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Ersatz tea


Life in a prisoner of war camp was harsh and conditions got worse as the war continued. It was especially harsh for the men captured in 1940 and who spent five long years as prisoners. Camps were cold and damp in winter, hot and dusty in summer and, above all, there was never enough food, even bad food.

Harry Sell

Harry Sell
Harry Sell's biography (PDF) [48KB]

Harry remembers the lay-out of his hut in a prisoner of war camp.

Harry Sell's transcript (PDF) [30KB]


Francis Waterston

Francis Waterston
Francis Waterston's biography (PDF) [51KB]

Francis remembers breakfast in a prisoner of war camp.

Francis Waterston's transcript (PDF) [41KB]


Thomas Atkinson

Thomas Atkinson
Thomas Atkinson's biography (PDF) [49KB]

Thomas remembers how bad food was in a prisoner of war camp.

Thomas Atkinson's transcript (PDF) [30KB]


Kenneth Lovell

Kenneth Lovell
Kenneth Lovell's biography (PDF) [50KB]

Kenneth remembers how bad food was in a prisoner of war camp.

Kenneth Lovell's transcript (PDF) [39KB]


Thomas Lawton

Thomas Lawton's biography (PDF) [48KB]

Thomas remembers wearing clogs instead of boots in a prisoner of war camp.

Thomas Lawton's transcript (PDF) [39KB]


Albert Scratcherd

Albert Scratcherd's biography (PDF) [50KB]

Albert remembers the punishment for stealing in a prisoner of war camp.

Albert Scratcherd's transcript (PDF) [29KB]


John Jarvis

John Jarvis's biography (PDF) [48KB]

John remembers singing and concert parties in a prisoner of war camp.

John Jarvis's transcript (PDF) [33KB]


Ian English

Ian English
Ian English's biography (PDF) [51KB]

Ian remembers life in an Italian prisoner of war camp in 1943.

Ian English's transcript (PDF) [31KB]


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