Military Chat

Hi,

I'm trying to find info for someone about her great-grandfather.

Italian POW's were held on the Isle of Wight I've been told that some were billeted at Holmdale House, Havenstreet, Ryde Isle of Wight. I've also been told the POW's were seen marching through the streets of Ryde to go to do agricultural work. I have Googled but cant find any information.

The POW's held on the Isle of Man is well-documented.

Any help on the IOW Italian POW's would be appreciated.

Searching brings up

http://www.newforestheritage.org/setley-pow-camp-time-line/

1944 May
Benedetto Spano (an Italian POW captured in Algeria), arrives at Setley and is soon after moved to a hostel on the Isle of Wight.
........
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?99106-P-O-W-camps

31st March 2010, 10:44 #23
nigelrob
nigelrob is offline Rank 5 Registered User

I'm sure the road which runs along the Southern coast of the Isle of Wight was built by POW's during the 1st World War, so there must have been camps there.
..............

http://www.isleofwightforum.co.uk/thread851.html
Some years ago we visited the IOW on a bus trip and i remember the
driver telling us of a fence that was erected by Italian Prisoners of
war.What made the fence so special was that on each fencepost they
placed a little white helmet which the driver admitted were been prized
off for mementoes.Can you please identify this road for me as its been
driving me mad.I know it was near to the Military road but i cannot
find any mention of it on the web.Thanks in advance.

A reply says
Have you tried the Isle of Wight History Centre?

http://freespace.virgin.net/roger.hewitt/iwias/home.htm

They've done a study on coastal defences like pillboxes.

Fort Warden in 1941 was used as a Italian prisoner of war camp.

(the link has been replaced with http://www.iwhistory.org.uk/ )