POW Camps in UK - 1 to 100
 

Back to POW Mail

 

   101 to 250        

 

251 to 500

 

501 to 1045

Camp numbers -

Some camps have more than 1 number. James Mackay provided the following information about these cases: 'it means there were two camps at almost the same location. Camp 20 and Camp 300 at Wilton Park were still in use in 1958-9 when I trained there. I was accommodated in Camp 20 with other probationary second lieutenants while the trainee sergeant-instructors and the Brigade Squad were housed in Camp 300. The two camps were only a quarter of a mile apart and all within the grounds of Wilton Park. The permanent staff were housed in 'the White House' itself.

Camp 3 (Balhary) and Camp 63 (Balhary Estate Camp) were about a mile apart. Camp 3 was actually located on a farm called Rannaleroch. After the war it became a Displaced Persons camp under the name of Leroch and even today is one of a dozen farm work camps in the UK employing East Europeans (mainly Poles). Camp 63 was in a huge field in front of Balhary House. All that remains of the Balhary Estate Camp is a massive three-storey watch tower.

Camps 182 and 298 at Barony, Parkgate, Dumfriesshire were on either side of the Parkgate Road. Camp 182 is now the location of Barony Agricultural College while 298 is derelict and the remains of several huts are still to be seen.

Camps 12 and 15 were in the grounds of Donaldson's Hospital or School for the Deaf and I imagine a similar situation as obtained at Wilton Park because the grounds are vast.

Similarly Camps 1013 and 1014 in the Deer Park at Dalkeith would have existed side by side.

The converse is more puzzling. Camp 112 was originally Kingencleuch, but the number was later assigned to Doonfoot. As far as I can ascertain there was only ever one camp there, originally 14, so I am not sure what happened there. It is further complicated for Doonfoot also accommodated HMS Scotia, a shore naval establishment just the other side of the wire.'

Another reason for another number being assigned was due to a change in status of a camp - for example, Le Marchant Camp (23) became German PW Working Camp, number 410.

* indicates date range of philatelic covers seen.            ?? indicates that I am unable to read the address clearly and the spelling is in doubt.

I am also extremely grateful to Steve Dunderdale who has greatly assisted in developing this list by supplying additional information about Italian POW camps.

Please note - all the information that I have about the camps is listed below.

I cannot supply information about individual POW's. If you are a relative of an ex POW held during World War 2, then you would need to contact :
http://www.icrc.org/eng/contact-archives    [English]         http://www.icrc.org/fre/contact-archives        [French]            Other languages available.

           

1

Grizedale Hall, Grizedale, Cumberland - Base camp

Ex stately home + about 30 huts, opened 1940 as POW camp for officers. In 1942, 50 French officers who had surrendered at the invasion of Madagascar were temporarily settled here. At the end of the war held many high ranking officers including Generalfeldmarschall Rundstedt - nicknamed 'Hush Hush Hotel'. Now demolished. Mentioned in 'The One That Got Away' and 'Thresholds of Peace'.

Translation of International Red Cross Inspection Report, 1942

International Red Cross visit - 16 November 1943, 30 June 1944

2 Toft Hall Camp, Knutsford, Cheshire - Base camp

 

78 huts in parkland. Opened 1942, closed 1948. Very brief mention in 'Thresholds of Peace'.

International Red Cross visit - 18 August 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 1500.

2 Woodhouselee Camp, Milton Bridge, Midlothian      (780?)
2 Glen Mills, Wellyhole Street, Oldham, Lancashire - Base camp [cf168 and 176]

An old cotton mill + huts. For a while it was a transfer point and holding depot for German POW being sent to and returned from Canada. Also held a large number of Russian volunteers who had been captured fighting for the Germans in France. Capacity 5000 POWs. Mentioned in 'Prisoners of England' and 'Thresholds of Peace'.

3 Balhary Camp, Perthshire - [cf 63]
4 Scraptoft, Thurnby, Leicestershire - Base camp
4 Gilling Camp, Hartforth Grange, Hartforth Lane, Gilling West, North Yorkshire - [cf 288]

 

Quote from ex POW - "A lovely peaceful spot, clean hut, showers, a shop and a massive farm building containing the dining-hall as well as the rooms of the English and the German staff (Lagerleiter)." The wartime memories of Herbeit Heinemann.

4 Windlestone Hall Camp, Rusheyford, County Durham

Sub-camp for camp 93. There is a suggestion that women POWs were held here, though official accounts say there were no women POWs in UK.

