Held at:

Private collection

Reference:

RS

Source:

Original photographs

Title:

Digital Archive: Photographs of German Prisoners of War

Place name:

Newton

Date:

1947

Description:

Photographs of German prisoners of war allocated to work at farms in Newton St Margarets, taken in 1947. The prisoners were probably originally from Dorstone POW camp, but were most likely billeted at local farms where they worked. The photographs are from Eddie Thomas who was evacuated to Newton as a boy during the war, and recalls the POWs meeting at The Villa in Newton socially with his German mother. His recollections of his time in Newton are part of the oral history archive on this website.

 

Taken on a very early visit to Newton when the two people on the left were still in their original Wehrmacht uniforms.

Original photograph interpreted and colourised by AI

From left, Gustav, Fritz, Alfred, Ralph & ? taken in the front garden of The Villa.

Original photograph interpreted and colourised by AI

A later visit to the Villa with Alfred (4th from left) now in a British second-hand jacket and Gustav (far right) in British 2nd hand trousers.

Original photograph interpreted and colourised by AI

Gustav Gitz (POW No. 415547) taking tea near the “posh” front gate of The Villa on 17th August 1947 looking towards the road. A note on the back in German gives greetings (see next photograph) on a nice warm & sunny day.

The back of the photograph has a formal greeting: “Please keep me in friendly memory”

 P.O.W. No. 415547 Gustav Gitz, Newton 17.8.47

Original photograph interpreted and colourised by AI

The Villa, Newton from the front gate c.2021. It has since been re-named for some reason. Note that the new front gate has changed little in style from the photograph with POW Gustav in 1947. We lived in the two rooms in the main house (in line with the gate unchanged from outside) plus an adjoining wooden walled single storey corrugated iron roofed annex (since demolished). This annex originally filled the whole gap behind the wall with the basket and is now part of the garden.

 

Observations:

None

Top - Back

Ref: rs_nwt_0089