Prisoner of war postcard

[Guest mazzie63]

I now have a copy of the post card and it states as follows

according to a frankfurt list number 1218 recieved 16th aug 1918 we are glad to inform you that gunner ernest sampson 118553 henswell (hemswell)?? regiment m.g.a is reported prisoner of war, camp not stated, for all further information please apply to the central prisoner of war committee 3 and 4 thurloe place s.w.7, enclosing this card and adding battalion and regimental number.

Then in very faded writing...

regimental number 118553

12 Light??? Battalion or Battery???

Could some kindly let me know what info I can gain from this postcard please and where to gain this info

Many thanks

Maz

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Looks like 118553 Gnr E S Hemswell Royal Garrison Artillery was confirmed as a POW (118553 RFA was Gnr Wilfred Cooke), on a list from Germany sent to the War Office via the Red Cross in Switzerland. The POW Committee was based in South Kensington.

[Guest mazzie63]

Hi Ian

Thanks for your reply.

What does your statement (118553 RFA was Gnr Wilfred Cooke) mean, did some-one else also have this number?

What would the m.g.a mean on the postcard as it is definately m.g.a and not r.g.a?

And also what would Hemswell mean? Ernest Sampson was from Hayle/St IVES Cornwall, so do not understand the Hemswell bit!

Hoping you can help as we are finding this all rather confusing...we are trying to trace Ernest Sampson's army carreer.

Many Thanks

Maz x