5 Monrush Camp, Cookstown, County Tyrone - Base camp
5 [The Hayes] Swanwick Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire - [cf 13, 58, 179, 297]

Large country house with huts and tents for German officers. Camp opened early in the war. Mentioned in 'The One That Got Away' and 'Thresholds of Peace'.

6 Racecourse Camp, Doncaster, Yorkshire - Base camp - [cf 296a]
6 Long Marston Camp, Warwickshire - [cf 578, 580, 685]
6 Glenbranter Camp, Argyll
6a Ashton Court, Bower Ashton, Somerset
7 Winter Quarters Camp, Ascot, Berkshire - Special camp

 

About 46 huts.

7 South Brent Camp, South Brent, Devonshire
8 Mile House, Shrewsbury Road, Oswestry, Shropshire - Base camp
8 Warth Mills, Bury, Lancashire - [cf 9, 12a and 177]

Ex cotton mill

9 Warth Mills, Bury, Lancashire - [cf 8, 12a and 177]
9
Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey - Reception camp - [Cf 681]

Also used as screening / interrogation centre - tents and huts.                                         POWs arriving at Kempton >
9 Quorn Camp, Wood Lane, Quorn, Leicestershire - Standard type  [cf 183]
10 Gosford Camp, Gosford Castle, Markethill, County Armagh - Base camp

 

Camp in the grounds of the castle

10 Cockfosters Camp, Barnet, London

The Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre (CSDIC) was located here from early on in the war, after moving from the Tower of London. CSDIC then moved to Wilton Park (Camp 20) in July 1942.

10 Stamford Camp, (Markethill Camp), Empingham Rd, Stamford, Lincolnshire - Standard camp - [cf106]
11 Racecourse Camp, Knavesmire, York, Yorkshire
11 Island Farm Camp, Bridgend, Glamorganshire - Special camp - [cf 198]

Originally Camp 198 - redesignated as Special Camp 11 after an escape during 1944. Many officers transferred to Carburton, Camp 181.

German officers were held here from 6 January 1946, and later other ranks. The camp held some very high ranking German officers including Generalfeldmarschalls: Rundstedt, Manstein, Kleist & Brauchitsch. The camp was closed in May 1948.

International Red Cross inspection - 1 June 1943; 11 August 1944 - 19 senior officers.

Very extensive history on - http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ Mentioned in 'Thresholds of Peace'. 

*POW postcard sent by Lt General Herbert Olbrich, July 1947.

11 Gilford, Elmsfield, Craigavon, County Armagh - see note under Camp 12 Elmfield below
11a Trent Park Camp, Barnet, Middlesex

 

Large house. Used as Air Interrogation Centre. Mentioned in 'The One That Got Away'.

11a Rayner's Lane, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex - [cf 122]

"Ministry of Works temporary office buildings, erected in November 1942, were taken over to house Italian prisoners of war in October 1944.  When they finally moved out (some time after July 1945), they were replaced by German P.O.W.s (122 German Prisoner of War Working Camp).  The Germans moved to a camp on the site of the later Bannister Sports Centre, off the Uxbridge Road, on March 15th 1947". Bob Thomson, Local History Librarian.

12 Elmfield Camp, Gilford, Portadown, County Armagh

 

Message received from Glyn Davies about Camp 11 'Gilford' above, and this entry - "You have 11 and 12 as the same camp at the same address, although one uses the modern postal town Craigavon instead of the older Portadown. There were two camps in the area however.  One was at Brownstown which was then on the edge of Portadown, whereas Gilford is some five miles away.  My father was a bluecap at the former."  I am not sure which address corresponds to which entry.

12 Donaldson's Hospital, West Coates, Edinburgh, Midlothian - [cf 15]

*30 Aug 1942 and 14 March 1943 - Italian letters
12a Warth Mills, Bury, Lancashire - [cf 8, 9 and 177]
13 [The Hayes] Swanwick Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire - [cf 5, 58, 179, 297]
13 Shap Wells Hotel, Shap, Cumberland - Base camp - [cf 15]

 

Owned by the Earl of Lonsdale, the hotel was requisitioned and turned into a POW Camp in February 1941. It housed up to 250 mainly senior Luftwaffe and German naval officers on the top two floors of the hotel, these often waiting to be sent to Glasgow and then off to Canada. The camp leader was at one point a German Prince (Fürst von Urach) who was reportedly related to Queen Mary. It is recorded that the hotel linen and crockery were used for the prisoners, hence its nickname ‘U-Boat Hotel’. There were up to 80 orderlies. Towards the end of the war the POWs held here were all 'white' category prisoners.

