Phil Beacall
"It must be accepted as a princ"
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Quoting: Alan Wellbelove
Hi,
I am looking for information on the death of Pvt Edward Wellbelove, East Surrey Regiment. He is recorded by CWGC as died 31 Dec 1916, buried Baghdad Cemetery.
His army records show ’presumed taken POW on fall of Kut-al-Amara, 29 Apr 1916’. Date of death given as ’between 29 Apr 1916 & 31 Dec 1916’. This info appears to be from a court of enquiry from 1918, and there is a witness to his death, a former POW from the 2nd Norfolks. I read somewhere that many POWs lost their lives on the long march to the camp. It looks like from the records that Edward at least made it to the camp. If so, it would be interesting to know where Yarbaschi is in modern Turkey, or the middle East. I have looked for it but cannot find it anywhere - maybe it has been renamed since?
Regards,
Alan Wellbelove
Hello Alan,
"There were POWs from a variety of nations such as the Russians, English, Indians, Ghurkas, Australians, New Zealanders and others in Turkey.
When compared to the camps such as “the Stalag” in Germany or “Maadi Camp” in Egypt for the Turkish POWS one cannot call the Turkish “garrisons” as a “Camp” as such.
The prisoners were not encamped in places surrounded by barbed wire. They suffered from the abundant lice and bugs, like the rest of the country did.
They, once given parole, were allowed to mingle with the population, stay in private houses, and buy their own food etc. so long as they didn’t attempt to escape. Escape, some did and those were officers!"
Are you certain Edward was taken to Turkey?
Kut-al-Amara is in modern day Iraq, the city was under seige by Turkey and the garrison surrendered.
If Edward is buried in the CWGC Cemetery Baghdad then it is possible he was interned in Iraq.
Kut-al-Amara is approx 60 Miles from Baghdad.
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