|n the final talk of the 2024-5 season, members of the Society were treated to a fascinating description, by Vanessa Morgan, of her father’s experiences as a prisoner of war.

​

The young Francis Hill joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 1 September 1939 and was sent to France; here he transferred to the Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers.  In May 1940, he and his comrades were instructed to make their way (for a then unknown reason) to Dunkirk. Sadly, they were taken prisoner during the journey.

​

After various forced marches and train journeys they found themselves in Poland, at Thorn transit camp (Stalag XXA).  Here they were issued with a card (with which to register with the International Red Cross) and a mess tin. The only items of cutlery allowed were spoons. Living conditions were poor and boredom was a problem.  Apparently a lot of bridge was played.

​

In August 1940 Francis’s number  - 7760 - was called.  He was one of 300 prisoners to be sent on a working party to Bydgoszcz (a sub camp of Stalag XXA) where they were put to work clearing the forest and levelling the ground for a railway line, which was itself laid by civilians. (By small and risky acts of sabotage the prisoners tried to hinder progress on the railway, which was to service a dynamite factory the Germans had built in the south-east forest of Bydgoszcz.) They worked a 56 hour week in summer, finishing early on Saturdays; in winter they worked all day Saturday to make the working week up to 54 hours. 

 

Living conditions were much better than those at the transit camp. By mid-1941, having obtained, among other things, musical instruments through the Red Cross, they were able to put on musicals, Agatha Christie plays and the like. There were also evening classes; Francis taught maths for a while.

​

In 1942, needing dental treatment, Francis returned to Thorn, after which he was sent on another working party, to Fordon, also linked to Stalag XXA, situated by the river Vistula.  Being paid for their work, the prisoners were able to live quite comfortably on goods obtained on the Black Market.

​

In January 1945, however, with Germany losing the war, a bad period set in.  They had to pack and move off through the snow at an hour’s notice amid chaotic scenes as darkness fell. The Russians were advancing into Poland and the British POWs were joined on their march westwards by starving Russian prisoners, many of whom dropped dead by the side of the road.  The contrast between the treatment of the British and Russian captives was most marked.  At last, avoiding the Russian advance, they crossed the Oder estuary and continued across Germany.  They were liberated eventually by the US army.

​

On a visit to Dunkirk in the 1960s, Vanessa’s father remarked that it had taken him 25 years to reach the place, but that he had got there eventually. 

​

In the early 1980s, Francis saw a piece in the Brimingham Mail asking for the stories about life for ordinary POWs.  He contributed, and his and other reminiscences were eventually sent to the Imperial War Museum. It was from her father’s story that Vanessa read to her enthralled audience.

​

This was a fascinating talk and people were keen to talk to Vanessa afterwards and look at the memorabilia she had brought with her