The Wartime Memories Project - South African Forces - The Transvaal Scottish Regiment

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Information. The Transvaal Scottish Regiment was formed in 1902 after the end of the Second Anglo-Boer War, from Scottish units that had fought in the war and chose to demobilise and remain in the colony. My father, Jimmy Whelan went "up North" in June 1941 with the Transvaal Scottish 2nd Battalion, he was captured just before the fall of Tobruk in north Africa in 1942. He spent 6 months as a POW in the north African desert before being shipped to a POW camp near Padua in Italy. He escaped when the Italians capitulated and then spent 18 months "on-the-run" being shelterd by a large Italian family with 9 daughters. He was recaptured by the Germans in late 1944 and after interrogation by the local Gestapo was shipped off to Moosberg where he spent the last 4 months of the war. The camp was liberated by the Americans but he chose not to hang around for repatriation so he escaped from the Americans in April 1945 and started to walk back to Italy. He was captured again by the Amercians near Innsbruck in Austria early May 1945 and was flown to the UK from where he was shipped back to South Africa. He died in 1998 in South Africa and I had the good fortune to document some of his war-time experieneces. I still have the map he used when walking and hitching lifts from Moosberg to Innsbruck. Not a bad record - captured by the Germans; escaped from the Italians; captured by the Germans; liberated by the Americans; escaped from the Americans; captured by the Americans; liberated by the Americans; went home with the South Africans! Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served. Rob Ray. 2nd btn. Read his story Jimmy Whelan. 2nd Btn.Read his Story If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share Add Your Story Links Allied Forces Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII-MMIXI - All Rights Reserved