The camp was protected with two rings of barbed wire and searchlights; guards lived in Nissen huts in the adjoining gardens. Two Luftwaffe officers made an escape attempt in November, 1941 - later officers giving their word of honour not to escape were allowed to go out and walk on the fells. Closed 1947.

Mentioned in 'Thresholds of Peace'.

Translation of IRC Report 18 March 1942 - many complaints about mail and parcels.

International Red Cross visit - 18 March 1942, 15 October 1942, 4 June 1943; 19 August 1943, 205 German officers; 6 October 1943, 205 German officers; 17 November 1943, 29 June 1944.

14 Holywood, Jackson Road, Belfast - [cf 172, 682]
14 Doonfoot (Bun) Camp, nr Ayr, Ayrshire - [cf 112]
15 Donaldson's School, West Coates, Edinburgh, Midlothian - [cf 12]
15 Shap Wells Hotel, Shap, Cumberland - Base camp - [cf 13]
16 Prees Heath, Whitchurch, Shropshire

Capacity 2000. Closed 4 October 1941 - later RAF airfield for bomber training.

16 Flaxley Green Camp, Stilecop Field, Rugeley, Staffordshire - Standard camp - [cf175]

Large camp with huts and tents.   

*1946 letter to Germany

16 Gosford Camp, Aberlady, nr Longniddry, East Lothian - Base camp

 

In the grounds of Gosford Castle    

 

*7 December 1947 letter from German POW

17 Lodge Moor Camp, Redmires Road, Sheffield, Yorkshire

 

International Red Cross inspection - 24 May 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 3000+.

Huts and tents. Mentioned in 'Thresholds of Peace' and very brief in 'Prisoners of England'.

17 22 Hyde Park Gardens, London W2
18 Featherstone Park Camp, Haltwhistle, Northumberland - Standard camp, then Base camp from November 1944.

 

Large camp - reportedly up to 7000 prisoners. Huts and tents; hostels for up to 200 at Catton, Colwell and Rayless. First built for US troops before D-Day, then used to hold Italian POWs, then German POWs - during 1945 it became a camp for over 3000 German officers and 580 orderlies. Mentioned in 'Prisoners of England' and 'Thresholds of Peace'.

International Red Cross visit - 10 May 1944, Italian prisoners, states capacity is 5000;


*5 August 1943, POW postcard from Italian to Sicily.

*28 October 1946, letter to Germany referring to leaving camp on 4 October.

19 Happenden Camp, Douglas, Lanarkshire - Base camp

*25 December 1944 POW postcard to Germany - 6 March 1946 - 21 December 1947 German letters
19 Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire
20 Bickham Camp, Yelverton, Devon

Parish of Buckland Monachorum, to the west of the main road to Tavistock before Yelverton.

20 Wilton Park, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire - Special camp - [cf 300]

Camp in grounds of 18th C. house called Wilton Park, near Beaconsfield. The house, also known as the White House, no longer exists.

From July 1942 used as the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre (CSDIC) for high ranking German POWs (formerly at Cockfosters, Camp 10). Prisoners included Marshall Messe, Field Marshalls von Rundstedt and Busch, and Rudolph Hess.

The CSDIC closed at the end of 1945 and the camp was used as centre to discuss democracy in post-war Germany with 4000 POWs between 1946-8. POWs free to travel outside perimeters. From 1947 civilians from across Europe replaced the POWs, who had all left by the summer of 1948. Mentioned in 'Prisoners of England' and 'Thresholds of Peace'.

20 Bramham No.1 Camp, Bramham, Yorkshire - Base camp
21 Cultybraggan Camp, Comrie, Perthshire - Base camp

 

Built 1941 as maximum security camp for ‘Black patched’ Nazis. Five compounds + additional officers compound. Held up to 4000 POWs. Closed as a POW camp in 1947.

 

International Red Cross visit - 13 May 1944 - German prisoners; 15 June 1944 states capacity is 4500.

POW (Wolfgang Rosterg) from Le Marchant Camp [no.23] was suspected of being a British spy and murdered - 8 Germans were tried, 5 were executed and a sixth sentenced to penal servitude for life. The camp was taken over by the army in 1949. A good deal of the site still exists. For further history see - 'For Fuhrer and Fatherland', by R De Normann.

