German Prisoner of War Camp
Mile House, Oswestry
Mile House, Oswestry
One of the German prisoners, Friedrich Thomas, recorded in his diary that it had not been so bad but there were privations in winter such as wading through the ankle deep mud to the privy at night, frozen water in the wash house and the lack of acceptable cocoa.
The rank and file prisoners were used as work parties on the local farms or plantations but the officers tended to keep to their camp, usually making their own entertainment. They set up a choir and put on recitals, organised art exhibitions, played football, handball, hockey and tennis and organised a festival of sport. They were also allowed to drink beer and wine and read English newspapers. The photo below shows German prisoners of war dressed for a performance at park hall camp 1919.
The rank and file prisoners were used as work parties on the local farms or plantations but the officers tended to keep to their camp, usually making their own entertainment. They set up a choir and put on recitals, organised art exhibitions, played football, handball, hockey and tennis and organised a festival of sport. They were also allowed to drink beer and wine and read English newspapers. The photo below shows German prisoners of war dressed for a performance at park hall camp 1919.
In 1919, Admiral von Reuter and his naval comrades who scuttled the German warships at Scapa Flow were bought here and in July 1919 a prisoner named Oster was shot by a sentry at Park Hall army camp during a disturbance at the camp. See newspaper article below.
