Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

Military Intelligence Section 9 (MI9), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1944

ESCAPE FROM CAMP 78 (SULMONA), ITALY

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AWARDS

(1) The entire camp was organised for escape with great thoroughness by the Senior British Officer, Major Cochran. The alarm system, etc, worked perfectly and P/W were marched out in orderly manner into the nearby hills and soon as news of German approach was received.

(2) I recommend the following other rank serving with the Palestinian forces for the award shown, brief particulars being given in the enclosure states opposite his name:-

Recommend for D.C.M.
12872 Pte. POLLAK, Joseph,
R.A.M.C., formerly 604 A.M.P.C. (Pal)

"Captured in GREECE on 29th April, 1941, Private POLLAK escaped from CORINA P/W Camp about six weeks later. After spending two months in CORINTH he moved to ATHENS, where he was arrested by Germans on 14th September, 1941. For eight days he was imprisoned at (...), but with the help of two doctors he was transferred to the Public Hospital, from where he escaped. He returned to friends he had previously made at KALAMAKI, and remained with them until, in December 1941, he took a party of 28 escapers to the island of ANTIPAROS. However all were captured on 14th January, 1942 and taken to SYROS. Transferred via RHODOS to ITALY, he was ultimately imprisoned in Camp 78 (SULMONA).

Released on 12th September, 1943, owing to his knowledge of languages, including Italian and German, Private POLLAK was employed by British officers in helping other P/W in the district. During October he was sent with a message to Allied authorities but, failing to get through owing to German activity, returned to SULMONA and continued his former work there. Early in December he accompanied the heads of SULMONA organization to ROME, where he was again employed as a runner.

On 5th January, 1944 Private POLLAK was arrested by Germans and taken via BUSSI to CIVITAQUANA. After many interrogations his captors recognised him as a P/W and sent him to AQUILA. On 3rd March, 1944 he was entrained for GERMANY and, although his boots had been removed, he jumped from the moving train near AREZZO. Six days later he reached ROME where he recommended his duties with the organization. On 4th June, 1944, when the Allies entered ROME, he directed armed guards to vital points to prevent sabotage."

Citation dated
July, 1944

D.D.M.I. (P.W.)

Reference loose minute 68/Gen/7276 /32 dated 3 November, 1944 informing you that the award of this D.C.M. has been approved by the KING and would be gazetted on 9th November, 1944.
Verification of Pte. Pollak's particulars was sought from Officer i/o R.A.M.C. Records who stated that no records was held of him. As the number 12872 is one allotted to R.A.S.C. personnel Pte Pollak was described as such in the London Gazette dated 9th November, 1944. The verification form sent to R.A.S.C. Records at 3A and not returned until after the Gazette was published shows that Pollak does not belong to the R.A.S.C and that the number 12872 is allocated to H. Murray.
Will you kindly check this soldiers particulars in order that the necessary amendment may be published in the Gazette.