Note - there are accounts that Rudolph Hess was held at this camp for 1 night when he crash landed in Scotland. However, the following email from Peter R McNaughton would refute that:

"You may be interested in knowing that Rudolph Hess never stayed at Camp 21 in Comrie. He did, however, stay at Buchanan Castle some 40 miles away, near Buchlyvie. The father of a friend of mine was the one who captured him. The story goes that Mr. Clark was at a soiree in the evening and heard the crash. On looking out he saw flames coming from a crashed aircraft on the hillside.


He was dressed in a tuxedo and strapped on his Sam Brown belt with revolver over it and went to investigate. He came across this figure moaning and staggering around. He drew his revolver and then took the man to the house where the soiree was being held. There the prisoner was handed over to the military police. It was only later that he realized that his revolver was not loaded! And only much later that he found out that his prisoner was, in fact, Hess.


The following day, much to his embarrassment the Duke of Hamilton, a Spitfire pilot in Edinburgh, was asked to go and identify him. Apparently Hess had met him in Berlin in or around 1936. Hess thought that by naming him and suggesting he knew him, that the Duke could identify him and would lead him to Churchill. Hess, of course, was a lunatic. He had apparently hoped to come to an arrangement of stopping the War. The following day he was sent to London where he was incarcerated in the Tower of London until he was flown to Nuremberg.


The article that everyone quotes was in either the Daily Mail or the Daily Mirror. As with many rags the reporter jazzed up the article with this comment. [That he was held at the POW camp]. Rudolph Hess was never in Comrie Camp (Camp 21) but was in Scotland for only two nights. The first when he was captured (or gave himself up) and the second at Buchanan castle in Bucklyvie near Kippen and Loch Lomond in Stirlingshire.

The first group of prisoners in Comrie camp were Italians from the Western desert campaign. They were given pinkish/mauve togs to wear. They eventually were shipped to other camps. The very first prisoner in the camp in late 1939/early 1940 was a sergeant from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He had gone AWOL from Stirling Castle as he was concerned about the health of his pregnant wife. He was marched under escort right up Dalginross in Comrie. Much to the amazement of the local people!


You may be interested in knowing that I was born in Drummond Street in Comrie in February 1944. I have just completed a rather extensive article on the life of the late Helmut Stenger who was a POW in Comrie Camp from late 1943 to late 1946.
"


*23 April 1946 letter to German POW - 18 December 1947 letter addressed to German POW returned ADDRESSEE REPATRIATED / RETURN TO SENDER
22 Pennylands Camp, Cummnock, Ayrshire - Base camp

International Red Cross report 14 November, 1945 on the submarine part of Camp 22
22 Bourton Camp, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire - [cf 157]
23 Le Marchant Camp, Devizes, Wiltshire - Base camp - [cf 410]

 

Located next to army barracks. At first used as a transit camp, became a permanent camp for up to 7500 POWs in November 1944. Closed April, 1946 - and became 410 German PW Working Camp, closing in February, 1947.

 

December 1944 plot by some POWs to escape, supposedly to commandeer vehicles and tanks from the nearby army depot then to release prisoners from other camps. The plot was detected and suspects sent to Comrie [Camp 21], where the story continues. For further history see - 'For Fuhrer and Fatherland', by R De Normann.

23 Sudbury Camp, Oaks Green, Derbyshire - [cf 1004, 1023]
23 Green Fields Camp, Ellesmere Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
23 Kingwood, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey
24 No4 General Hospital, Knutsford, Cheshire

International Red Cross visit - 19 November 1941, 11 March 1942, 26 May 1942, German and Italian prisoners.
24 Knapedale, Lochgilphead, Argyll
25 Lodge Farm Camp, nr Baydon, Newbury, Berkshire - Standard type

Camp established during 1941 to house 500 POWs. At first it held Italian POW many working on local farms. Uniforms of dark brown battledress with large red circle on back of jacket and left trouser leg. Later in war and post war, Italians replaced by German POW’s.

25 Cloister Croft Camp, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
26 Barton Field Camp, (West Fen) Ely, Cambridgeshire  (130?)

International Red Cross inspection - 10 February 1943 - capacity 750
27 Ledbury Camp, Ledbury, Herefordshire
27 3 Magdala Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
28

Knight Thorpe Camp, [Garendon Park], Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire

I have seen this camp listed as either Knighthorpe or Garendon Park - it appears to be the same place.

Mentioned briefly in 'Thresholds of Peace'. 

