BARDENS, John Henry

Rank: 
Gunner
Unit / Base: 
1 Commando
Prior Police Service: 
Plymouth City Police
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Artillery
Service: 
Army
Number: 
14241811
P.O.W. number: 
32692
Born: 
Monday, January 8, 1917

John Henry Bardens was a Police Officer from Plymouth who volunteered for the Commandos enlisting 6 June 1942 joining the 2nd Police Intake to the Commando Depot (Commando Basic Training Centre), Achnacarry. Gunner Bardens was reported missing 2 March 1943 during operations in Tunisia, North Africa, later found to be a prisoner of war. Although not wounded he developed rheumatic fever and malaria after being forced to stand in water after captivity.*

Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/60.
Prisoners of War / National Archives files WO392/1 (Stalag 9B), WO392/21 (Hospital Camp H206).
* Dir. of Mil. Int.: Liberated Prisoner of War Interrogation Questionnaire 1945/6 / National Archives file WO344/16/2.
Report of an arrest in the Western Morning News 27 June 1941.
Letters to the Editor section in the Western Morning News 08 July 1946.
 

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