大象传媒

Towards the end of the war, the German and Italian POWs were allowed out under escort to work on the local farms. To harvest, potato pick, etc. You could tell who they were because of the overalls and yellow patches on their back and ankles.

As school children, we were allowed ten full or 20 half days holiday to go and assist with the harvest. And the Italians used to pick the biggest potatoes, and then make a huge bonfire ... they stick these big spuds in the fire and by lunchtime they had the best baked potatoes around! They were huge and tasted magic ... once you broke it open, it was fabulous - full of flavour.

The Italians would also take a loaf of bread, break it in half and hollow the middle out and fill it with coffee. It was delicious.

The Germans made little wooden toys. They made something like a table-tennis bat with four "hens" around the circle. This would be a great game ... chasing the balls around and they burn designs and feathers onto the games ... they made all sorts of things ... some would paint pictures of the local churches. When we got talking to them, they didn't want to fight in the war. They were not dangerous. Many stayed in the UK and worked on the farms after the way as they had nothing to go home to.

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