29 Claremont, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
29 Royston Heath Camp, Royston, Hertfordshire - Standard type
29 Ormskirk, Lancashire
30 Anglesey House, Aldershot, Hampshire
30 Carpenters Road Camp, Stratford East, London E15
31

Ettington Park Camp, Newbold-on-Stour, Warwickshire - Standard type

 In the grounds of Ettington Hall.

International Red Cross visit - 30 December 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 800.

1946 view of the camp >

32 Wormwood Scrubs, (Scrubbs Lane Camp), Shepherd's Bush, London W12

*8 March 1947 POW letter form from German to German Russian Zone
32 Plas Llwynon Camp, Anglesey Camp, Anglesey
33 Shorncliffe Camp, Folkestone, Kent - [cf670a]

*23 February 1944 letter form from Italian POW
33 Dancer's Hill, [St.Albans Road?] South Mimms, Hertfordshire - [cf122g]
33 Old Windmills Camp, Blackthorn, Arncot, Oxfordshire - Standard type - [cf 610, 632, 653]
34 Acksea Camp, Kinnerley, Oswestry, Shropshire - [cf 1018]
34 Warebank Camp, Kirkwall, Orkney
35 Boughton Park Camp, (Weekley Camp), Boughton, Northamptonshire - standard type - [cf 259]

International Red Cross visit - 5 January 1944 - Italian prisoners, capacity 870.

36

Hartwell Dog Track, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

 

Wikipedia - The camp's location is given as near to Ellen Road, adjacent to where the Walton Court housing estate was later built. Record of Italian prisoners there from 1942 to 1946.

 

International Red Cross visit to 4 hostels attached to Camp 36 was carried out on 31 October 1945. The hostels were :

1. Braddenham - opened 18 August 1945, 10 tents x 10 men + 1 large marquee tent, 100 German prisoners.

2. Attached to POW camp (Wexham Road?), opened 13 August 1945, 10 tents x 10 men, 100 men 

3. Coleshill Amersham, opened 13 August 1945, 100 men in tents

4. Northchurch hostel, opened 13 August 1945, large hut, 50 men.

36 Walworth Castle, Walworth, Co.Durham

During the Second World War the Castle was let to the Durham Light Infantry where they used it for high ranking German and Italian officers. Now a hotel.

37

Sudeley Castle Camp, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire - standard type

 

Believed that camp opened early in 1942 holding up to 400 prisoners and that it closed at end of 1945. [Archivist at Sudeley Castle]

37 Colley Lane, Bridgewater, Somerset - [cf 553]
38 Pool Park Camp, Ruthin, Denbighshire

International Red Cross visit - 26 November 1943, caqpacity 750
39 Castle Maxstoke Camp, Coleshill, Warwickshire - standard type

 

Camp set in the castle grounds.

International Red Cross visit - 31 December 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 840.

*August 1943 from Italian POW *May 1945 postcard from Italian to Parma, Italy.

40

Somerhill Camp, Tonbridge, Kent

 

International Red Cross visit - 15 July 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 575; 1 April 1943 Italian prisoners, capacity 750.

41

Ganger Camp, Romsey, Hampshire - standard type

 

*Letter from Italian to Italy, 22/05/43. POW card 26/10/44 from Italian to USA.

42 Exhibition Field Camp, Holsworthy, Devon - standard type

From 1942

43 Harcourt Hill Camp, North Hinksey, Oxfordshire - standard type

Mentioned in 'Prisoners of England'. POW card 7/7/45 from Italian to Sicily. 

44

Goathurst Camp, (Haswell House) Goathurst, Bridgwater, Somerset - standard type

 

Initially Italian, then German POW. Memories of ex POW

45 Trumpington Camp, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire - standard type - [cf 180]

International Red Cross inspection - 9 February 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750.
*letter to Austria 1946
46 Kingsfold Camp, Marringdean Road, Billinghurst, Sussex - standard type
47 Motcombe Park Camp, Shaftesbury, Dorset - standard type
48 Greenfield Farm, Presteign, nr Radnor, Radnorshire

International Red Cross inspection - 7 July 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 826.
*from German prisoner 10 December 1946
49 Harrington Camp, Farndon Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire - standard type
50
Garswood Park, Ashton-in-Markerfield, Lancashire - standard type

Italian and from about 1944 German POWs. Last Germans left for Camp 189 (Dunham Park) and Garswood Park camp closed on 1 April 1948.

International Red Cross visit - 19 November 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 800.

51 Allington, Grantham, Lincolnshire - standard type

International Red Cross inspection - 18 February 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750.

