FINCH, John
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Rank:
Lance Corporal
Unit / Base:
7 Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Engineers
Service:
Army
Number:
1877787
P.O.W. number:
140109
Born:
Thursday, June 15, 1916
Birthplace:
Aberdeen
Lance Corporal John Finch was reported missing 20 April 1941, later confirmed prisoner of war, during operations at Cyrenaica (Bardia raid).
Extract from the Aberdeen Evening Express
14 May 1941.
"Sapper John Finch, son of Mrs Finch 22 Gilcomston Terrace, Aberdeen, who was formerly reported as missing is now stated to be a prisoner of war.
Sapper Finch, who is 25 years of age, joined the Royal Engineers three days after the outbreak of war. He saw service in Belgium and France and escaped from Dunkirk, but was later captured at sea.
He is a stonemason to trade having served his apprenticeship with Archibald A. Brown, Advocates Road. Before joining up however he was a conductor and driver with the Aberdeen Corporation Tramways.
Sapper Finch, a keen swimmer, was a popular member of Bon-Accord Swimming Club".
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/24, WO417/27, WO417/33, and WO417/91.
Prisoners of War / National Archives files WO392/1 (Stalag 11B).
German Record Cards of British PoW's / National Archives file WO416/120/200 (Stalag 11A).
[Image] Reports in the Aberdeen Evening Express 14 May 1941 and 26 November 1943.
Notes
Rank of Lance Corporal confirmed in Casualty Lists. They record his unit as No. 3 Special Service Bn. This Unit was formed by merging Nos. 4 and 7 Commandos. It was short lived and by Feb 1941 the units had been redesignated back to individual Commando units. However in the interim period on the 31st January 1941, all of No 7 Commando, with some men from No 4 Commando, had embarked for the Middle East as part of Layforce.
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