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*Tracing Your Roots > South Asian > Pulling it All Together
* Prisoners of War: Asiatic Merchant Seamen 
 
The National Archives Office holds collective alphabetical listings of Prisoners of War and Internees of Asiatic and Goans merchant seamen captured during the war, which can be found in (PRO) BT 373/3717 (page number 99-121 for Asiatic and page number 130-131 for Goans). It contains the following details:

  • Name and initials
  • Rank
  • Name of the ship
  • Discharge number
  • X mark is used on the list against a name where a POW was deceased
The National Archives record (PRO) BT373/2079-2195 contains individual pouches of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Chinese and Asian allied prisoners of war. However, the records are not complete. Each pouch typically contains the following papers/details:

  • Name of the ship lost, usually written in red ink on the POW envelope
  • A card or form containing circumstantial details (including POW camp)
  • POW number
  • Surname
  • Christian names
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Discharge, a number
  • Rank or rating
  • Name of ship
  • Ship's official number
  • Date of loss of ship
  • Next of kin
  • Relationship
  • Address and country of detention
Some of the pouches may also contain:

  • Prisoner of War Branch PC 96 (postal censorship) forms vetting messages to and from family and friends
  • Envelope RS3, which usually has notes of release from captivity/repatriation where appropriate and contains many of the details from the POW card and additionally a National Service AF Account Number
  • Personal letters to and from prisoners of war

Creators: Abi Husainy

 
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