Initially held Italian PoWs. "In 1946 some 1,000 Germans and others were confined there. Between 25 and 30 British soldiers were on duty as guards and drivers.... closed September 1947 and became a transit camp for stateless people..." 'extracted from 'Grantham Today'

52

Cholderton, Amesbury, Wiltshire

52 Nether Headon Camp, Ladywell Rise, East Retford, Lincolnshire - standard type

*11 November 1945, p/card to Italy - 17 November 1946 p/card from German POW to Berlin - 31 December 1946 from German POW
53 Sandbeds Camp, Gateforth New Road, Brayton, Yorkshire - standard type
54 Longbridge Camp, Hampton Lovett, nr Droitwich, Worcestershire - standard type

International Red Cross inspection - 9 March 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 800.
55 Shalstone Camp, Shalstone, Buckinghamshire - standard type

Built 1943 [?]. 50 - 100 POWs working mainly on local farms.

56 Botesdale, Botesdale, Suffolk - standard type

* month? 1942 from Italian POW to Italy
57 Merrow Downs Camp, Merrow, Guildford, Surrey - Standard type working Camp - Grey

International Red Cross inspection - 3 July 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 1050.

Camp built in 1941-42 to house Italians from the North Africa campaign - later it housed German POWs. A series of huts with outlook towers on the corners of the camp.

Some prisoners cleared ditches, carried out road maintenance, or helped at local farms and market gardens. After the war, prisoners were given more freedom, such as going into Guildford unescorted. The huts were also used for a while after the war as temporary housing for local people. The camp was demolished in the early 1950s.

October 1945 the main camp housed the Italian Labour Battalion with German POWs in three local hostels. By June 1946, 61 Germans were housed with the Italians in the main camp and the number of Germans housed in 6 local hostels had risen to 2512. It was also noted that the arrival of 'black' prisoners including 30 Waffen SS soldiers had led to difficulty with existing White/Grey POWs.

By the September all the Italians had gone but as late as March 1948 540 prisoners were still living in the main camp, with a further 242 in hostels and 35 in billets. By this time several prisoners had received diplomas in English and were studying a wide range of courses at Guildford Technical College. A number of prisoners held in Britain never went home to Germany, marrying English girls and settling in this country.

Information from 'Village History' by the Merrow Residents' Association

*From Italian POW 7 August 1943

Plan of camp

58

Firs Camp, (Nether Heage Camp), Belper, Derbyshire

58 [The Hayes] Swanwick Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire - [cf 5, 13, 179, 297]
59 Sawtry Camp, Wood Walton Lane, Sawtry, Huntingdonshire

International Red Cross inspection - 12 February 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 880.

60

Overdale Camp, Skipton, Yorkshire - standard type

 

Italian, then German POWs

60 Huddersfield Camp, Huddersfield, Yorkshire
60 Rockworks Camp, Kirkwall, Orkney
61
Wynolls Hill, Broadwell, Gloucestershire - standard type

International Red Cross visit - 21 July 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750; 8 July 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 950.

Italian prisoners built a memorial to Marconi at the camp in late 1944. Unfortunately the memorial was allowed to fall into disrepair and was later demolished.

In use early 1944 >

62 The Moor Camp, Thankerton, Lanarkshire

International Red Cross inspection - 11 November 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 525.
*10 March 1943 - 22 March 1946 from Italian POWs / 26 March 1947 - 9 November 1947 in German
63 Balhary East Camp, Alyth, Perthshire - [cf3]

International Red Cross inspection - 12 November 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 800.
*25 April 1943 - 24 January 1944 to Italy / 20 June 1947 in German
64 Castle Rankine Camp, Denny, Stirlingshire

International Red Cross inspection - 10 November 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750.

65

Setley Plain, Brockenhurst, Hampshire - standard type

65 Bank Hall, Bretherton, Preston, Lancashire
66 Calvine Camp, Blair Atholl, Perthshire

International Red Cross inspection - 13 November 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 600.

Calvine became a camp for displaced persons until the 1950's.

*7 May 1943 - 20 March 1944 to Italy

67 Sandyhillock Camp, Craigellachie, Banffshire

*3 September 1944 - 5 December 1945 letters to Italy
67 Rothes Camp, Rothes, Scotland
68 Halmuir Farm Camp, Lockerbie, Dumfrieshire

*24 November 1942 - 27 February 1944 letters to Italy
69 Darras Hall, Middle Drive, Ponteland, Northumbria - standard type

International Red Cross visit - 9 May 1944 - Italian prisoners, capacity 760.

