This index was compiled by our volunteer Sandy Weir from Registers of Prisoners and Letter Books compiled by the Aberdeen and District Prisoner of War Bureau during World War 1 (1914-1919).
The Bureau was formed during the First World War to provide support for the families of soldiers from the North East of Scotland that had been taken prisoner during the conflict. Initially it only covered the Gordon Highlanders, but later individuals from other Regiments and other services were covered, including the Merchant Navy. The coverage of the Bureau therefore extended from Aberdeen City to the counties of Aberdeenshire, Banffshire and Kincardineshire.
Working via mutual acquaintances and a well developed postal system across Western Europe the Bureau was able to build up a register of prisoners that included their next of kin and where possible, their state of health. The Bureau acted as a point of contact for the next of kin providing news of the prisoners, or providing advice on what to send their soldier or how. It also co-ordinated benefactors to send parcels of supplies and letters of comfort to prisoners of war.
The list provided here has been compiled from volumes:
- ADPWB/1 Men's Ledger 1915 - 1919
- ADPWB/2 Men's Ledger 1915 - 1919
- ADPWB/4 List of Names of Prisoners of War serving with the Gordon Highlanders 1915 - 1919
- ADPWB/5 Copy Out-Letter Book 1915 - 1916
- ADPWB/6 Copy Out-Letter Book 1916, and
- ADPWB/7 Copy Out-Letter Book 1916 - 1917.
It is in alphabetical order, giving information where known. This includes names, serial numbers, Regiment / Ship / or organisation of origin, volume and page number where the reference occurs, and the date of reference. Please note that there are other volumes in this series which have not been indexed, but are available to view along with the indexed volumes at our Old Aberdeen House Office.