The record, WO 417 British Army Casualty Lists (The National Archives)  simply states that the person involved  was 'No longer a prisoner of war in Italian hands'.  If the date given is before the end of the war, and if there is no statement that he  was  'in a neutral country'  - Switzerland - it can be assumed that he had crossed the Italian frontier.  A few went to Yugoslavia, but the majority went to France. 

When they reached France - or in some cases the UK or even Naples (after the city's liberation in early October 1944) - they were interrogated by M.I.9 or one of the sections of  I.S.9.

For some of the names below,  the evidence of their having crossed into France comes from

               a personal diary (that of Gnr. K.A. Bailey)

               a mention in another escaper's interrogation report (that of Fus. John Wilson) 

               a website 

               a written text or letter 

Sometimes, as well as having an Escape Report, they were recommended for an award  in the WO 373 series (The National Archives).

The use of HEAVY TYPE for a surname  in the list below indicates that an Escape Report has been located for that persona.  See page Sources.

UNKNOWN CROSSING POINT OR PRECISE DATE

Registered in WO 417/78 period 13–28 /07 /44

7684483 Sgt REVELL Bob, Corps Military Police

T/165727 L/Cpl MANNING Stanley J. Royal Army Service Corps

Registered in WO 417/82 period 21/09-09/10 /44

4123072   L/Cpl HEATH Robert, Cheshire Regt.

4348002   Pte HOLTBY, John, East Yorkshire Regt.

4120563   Pte MADDEN William, Cheshire Regt.

6213100   Gnr OVIATT Harry W., Royal Artillery

T/221061   Dvr PAY John W., Royal Army Service Corps

Early October

Southern Piedmont

Registered in WO 417/84 period 28/10 /44-16/11/44

2696850   Gdsmn  McLELLAND William, Scots Guards

01/10/19 44

Route unknown. Taken to FREE FRENCH army post by partisans

Registered in WO 417/87 period 31/12/44 – 29/01/85

3908421   Pte PRICE Leslie C. T., South Wales Borderers

CROSSING POINT probably COLLE GALISIA

Between 18 February (left Cuorgne) and 22 February (left Val d'Isère for Grenoble)