Details from the history of Camp 69, available from Ponteland Local History Society.

At least four watchtowers were constructed, but were removed in 1945. Inside the prisoner enclosure were 19 huts, each for 24 men (though often more were accommodated) ; 2 dining huts, each to seat 200 men; 2 ablution huts, a recreation hut, 2 latrines, a cookhouse, a shoemaker’s hut, a hut for groceries and a reception station. These buildings 70 feet long by about 18 feet wide were of prefabricated precast concrete modular construction supported on concrete bases. Buildings to the north of the enclosure and fronting onto Middle Drive provided admin and living accommodation for the Commandant, Officers and Guards. Some of these were prefabricated, others were built entirely of brick. A 15,000 gallons elevated water storage tank, 35 feet high and supplied from the main distribution system in Middle Drive, was built to the east of the prisoner compound.

The first Italian POWs arrived early 1943. They had a yellow patch on the back of their uniform jacket and a further similar patch on the back of one trouser leg. They were transported daily from Ponteland to work on local farms and market gardens. After the Italian surrender in September 1943 supervision became more relaxed. The majority of Italian POW’s left Camp 69 towards the end of 1944 to be either repatriated, transferred to smaller local satellite hostels, or billeted on local farms. A small number stayed on as cooks, gardeners or general labourers, and were accommodated outside the main compound in the admin area.

The first German prisoners arrived by bus from Newcastle Central Station on 10th March 1945. Dr. Mamie of the International Red Cross (IRC) from Geneva inspected the camp on 25th May 1945 and reported a total of 830 POW’s with an occupancy rate of 40 men per hut. The British Commandant was Lieutenant Colonel R. F. Pitz and the German Camp Leader was Stabsoffizier Heinz Effinghausen, who was responsible for internal discipline. Sundays were free and working parties returned to camp at 3p.m. on Saturday afternoons. Protestant and Catholic Padres each held weekly religious services in the camp chapel. There was a small library, which also provided some German and English newspapers; educational classes in modern languages were held and a stage was erected in the recreation room for theatrical and musical performances. Films were shown by the Y.M.C.A and BBC programmes were available via camp radios. The prisoners had a football pitch and athletic area and competitive matches were held with other hostels. The camp newspaper "Welle 69" (Wave 69) was first published on 1st February 1946.

By April 1946 there were 1,320 men, which included 200 new arrivals from the United States. There were 716 at Darras Hall, 126 billeted and the remaining 478 were accommodated in hostels.

By April 1947 the main camp had reduced to 500, and a further 700 were accommodated in billets or hostels. By October of that year the total strength was below 1000 and only two hostels. Towards the end of 1948 the last of the German prisoners of war at Darras Hall were replaced by Displaced Persons (European Volunteer Workers) who had been recruited in Europe to help with the continuing labour shortage in Britain. 

Towards the end of 1949 the last of the workers had either returned home or been transferred elsewhere. In 1950 most of the prisoners’ accommodation was demolished and in February 1951 the site was used as a Training Centre for Civil Defence. The site was cleared by July 1961.

70 Henllan Bridge Camp, Henllan, Cardiganshire - standard type

International Red Cross inspection - 12 July 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 1500.

Italian POWs from 1943, then as German resettlement camp.

*28 December 1946 lettercard to Berlin.

71

Sheriff Hales Camp (Sheriffhales), Shifnal, Shropshire - standard type

71 Lower Hare Park, London Road, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire
72 Duck's Cross Camp, Dacca Farm, Colesdon Road, Wilden, Bedfordshire - standard type

International Red Cross inspection - 8 February 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750.
73 Storwood Camp, Cottingwith, Yorkshire - standard type
74 Racecourse Camp, Road Street, Tarporley, Cheshire - standard type

International Red Cross visit - 25 November 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 800.
*1945 to Italy
75 Northhill Camp, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire

International Red Cross inspection - 14 November 1942 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750.
*10 August 1943 - 19 November 1944 letters to Italy / 1 February 1947 in German
76 Merry Thought Camp, Aikbank Common, Calthwaite, Cumberland - standard type
76 Dymond's Farm, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, Devon - [cf 276]
77 Aunsmuir Camp, Ladybank, Fife

International Red Cross inspection - 26 May 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750.
*2 August 1943 - 16 May 1945 to Italy / 23 February 1947 written in German
78 High Garrett Camp, Halstead Road, Braintree, Essex - Base camp

International Red Cross inspection - 12 February 1943 - Italian prisoners, capacity 750.

