II./Stuka Geschwader 77 EKM from Murchison POW Camp (Camp 13)
Article about: Hi, Just thought I would show a Luftwaffe EKM that was found by a friend who was fossicking around the site of the old Murchison (Victoria) POW Camp (Camp 13) in 2009 and discovered this ID
II./Stuka Geschwader 77 EKM from Murchison POW Camp (Camp 13)
Hi,
Just thought I would show a Luftwaffe EKM that was found by a friend who was fossicking around the site of the old Murchison
(Victoria) POW Camp (Camp 13) in 2009 and discovered this ID Disc that he found using a metal detector around the old site
of the camp. My friend was kind enough to pass this relic on to me.
According to the MOB Nummer, '69058' this would have belonged to a member of 2./StG 77 (Stukas) and the original bearer of
the disc was probably taken as a prisoner during the period of the Battle of Britain, as those POW's that were sent out here to
Australia were mainly from the early war period, or from north Africa, apart from those KM members from the sinking of the HSK
Kormoran later on. (and I think some KM survivors from a U-Boat later in the war too). His personal number on the disc is '30'.
Anyway, this would more than likely be a Battle of Britain survivor, as StG 77 didn't serve in north Africa, and he would have been
an NCO, as the officer POW's were sent to the Dhuringile POW camp also close to Murchison.
I have tried to garner more information regarding the original owner via the WaSt., in Germany, but sadly they don't give out personal
details to anyone other than immediate family, but they did pass on that this airman was born in 1918, and was still alive in 1970 when
he applied for a pension in Germany.
Anyway, here are some photos of the EKM, as well as some information on 2./StG 77, an interesting relic found far away from the
European battle fields ...
During the interrogation of PW by the RAF after capture details of their aircraft, mission and Ekm details were logged. These are recorded at the National Archives and so it would be possible to name the owner, although it means reading the records of every Stuka PW captured during 1940-41!
Nice find far from home.
Nice to see this one again in the latest issue of After the Battle, Bob!
Karel Magry e-mailed me and said that it would be mentioned in one of the up-coming magazines mate.... the current issue
is still a couple of months from arriving in Australia due to the delay from the UK to Oz... hopefully it generates some interest
and someone may be able to add a name to it....
II./Stuka Geschwader 77 EKM from Murchison POW Camp (Camp 13)
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by BlackCat1982
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