.O.W. camps: Camp PG85, Tuturano, Italy; Camp PG59, Servigliano, Italy; Camp PG146/22, Vairano, Italy

From Glasgow. Trade on enlistment: Commercial Traveller. Deployed with No.11 Commando for the Middle East as 'C' Battalion of Layforce. Active service included Egypt, Cyprus, Litani River in Syria, and Libya. Reported missing 24 November 1941 after a raid in Lbya (Operation Flipper) later confirmed prisoner of war in Italy. Escaped September 1943 after the Italian Armistice and made his way to Switzerland before repatriation to the UK in 1944.
Extract from Prisoner of War Report
On the 22nd of November 1941 we made a commando raid on the German H.Q. at Luigi, Razza. The raid was successful but when returning to beaches we were unable to be taken off by submarines. We headed for the desert to make contact with the L.R.D.G., but were captured by strong Italian and German detachments.
On the 8th September the gates were opened by the Camp Commandant and we escaped. I was hiding in the fields during the day and night time, civilians in the neighbourhood supplied me with all my needs. I stayed in the district of Pavia up to the 7th March when I decided to make my way to Switzerland.
On the 7th March I started my journey from Pavia on foot. Walked to Villa Ada at the foot of the mountains. I started crossing the mountains, eventually made contact with some Italian Contrabandists who showed me the route. I crossed the border near Chiasso. The time taken was about 3 weeks. No organization helped me to Switzerland.
Timeline extracts
27.05.1940 enlisted Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
20.10.1940 posted No.11 Commando.
10.11.1940 posted 2 Special Service Battalion (commando unit restructuring).
04.03.1941 posted No.11 Commando, later forming 'C' Bn., Layforce.
11.03.1941 'C' Bn., Layforce disembarked Egypt.
30.04.1941 - 04.06.1941 'C' Bn., Layforce, Cyprus.
09.06.1941 'C' Bn., Layforce, disembarked Syria (Battle of Litani River).
22.11.1941 captured after a raid on the German HQ at Luigi Razza, Libya.
22.11.1941 held at Benghazi, Libya.
17.12.1941 held at Camp 85, Italy.
01.01.1942 held at Camp 59, Italy.
16.05.1943 held at Camp 146/22 Italy.
08.09.1943 escaped from Camp 146/22 at Variano, Italy, after Italian Armistice.
01.04.1944 arrived Switzerland and interned.
03.10.1944 repatriated to UK and granted leave.
04.12.1944 posted 11 Infantry Training Centre (ITC) and appointed Lance Corporal.
10.07.1945 posted 61 Primary Training Wing (PTW).
26.04.1946 released Class 'A' to Reserve List.

John Hamilton
b. 02.09.1914 Glasgow.
d. 27.09.1974 Perth.