POW Companies

[IGC]

Hi, I've scrolled through various entries on this section of the forum and looked at entries related to 'POW Company', 'Prisoner Of War Companies' etc etc...so I hope that my question has not been asked before and I've missed it...and that perhaps someone can help me please.

 

I'm doing some research regarding a reference I've found on a CWGC entry which reads:-

 

'attd. 30th Prisoner of War Coy. 5 January 1918.'

 

I've googled all combinations - but cant seem to find much about what I'm assuming is 30th POW Company. and that 'attd' means attached to.

 

Does anyone have any insight into this 'unit' (?) and where is was in January 1918....any help would be appreciated. Thanks Phil

[charlie962]

IGC

PoW companies were part of the Labour Corps. There is a note on LLT that 47 companies existed. As I understand it to harness working parties of skilled prisoners of war. I suggest google 'Labour Corps POW Company 1918' for example

Charlie962

 

edit this site refers to a book by John Starling with a chapter on PW companies

[IGC]

That was a good tip - thank you - LLT for example states ' Until mid 1916, German prisoners were sent to England. From this time onward, prisoners were initially sent to Abbeville. Men with useful skills, notably forestry and engineering, were drafted into companies of about 100 men each, for use in POW Forestry Companies and ASC and RE workshops, respectively. 47 such POW labour companies were attached to the Labour Corps when it was formed.'

 

I'm working on the assumption that the 30th was one of the 47....thanks again.