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The following 6 parts of this story have been submitted to the Peoples War Website by Anne Wareing of the Lancashire Home Guard on behalf of John Amos Taylor and have been added to the site with his permission...

This is the diary of private John Amos Taylor kept from the 24th October
1944 to Friday 4th May 1945. It was written in pencil on any scrap of
available paper, mostly on German blue prints torn into sheets 6x5
inches and latterly in ink on a lined pad 9x5 inches.
Tuesday 24th October 1944. Reveille 04:00 hrs. Went back to bed to be
roused again at 06:15 and rushed away to Munich to work in the
boiler yards of a big railway works. Job: sorting timber from road,
which had been hit by bombs. Noticed many Russian workers from 16
to 60 years old, woman and girls included. Very much inferior dress
to Germans. Stocky built, appeared to be very poor people. Germans
in key positions. Damage to yards considerable, buildings gutted. Had
for lunch bowl soup, bowl cabbage boiled with caraway seeds,
and a pot of coffee. Bread extra and jam. Jam was manufactured in
Budapest and the usual synthetic sort. Returned about 4:30 p.m. to
arrive in Stalag by 9 p.m. Had soup, drew rations later, had pot of tea,
2 slices bread and jam, then retired at 11 p.m.

Wednesday 25th October. Arose 04.00 hrs. Had drink of peppermint tea,
washed, then went to bed until reveille at 06:00. Made dried egg for
breakfast. 1 slice of bread and 1/2 pot of tea. 07:30 Roll Call. Cleaning
barrack room and washing down tables. Darned socks. Gramophone
now playing "Warsaw Concerto". Thinking of home and wondering
what my wife will be doing just now. Require haircut very much. Had
dinner of cabbage soup at 11:15, then laid down in bed. Dubbin is
supplied for boots - razor blades scarce.

Thursday 26th October. Reveille 05:15. Munich 09:45. Job: straightening
galvanised tin roofing sheets all day. Dinner: 2 plates potatoes and
meat, fmished 16:00 hrs. Camp 21:30 hrs, had stew. As usual bed
23:15 hrs. No news on war. Day cool.

Friday 27th October. Reveille 04:10hrs. Munich 09:45. Brick cleaning.
Light rain most of day - returned at 4:45 to arrive in camp 9.45 p.m.
No Red Cross parcels or cigarettes. Had usual cabbage stew. Managed
to save issue of bread - Dinner in Munich very good, had two
helpings - jam ration. Found cigarette lighter and pencils. Working in
signal and telephone works D.R. went to bed at 10.30 p.m. No news
on War situation.

Saturday 28th October. Reveille 06:00 hrs. Rain. No Munich party. Wrote
letters (cards) to Uncle and Aunt, 30 Bames Avenue, and to my wife.
Smoked potato peelings - first time. Result - not too bad. Tea 14:30
hrs, potatoes mashed, 1 tin garden peas, tin meat roll and cup of pea
soup between two of us. Supper: 1 tin apple pudding, 1 slice bread
and 1 pint of tea. Red Cross rations on last round. To bed 21:45 hrs.

Sunday 29th October. Reveille 07:00 hrs - coffee - Roll Call 08:00 hrs.
Breakfast: 09:00 hrs. Dried eggs, 1 slice of bread and 1 pint of tea. No
signs of Red Cross parcel yet. 11:00 hrs. Soup and potatoes. Made
fresh supply of tobacco from potato peelings - mouth organ now
playing. Tea 16:30 - mashed potatoes, pea soup. 1/2 tin M & V. 19:00
hrs Supper: 3 slices bread with condensed milk spread over (thinly)
and 1 pint Tea. Listened to South African darkies sing their native
tunes, in the next bunk. No Red Cross Parcel today. Bed?

Monday 30th October. Reveille 04:00hrs. Went to Munich working in
boiler and repair yards on railway lines. Coffee and bread issue
10:00hrs together with jam ration. Dinner: 2 plates potatoes mashed
and 1 plate soup. 16:00hrs - 2 plates soup. Returned to camp after
easy day at 20:30 hrs (16.30). Had skilly and potatoes to finish off
later with 1 pint of tea and two slices of bread and margarine with
sweet condensed milk spread on. Saw Russian woman cleaning bricks
and spoke to a Russian boy from Leningrad. Whole families seem to
have been brought from Russia, to work in Germany. Russian dress
very coarse - some women wear the jackboots. Quite distinguishable
from Germany girls. Bed 20:30 hrs.