Italian then German POWs. Mentioned in 'Prisoners of England'

79 Moorby Camp, Revesby, Lincolnshire - standard type
80 Horbling Camp, Sleaford, Lincolnshire - standard type
81 Pingley Farm Camp, Bigby High Road, Brigg, Lincolnshire - standard type

Italian then German POWs. Originally designed to house 750 prisoners. The camp consisted of 35 prisoners' huts (25 accommodation / ablutions, cookhouse, workshops) and 15 guards' huts, recreation ground and garden plots. There were no guard towers; the prisoners being regarded as 'low risk'. 1,862 POWs held in 1946 with overflow accommodated in tents and local housing/farms. Became an agricultural hostel in 1949.

*2 May 1948 lettercard from German POW to Berlin

82

Aldborough, Aldborough, Norfolk

82 Hempton Green Camp, Fakenham, Norfolk - standard type
83 Eden Camp, (Ryton), Malton, Yorkshire - standard working camp - [cf 250]

Built 1942 it first housed 250 Italian POWs from the North Africa campaign. The camp expanded to 250 huts. German POWs were held from 1944 to 1948.

The site is now a museum - http://www.edencamp.co.uk/

84 Sheet Camp, Sheet, Ludlow, Shropshire - standard type

*1946 to Germany
85 Victoria Camp, Brandon Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk - standard type

*28 October 1944 from Italian POW

86a

Woodchurch Camp, Hengherst House, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent - [cf 282]

86 Stanhope Camp, Stanhope, Kent - standard type

*30 March 1947 from German POW
87 Byfield Camp, Byfield, Northamptonshire - standard type

International Red Cross visit - 4 January 1944 - Italian prisoners, capacity 520.
*Letter from Italian to Sicily, 24/9/45.*Letter 1946 to Netherlands
88
Mortimer Camp, Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire - standard type

Picture from : 'Progionieri italiani in Gran Bretagna (1940 - 1947)' by Luciano Previato

Mentioned in 'From Schoneiche to Alton, a Prisoner of War who stayed' and in 'Prisoners of England'.

89 Easton Grey Camp, Malmesbury, Wiltshire - standard type
90 Friday Bridge Camp, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire - standard type

Ex guard remembers about 2000 German POWs in 1945.

91 Post Hill Camp, Farnley, Yorkshire
92 Brampton Road Camp, Brampton Road, Tiverton, Devon - standard type
93a Oaklands Hospital, Cockton Hill, Bishop Aukland, Co.Durham

International Red Cross inspection - 24 June 1944, German, Russian and Czech prisoners.

A subsidiary POW Camp to Camp 93, at Harperley. Up to about 300 POWs. Some prisoners were men with medical training and worked on the wards. Hospital run by 1/17 Group Emergency Medical Service, it cared for wounded and sick POWs as well as civilians and military personnel. Mentioned in 'Prisoners of England'

Whittingham's Hospital nearby was also used for German pow's and was inspected by the International Red Cross on 5 August 1944.

93 Harperley Camp, near Crook, County Durham

First used as a prisoner of war camp during the first WW1. Designed to house low security-risk POWs. At first prisoners were housed in tents but prefabricated buildings were soon erected by the first Italian prisoners, (1943). By September 1944, most of the Italians had dispersed to hostels and farms to make way for around 900 German prisoners identified as ‘low risk’, who provided the area with a valuable workforce. Camp magazine 'Der Quell' (The Source). Scheduled site, many buildings still exist.

94 Gaulby Road, Billesdon, Leicestershire - standard type
95 Batford Camp, Harpenden, Hertfordshire - standard type

Memories of ex German POW released 1947

96 Wolseley Road Camp, Rugeley, Staffordshire - standard type
97 Birdingbury, Bourton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire - standard type

International Red Cross visit - 14 March 1944 - German prisoners - capacity 560.
98 Little Addington Camp, Hill Farm Estate, Irthlingborough Road, Little Addington, Northamptonshire - standard type

International Red Cross visit - 6 January 1944 - Italian prisoners, capacity 560.
99 Military Hospital Shugborough Park, Shugborough, Staffordshire

International Red Cross visit - 20/21 July 1942 - capacity 270; 9 July 1943, capacity 500 beds; 10/11 October 1943, capacity 500 beds; 1/2 May 1944
100 St Martins Camp, St Martins, nr Oswestry, Shropshire - standard type

Italian then German POWs

Back to top

 

Contact : Malcolm Sanders kg6gb@hotmail.com