U-boat Archive - U-841 - District Intelligence Officer Report on POWs

DIO/B-5/RDS/awn

Serial 10271600

CONFIDENTIAL 27 October 1942

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.

SUBJECT:	Prisoners of war (German Navy) - Landed at Boston from HMCS GORGETOWN, 26 October 1943.

Reference:	(a) ComOne Conf. Ltr. DIO/B/RWH/mmg 250815 Q Nov.43,
	SUBJECT: Prisoners of War - Handling of in the First Naval District,
	dated 8 January 1943.

1. Reference (a) forwarded as Enclosure (A) instructions for handling prisoners of war in the First Naval District.

2. Information regarding the expected arrival on 26 October 1943, of 26 prisoners of war was received by various despatches, the the following officers were made cognizant in accordance with requirements of Reference (a): The Commanding Officer, Receiving Ship, Fargo Barracks,; Port Director, N. T. S.; District Medical Officer; Captain of the Yard, Boston; Provost Marshal, FSC, Troop Movement Officer, BPE; Port Surgeon, BPE; Officer-in-Charge Delousing Unit, BPE.

3. Various conferences were held and details were planned by representatives of the officers listed in paragraph 2 and the representatives of Op-16-Z and DIO, 1ND. Arrangements were made with the approval of the cognizant authorities as follows:

	(a)	The vessel would be berthed at Berth 2, Army Base, for debarkation of SUBJECT prisoners.

	(b)	A party consisting of representatives of DIO-1ND, Op-16-Z, and DMedO (if he desired) would immediately board.

	(c)	Contact would be made with the officer having custody of the prisoners. The prisoners, their effects, equipment, and papers would be received and receipted for.

	(d)	The PW would then be delivered to the Provost Marshal. FSC, against his receipt. He would be charged with guarding, maintaining and transporting the PW from that time forward to delivery at destination. Segregation by groups of officers, petty officers, and enlisted men would be maintained throughout all processing, feeding, and transportation.

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27 October 1943

Ref:	Prisoners of war (German Navy) - Landed at Boston from HMCS GORGETOWN, 26 October 1943.

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	(e)	They would then be landed, deloused, fingerprinted, photographed, transported to Provost Marshal headquarters for supper, transported to the entraining point, and entrained for transportation under guard to southern destination. Prisoners' papers would remain in the custody of the representative of Op-16-Z. Other PW effects would be deloused and turned over to the Provost Marshal for return to the owners. Their equipment would be turned over to the representative of Op-16-Z.

	(f)	Despatch information had been to the effect that there were two cot (stretcher) cases aboard the vessel. It was planned that these PW would be turned over to the Provost Marshal, who in accordance with Army directives would transport them to Lovell General Hospital, Fort Devens, Mass. for further transportation to destination when their condition permitted them to travel.

4. HMCS GEORGETOWN arrived at Berth 2 at the Army Base 1t 1525 Q, 26 Oct. 1943, and arrangements were carried out as planned except as set forth in paragraph 5. The following party boarded: Lieut. Comdr. R. D. SEARS, USNR, Lieut. R. PRESTON, USNR, Lieut. F. W. YOUNG, USNR, representing DIO, 1ND; Lieut.(jg) G. E. DIX, representing Op-16-Z; Captain J. K. GORDON, MC, USN, Comdr. F. J. BAILEY, MC-O, USNR, Lieut. Comdr. J. E. MAY, MC-V(S), USNR, representing DMedO. Contact was made with the officer having custody of the PW, Lieut. Comdr. W. S. SAMUEL, RNVR. Internment numbers were assigned to prisoners, who were listed and receipted for.

5. The plan outlined in paragraph 3 above was varied with respect to section (f). It was learned on boarding that there was only one stretcher case instead of the two named in the despatch. Lieut, Comdr. SAMUEL strongly advised that the prisoner concerned, Albin SMARZ, IG-297-NA, be retained in Naval custody at such hospital as might be most accessible to DNI interrogators. Lieut. DIX (Op-16-Z) was in thorough agreement and Captain CLARK (for DMedO) made arrangements whereby this prisoner could be transported to Chelsea Naval Hospital and maintained there under marine guard until his condition permitted travel, at which time he would be turned over to the Provost Marshal, FSC, for transportation to destination. This prisoner's effects were deloused and delivered to Chelsea Naval Hospital against receipt. This plan was agreeable to the Provost Marshal, inasmuch as this prisoner was not delivered into his hands.

Lieut. Comdr. W. S. SAMUEL, RNVR, reported that two other PW had been landed at St. Johns, Newfoundland, for hospitalization. He stated that one was not expected to survive.

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27 October 1943

Ref:	Prisoners of war (German Navy) - Landed at Boston from HMCS GORGETOWN, 26 October 1943.

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6. The remaining 24 prisoners, consisting of the First Watch Officer, 5 petty officers, and 18 enlisted men, after being delivered into the Provost Marshal's custody, were landed, deloused, fingerprinted, photographed, transported, fed, and entrained in accordance with plan.

7. It was arranged that 8 sets of prints of photographs taken of the SUBJECT prisoners would be forwarded to ONI (Op-16-Z) and that the latter would in turn forward to DIO, 1ND, for file, a set of copies of Basic Personnel Records (WD-PMG-Form 2) all of which had been duly filled out aboard the vessel and turned over to Lieut, DIX.

8. Enclosure (1) is a photostat of the list of SUBJECT prisoners giving internment numbers as assigned by DIO, 1ND, name, rate, German Navy Serial Number, and pertinent remarks. This list was receipted for by the Provost Marshal to indicate that the prisoners listed (excepting for the stretcher case) were delivered into his custody by DIO, 1ND. This form of receipt was requested by the Provost Marshal.

R. D. Sears, Jr.

Lieut. Comdr., USNR

Encl. (1) HW List of SUBJECT prisoners

(Photostats).

(2) HW Photographs of SUBJECT

prisoners (less "stretcher case").

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