Tuesday 31st October. Reveille 07:00hrs. Peppermint tea 07.30. Roll Call.
No War News. Breakfasted at 07:15. Four slices bread and marg.
Only two dried cigarettes left from Red Cross parcel. No smokes.
Lads in hut desperate for smoke (no tea to smoke). Dinner 11.30.
Skilly later made tea. 12:00 hrs. News of move to new Stalag. Had
smoke of dried tea leaves. 16:00 Soup and potatoes, 16:30 Tea,
toasted bread and dried egg. 18:00hrs Soup (Pea). Everyone using up
wood supply, stove top red hot. Pint of tea 19:00hrs.

Wednesday 1st November. Reveille 05:30hrs - breakfast, tea and 3 slices
toast. Paraded 06:45 and moved to reception barrack room prior to
departure to another Stalag. 11:00 Skilly. 16:00 Bread, margarine and
potatoes and sugar ration. Slept night here.

Thursday 2nd November. Reveille 06:00. Tea and slice bread and
margarine. 08:00 Searched. 11:00 Bread, cheese — 1/2 pint of skilly and
potatoes. Boarded trucks. 16:30 Stove in truck. Good fire all night.

Friday 3rd November. 1 loaf between 4 men. 1 portion sausage. 08:00
hrs (45 men in van). Day of no events.

Saturday 4th November. 14:00hrs Bread and sausage ration. 5 cigarettes.
per man (everyone overjoyed). Scenery, pines - Dresden. Fresh
supply coal -journey very slow.

Sunday 5th November. 12:000 Dry bread and herb tea (Sunday joint at
home).
Monday 6th November. Arrived at Lamsdorf station early morning and
marched to camp. Hot bath and clothes debused. Cigarettes issued 5
per man. Taken to our barrack room. Everyone anxious to give us
cigarettes and clothing (real friends in need). Met Wigan (Aspull) lad
gave us margarine and bread, good tuck in - like luxury to us. Met
George Butterworth an old cricket colleague of mine from
Greenmount (gave me gloves, shirt, 20 cigarettes and socks).

Tuesday 7th November. Drew half Red Cross parcel. Dined fairly well.
Salmon and biscuits. Another chap gave us shirts and gloves, towel,
etc. Received issue of shaving soap, shaving brush and soap. Retired
happy.

Wednesday 8th November. 10:00 hrs Paraded for clothes issue (Tunic, 2
pair vests, 2 pairs under pants, 1 pr puttees, 2 pairs socks, 1 pullover,
gloves and overcoat). Immediately on return changed into warmer
dress (cold today). Had spam for tea, finished by biscuit and
marmalade. Going out to George Butterworth's compound at 7
tonight. Visited camp library and school exams of all types can be
taken (nothing impossible). Went sick with silicosis? Had walk
around compound.

Thursday 9th November. Reveille 06:00. No Roll Call. Breakfast, spam,
bread, margarine and jam on biscuit, pot of tea. George Butterworth
visited me and brought 4 ozs of tobacco and 50 Player's cigarettes.
Also book to read entitled "Cricket between two Wars". Now wear
Khaki tie. Visited camp library and changed book (last night paid visit
to George in 17A. Had cup of tea, listened to gramophone records -
received gift of 20 sweet Corporal cigarettes and 2 ozs Virginia
tobacco from a Canadian. Met a Burnley lad who worked at
Standworth's, Barden Lane, Burnley. Recalled past events and told
experiences. Saw photo of Greenmount Cricket Ground - learned that
Wade the South African cricketer is in this camp. Weather today
much warmer. Tea 16:00 dine on cheese, bread, butter, one biscuit
and marmalade (now smoking well and quite cheerful). Issued with a
spoon of boot polish.

Friday l0th November. 06:00 Reveille. Breakfast: bully and bread,
margarine, one biscuit and jam, 1 pot of tea. I had a walk around camp
about 09:15 and at 10:00 hrs went to a gramphone recital concert of
new tunes from films, Bing Crosby, George Formby etc. Dinner: pea
soup, (very good indeed) but rather on the short ration scale. At 13:00
went to reading room, purchased book (Advanced Building
Construction) and renewed my studies of 1941/2. Excellent library.
Visited 14B to find lad but failed. Later visited 2B and located Charlie
Duff. Had a drink of coffee and returned to barrack. Tea, Bully and 3
sardines, jam and last biscuit. Weather today very cold, slight fall of
sleet.

Saturday 11th November. Had photograph (prisoners) retaken. Day cold -
sleet. No observations of Armistice Day. Quiet day - wrote to Wells
Street and Florence.

