大象传媒

Matthew was called up at 20 years of age under 鈥淭he Militia鈥� in 1939. All young lads of 20 had to go. He trained at Carlisle Castle. Before he went off to war he cycled all the way home from Carlisle, to Chatton in Northumberland, to say 鈥済oodbye鈥�. Bill sat on the crossbar of his brother鈥檚 bicycle all the way to Belford station, where he saw him off. Bill then cycled his bike back home.

Matthew sailed from Southampton to Shuberg.

He was first taken as a Prisoner of War before Dunkirk had happened. In 1939, Matthew鈥檚 family had news that he was 鈥淢issing, believed to be taken prisoner of war鈥�. Two years later that was confirmed by telegram. There was no other news in those two years. They were not even sure if he was alive or dead. Then they finally had some correspondence. Matthew鈥檚 mother received letters from him and he also wrote to a cousin in Alnwick. It was 1941. He was then a POW in Germany.

The photo clip from the newspaper of himself and other POWS was sent by Matthew to his mother, whilst he was away. For Christmas 1941, he was allowed to send a Christmas postcard. He had also received a Christmas postcard himself from the King and Queen dated 1939 which he kept.

His brother Bill has kept all his photos, cards, drawings and letters from those POW years. Other fellow POW鈥檚 who Bill has spoken to since the war are amazed at how he managed to keep all these photos and relics, especially the photo album he saved of pictures taken in the Pow camps. In this album photos are kept of fellow prisoners in Germany, and even football matches. Later in the album the mood changes and we see photos of funerals probably of fellow prisoners. Matthew also made and kept sketches of the POWs working at coal mines.

On VE Day, Matthew was not even aware of the liberation of Europe, as he was on a march from Poland to Germany. Matthew and the surviving prisoners were released in 1945 by the Americans. All the Germans had fled the camp by then. He returned home for a fortnight鈥檚 leave and then went straight back into the army himself. Bill and Matthew didn鈥檛 meet until 1946, on Bill鈥檚 embarkation leave 鈥� a very emotional reunion.

* Matthew鈥檚 Diary notes and dates follow:

Private M Douglas
3601112
4th Butt The Border Regiment

02.11.39 Moved from Carlisle to Aldershot

17.11.39 Moved from Aldershot to Southhampton

17/18.11.39 Sailed from Southhampton to Shuburg aboard Duke of York

18/19.11.39 Moved from Shuburg to Beaumont 鈥� 350 miles

22/23.011.39 Moved from Beaumont to Brest in a cattle truck 350 miles

25.11.39 Went to Sesneven to do guard duty

30.11.39 Went Back to Brest from Lesneven

06.12.39 Three days for having a rusty baronet

11.12.39 Moved to St. Thegoneg

21.01.40 Moved to Begard

20.02.40 Moved to Morliso

14.03.40 Went to hospital

27.03.40 Out of Hospital

21.01.43 Got a new number 144

04.06.43 Came back from work with a bad finger

07.06.43 Back to work but only one day

08.06.43 Had four teeth extracted.

09.06.43 Received clothes parcel

11.06.43 Still on the sick, things are looking bad no red cross parcels in the camp

12.06.43 Borrowed Canadian parcels from an other camp Can do work

13.06.43 2 days off for Whitsun rained all day No football

14.06.43 International match England won 3 -0

15.06.43 Off work with abscess on log

23.06.43 Started work today

25.06.43 Had 3 teeth out

26.06.43 Off work again with bad gums

29.06.43 Started work again

03.07.43 Sick with abscess

27.07.43 Had three teeth out

01.08.43 Church Service and concert party from Samsdorf enjoyed it well.

09.08.43 Been to hospital got marked for Samsdorf

13.08.43 Return to Samsdorf

19.08.43 Admitted to hospital

19.01.45 We are at present on 6 hour stand by to move Fremio Oppeln out of the Russian steam roller which is coming towards us with no mercy.

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