Allan Agnew was a bit of a "tearaway" in the 1930s, appearing in court on a small number of traffic offences involving unlit vehicles, a collision with a tram in Roslyn, Dunedin, failing to stop, etc.
He joined the Army not long after the beginning of the Second World War and Army life must have suited him. His promotion to the rank of Sergeant suggests that he matured under service conditions. He served with the Ordnance Corps.
He was captured at the beginning of 1942 in North Africa and sent to a PoW camp in Italy. While there, after more than a year, Italy surrendered to the Allies and many prisoners took the opportunity to escape. Orders from above, however, were to stay put and await the arrival of friendly troops. Those troops, however, did not arrive - the Germans did, and Allen Agnew was taken to Stalag 8A, near Gorlitz in Silesia, now part of Poland.
The Stalag held a mix of nationalities, including Russian and Italian prisoners, whose treatment was much harsher than that of the Western Allies. Allan would have been expected to work under German orders, as permitted by the Geneva Convention. His cause of death is obscure - his "Online Cenotaph" entry states his cause of death as "fall causing wound sorts with haemorrhage" which hardly makes sense.
Shortly after Allan's death, with the Russian Army approaching, Stalag 8A was evacuated and prisoners marched to the west. Many died in the winter conditions.
For the Empire's Cause.
AGNEW. — On February 2, 1945, 9105 Sergeant Allan Edward Manus, accidentally killed in Germany, dearly loved husband of Nona Agnew, and loved father of Vernie, 40 Pentland street; aged 28 years. "He made the supreme sacrifice."
AGNEW. — On February 2, 1945, 9105 Sergeant Allan Edward Manus ("Chum "), beloved eldest son of Edward and Iris Agnew, 161 Bay View road, and brother of Mrs E. Mowat, Zona, and the late Vern; died of injuries while prisoner of war in Germany. "He died that we may live." — Canterbury and Auckland papers please copy. -Evening Star, 15/3/1945.
IN MEMORIAM.
For the Empire's Cause.
AGNEW, Sergt Allan, E. M., 1st Echelon. — A tribute of love and remembrance to our dear son, "Chum," who died of injuries received while a prisoner of war in Germany, February 2, 1945.
"He made the supreme sacrifice. We will remember." — Mum, dad, Edna, and Zona.
AGNEW. — In loving memory of my husband, Sgt. Allan Edward Agnew (Chum), died of injuries while prisoner of war in Germany, February 2, 1945.
Remembrance. — Inserted by Nona and Vern. -Evening Star, 2/2/1946.
FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE
In Memoriam
AGNEW, Sgt. Allan E. M. — Loving thoughts of our dear son, “Chum,” who died of injuries, February 2, 1945, while p.o.w. in Germany.
Greater love hath no man. -Otago Daily Times, 2/2/1948.
Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.
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