Sunday 12th November. Rev. 07:00 - Semolina for dinner. Went to
football match, good crowd but rather cool, sunny about dinner time
then cold. Had haircut, first since Sept. 4th.

Monday 13th November. Book Quantities from library. Visited George
Butterworth in evening, nothing to report. Barley soup for dinner.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 14th to 16th November. Similar
activities as previous days (Thurs) secured Bed on floor. Weather cold
and some snow which later turned to rain.

Friday 17th November. Rev. 06:00. Breakfast, 3 slices bread and butter
with jam. 11.30 Pea soup and tea (very good) 16:00 hrs Cottage pie,
peas and potatoes, 2 slices bread and jam. Weather cool.

Saturday 18th November. Breakfast, 3 slices bread and jam. Dinner,
swedes and potatoes. Tea, 3 slices bread and jam. Had some cheese
which gave off strong perfume. Started sock darning as a paying
proposition. - 5 pairs on hand - new pair of pants? Now spick and
span (weather mild) 3 days before Wedding Anniversary, memories
of home pass through my mind. Washed shirt (D.D.) and towel, bad
drying day.

Sunday 19th November. Breakfast, 1 slice bread and jam. Dinner, Barley.
Tea, fried potatoes, small portion. Jerry meat - Damsons, Bread and
Jam. Supper, porridge, pint tea and slice bread and jam. 30 cigarettes
for darning socks. Visited G. Butterworth.

Monday 20th November. Breakfast, 2 slices bread and jam, coffee.
Visited comforts and received salad dinner. Usual Barley and spuds.
Went before Jerry MO to be graded. Many RAF aircraft over.
Weather quite warm.

Tuesday 21st November. 1/2i slice bread, breakfast. Diet parcels issued -
2.0 p.m. MO ordered blood test. Tea, Barley soup, 2 slices bread and
sardines. Weather cool. Became member of Manchester POW
Society. Saw names of W. McLoughlan, 9 Factory St.; John Cunliffe,
Grove Road, Haslingden; J. Eamshaw, Stanley St. Ramsbottom and
Knight of Helmshore. These lads were on working parties away from
camp.

Wednesday 22nd November. Extras in the food line. Supper, porridge -
ate all but 1/2 slice bread. 1/2 slice now remains for breakfast. Morale
excellent. Sent to Geneva through Red Cross for books on Builder's
Quantities, to study subject. Dinner today, pea soup (Good). News
Good.
Thursday 23rd November. Nothing to report, as previous days. Chest to
be X-rayed on Friday.

Friday 24th November. Had bath 10:00 hrs prior to X-ray. No X-ray -
Radiologist ill. Tea, Jerry cheese and Canadian cheese. Tea without
sugar. Passed time away drawing and doing taking off.
Saturday 25th November. No Red Cross parcel issue. Things pretty grim.
fh

Sunday 26 November. Still no Red Cross issue, food used up apart from
Jerry issue. Weather mild. Day passed as usual. Had 2hrs in bed.

Monday 27th November. No parcels yet - no tea in morning. Cabbage for
dinner - Barley soup for tea and Jerry coffee.

Tuesday 28th November. Activities as Monday.

Wednesday 29th November. Pea soup and meat and fat extras. Good day.
Cocoa for supper (Luxury).

Thursday 30th November. Tobacco exhausted but ration of cigarettes on
Saturday? Barley for dinner, 2 slices bread for tea. Supper? (not yet).

Friday 1st December. Chest X-rayed. No cigarettes or tobacco - weary
day. Met Eamshaw, a lad from Stanley St. Ramsbottom. Also met lad
from Grane Rd. Haslingden, by name of Cunliffe. Went to bed at 6
o'clock.
Saturday 2" December. Good spud issue. Two rations barley. Our planes
over here again in strength. Weather sunny but cool. Feet very cold
these days. News good. Had supper with John Eamshaw.

Sunday 3rd December. Weather cold. Chips for tea. Had walk around
camp, to keep feet warm, with John Eamshaw. Wrote letter to my
dear wife - 5 cigarettes left.

Monday 4th December. 2 slices bread. Breakfast - 2 tins barley soup.
Dinner - boiled potatoes for tea and 2 slices bread - took boots to be
repaired and had pair of clogs in exchange (clogs much warmer). To
bed at 5.30 p.m. No supper these days.

Tuesday 5th December. We have now been here 1 month. Spent plenty of
time in bed. No Red Cross parcels yet. Days without anything
particular to report.