Registered in 417/90 period 23/03/45-16/04/45

853690 Dvr   LANSLEY John, Royal Artillery

COLLE DELLA CROCE - VAL PELLICE

28/08/44

NX 46958 Gnr WEIRS Phillip J., Australian Imperial Force

LITTLE ST. BERNARD PASS

End September

Route: Cogne – Little St. Bernard

Registered in WO 417/83 period 10 /10-27 /10 /44

4276357   Fus WILSON John, Northumberland Fusiliers

7893331   Tpr YARDLEY Jack H., Royal Armoured Corps

4386078   Pte SPELLMAN J., Green Howards

4397531   Pte CHILTON George, Green Howards

5438438   Pte HAWKE Fred, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

13030599  Pte PERRY E.W., 2 Cameron Highlanders

3320279   Pte TURNEY Eric, 2 Cameron Highlanders

1779818   Gnr KELLY Patrick, Royal Artillery

839346    Gnr RATCLIFFE George H., Royal Artillery

4752042   Pte WATSON G.J., Green Howards

COL GIRAUD

 02/10/44

Registered in WO 417/84 period 28/10 /44-16/11/44

T/195064 Dvr LINES Albert, Royal Army Service Corps

T/164985 Dvr PURNELL William G., Royal Army Service Corps

79342        Pte WATSON Robert, Union Defence Force

5437195 Pte WARREN T.  Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

COLLE DELLA LOSA

10/ 10/ 1944

Route: Ribordone - Ronco - Col di Bardoney - Cogne - Pont - Col del Nivolet

Registered in WO 417/85 period 17 /11/ 44 - 7 /12/ 44

7907903   Tpr DUKE Edward H., Royal Armoured Corps

7887693   Cpl DREW George A., Royal Armoured Corps

4391655   Pte JACKSON John H., Green Howards

953091      L/Bdr BARNARD Leonard H., Royal Artillery

182151      Pte DINNING Joseph, Royal Army Service Corps

1546207    L/Bdr DAVIS George F., Royal Artillery

3908595    Pte HUGHES Leonard M., South Wales Borderers

4079153    Pte JACQUES Ivor, South Wales Borderers

3908770    L/Cpl RODERICK Leslie C., South Wales Borderers

4469650    Pte SNAITH John, Durham Light Infantry

4079459    Pte READ Wilfred, South Wales Borderers

6916072     L/Cpl PAINTER Ernest, Rifle Brigade

33242718  Pte STEPHENS Daniel R., Green Howards

 72445          Sgt NELL William J.,  3 Transvaal Scottish, Union Defence Force

COLLE GALISIA

26 /10 – 1/11

Route: Sala Biellese - Ponte San Martino – Cogne - Galisia - Val d'Isère

 

WX96112   Pte CLARKSON C. W., 2/28 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

WX9149      Pte FITZGERALD J., 2/28 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

WX9903      Pte NELSON J.C., 2/28 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

WX13239   Pte VIGAR R. L., 2/28 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

WX9970      Pte WAINEWRIGHT A.G.L., 2/28 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

WX19462   Pte MORLEY E.A.W., 2/48 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

QX10626   Pte HUNGERFORD F.S.G., 2/15 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

VX38618    Pte SPROULE I.H. StG., 2/32 Regt. Australian Imperial Force

QX5457      ALFORD George H., Inf., Australian Imperial Force

QX 7984     POWELL William, Inf., Australian Imperial Force

35672          Dvr BURBERY N. E., NZASC, 2 New Zealand Expeditionary Force

19556          Pte McLEAN J. W., 26 Bn. 2 New Zealand Expeditionary Force

15352          Pte BROWN Patrick G., 26 Bn. 2 New Zealand Expeditionary Force

British  soldiers are registered in WO 417/85 period 17 /11/ 44 - 7 /12/ 44

T/805851   Dvr HAMMOCK G.W., 918 Gen. Tpt. Coy, Royal Army Service Corps

878624       Bdr JOHNSON W.J., 74 Fd. Regt. Royal Artillery

T/152248   Dvr LOCKETT E.T., 200 Guards Motorised Bde.

602594       Pte MONK S. J, 2/5 Essex Regt.

14203771  Pte MORRIS Eric H. V., East Surrey Regt.

1642887    Gnr PALMER Charles W., 277 Bty HAA Regt. Royal Artillery

876547     Gnr MATTHEWS, Dennis H., Royal Artillery

Registered in WO 417/86 period 08/12/44 – 30/12/44

391195       Pte KITTO Charles R., South Wales Borderers

 

12/ 11 /1944

Route : Noasca, - Ceresole - Lago di Agnel - Colle Galisia - Val d'Isère

Registered in WO 417/87 period 31/12/44 – 29/01/85

6914033   Tpr SOUTHON Alfred, 50 Recce Corps

 

27/ 11/ 1944

Registered in WO 417/87 period 31/12/44 – 29/01/85

T/5960319  Dvr BIGGS John H., 31 Gen. Tpt. Coy, Royal Army Service Corps

T/177159     Dvr ALLEN Newby J., 10 Coy Royal Army Service Corps

 

19 /12/ 1944

Registered in WO 417/87 period 31/12/44 – 29/01/85

946558     L/Bdr OWEN Percy, 95 A/T Regt., Royal Artillery

4395924  Pte EVANS Cecil, 4 Green Howards

2332898   Sgmn PEACE Lister, Royal Corps of Signals

5118854   Pte HODGE Donald G., 5 Northamptonshire Regt.

4984286  Pte WILLIAMS Richard, 2/5 Sherwood Foresters

872912     Dvr RUSHTON George W., 25 Fd. Regt. Royal Artillery

Registered in WO 417/88 period 30/01/45-26/02/45

1020631  QMS JONES Geoffrey T., 25 Fd. Regt. Royal Artillery (name wrongly spelt on E & E Report)

COLLE DI TENDA

29/11/44-02/12/44

Route: Peirafica, Tenda, Colle di Tenda

Aus. 434086 Ft/Sgt HACKETT John A., Royal Australian Air Force