大象传媒

This story was added to the People's War site by a volunteer from 大象传媒 Newcastle on behalf of Dorothy James. Dorothy James fully understands the site's terms and conditions and the story has been added with her permission.

"This story has been buried in my memory for years but it suddenly surfaced the other day for no reason.

In 1946 I was an ATS driver stationed at Rutherglen, where we lived in Nissen huts in the grounds or a large house and the general maintenance, cleaning, etc was done by German POWs - they also used to light the coke stoves in our huts prior to our returning in the evening.

Every one had their personal knick-knacks on their shelves and I had photograph album - quite large, 10-12 inches. One day this album disappeared and in spite of an official search in the beds and lockers, it couldn't be found.

I was naturally upset as it contained many family photographs - childhood, guides, youth club, friends and most recently some of my sisters 6-month-old baby proudly held by myself.

A few months later the camp was disbanded but a skeleton staff was accommodated in the big house (a great blessing as this was during the big freeze in the winter of 1946/47).

One day a workman came along with a photograph album he had found hidden on top of the toilet cistern in one of the Nissen huts - of course it was mine, intact but for the recent photos of me and my nephew!

We came to the conclusion that one of the POWs had taken those out and then hidden the album.

I often wonder - did they remind him of his wife and child or were they just fantasy photos for him to weave stories around?

Anyway, I hope they gave him comfort and didn't cause akward explanations at a later date!"

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