Wednesday 6th December. Saw M.O. re chest X-ray. Everything OK.
Blood test 6/11. Pea flour soup for dinner and spuds. Tea 4 slices
bread and jam. Roll Call 5 o'clock and then to bed.

Thursday 7th December. 08.15hrs to see Stabsarzt (captain in medical
corps) re grading. Graded B2. Had barley soup then visited empty
tubs lying around and scraped them out (It's no crime to do this when
hunger faces one). Procured portions of potatoes from rubbish heap
(Good and clean). Washed them and boiled them up and added 1/2 pint
barley. The results of my scraping and ate a hearty meal finishing off
2 slices bread and jam and 1 pint Jerry coffee. (Never have I known
hunger as I do today). The results of living too well in the British
Army. I managed to fill both pockets with coke and coal from outside
the cookhouse which enabled me to heat up the spuds on the blower.
In the evening I retired to bed to the strains of "In a Monastery
Garden" played by a chap on a piano accordion (Time now is approx.
6.30 p.m.)

Friday 8th December. Pea soup dinner. Notified to go on working party to
Bleckhammer E794. To move on Monday Dec. 11th. Received ticket
in evening to go to Concert (Play) "Someone at the Door." A murder
series - very good performance. For tea had good supply of potatoes
boiled and mashed. 4 slices bread and margarine and jam. No suppers
these days. Bed 8.30 p.m.

Saturday 9th December. Scraped about 12 tubs out and filled Klim tin
with carrots and potatoes. Boiled potatoes mixed with carrots for tea.
Received extra from cookhouse. Cigarette ration (25) Should move
out Monday. Weather mild (some rain). Nothing else. To bed 7 p.m.
(some snow early morning).
Sunday 10th December. Keen frost overnight. W. McLoughlan on
Obituary notice.

Monday 11th December. Struck off party to go to Bleckhammer and
returned to Block 7 Barrack 23B.

Tuesday 12th December. For tea had potatoes - carrots and stew, left
from dinner time (real feed) and went to bed at 5.30.

Wednesday 13th December. Activities similar to previous day. Good feed
potatoes selected from waste heap. Retired to bed after Roll Call.

Thursday 14th December. Broth for dinner (good). Tea usual spuds with
turnips. 2 slices bread and coffee. Went to visit John Eamshaw.

Friday 15th December. Snow and very cold this morning. Real Christmas
weather. Red Cross parcel now on Tuesday the 19th, 23rd and 30th
expected with 25 extra cigarettes for Xmas. Had walk around camp.
Pine trees covered with snow - lovely to look at. 9 a.m. barrack
inspection. Dinner, Pea soup, fat and fresh meat.

Saturday 16 December. Had tea from potatoes, carrots, cabbage.
Cigarette issue (25). Coffee for tea and 3 slices bread. Bed at 8 p.m.

Sunday 17th December. Out early. Managed to collect 1lb coal and 1
potato. Very cold and freezing hard. Tea, potatoes, carrots, cabbage
and turnips and 1 tin barley picked up in the road from Keeble, which
had overturned (perfectly clean). To bed at 5.30 p.m. (Good night).
Bombers over in strength again. 1 plane shot down and 3 men bale
out. Wrote letter to my wife and Derek.

Monday 18th December. Had poor day regarding grub. Extra barley soup
for tea. Bed. 5.30 p.m.

Tuesday 19th December. 25 cigarettes issued and Red Cross parcel
between 6 men. Also on Wed. & Thurs. similar Red Cross issue; our
turn on Thursday. Tea today, cabbage, few potatoes and very small
quantity of carrots. Ate whole bread ration by teatime. Bed 6 p.m.

Wednesday 20th December. Roll call 7 a.m. 7.15 a.m. check on whole
camp. Everyone turned out until 3.30 p.m. in compound. Very cold,
no grub until 5 p.m. and then only sauerkraut. No bread issue or
parcel issue. Starved stiff and got to bed. Fed up but morale good.

Thursday 21st December. Bread issue 2 p.m. double issue, margarine
issue, double - issue Red Cross parcel. Had good feed Jerry fresh
meat issue and Jerry cheese. Day of days for once. Had supper, 2
slices bread and margarine and 1 biscuit and real English tea. I had
was and went to bed 9.30 p.m. Happy and warm. Barley issue and
potatoes for tea.

Friday 22nd December.? Ration and half potatoes. Repaired blower?
Rumours of check Roll Call but did not matrialise (thank God). ½
Red Cross parcel issue good). For tea had fair boiling potatoes,1/2 tin

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