Between 1942 and early 1944, the prisoners in Stalag 18A and its satellite work camps embraced the opportunity to entertain themselves with musical theatre, pantomines and plays. It was the perfect outlet for the ‘creatives’ - the singers, musicians and amateur lotharios. But there was also a role for stage hands includung carpenters, commercial artists, tailors, and electricians.
At Wolfsberg there was a group dedicated to printing sheet music, building props, and provide costumes. They worked through the Red Cross to obtain the scores and scripts from England. Each of the larger camps had a concert committee who were responsible for liaising with Wolfsberg, arranging auditions, casting, and helping out with the production and direction of each of the shows.
My father Kevin was not a participant, but he enjoyed being in the audience. He purchased lots of ‘snaps’ using his pfennigs from his wages to pay for them. And on the back he meticulously recorded the date(s) and the names of the cast, musicians, and stagehands. The photos were taken by the prisoners themselves. The lack of tripods, flash phography and the limited stage lighting did not always result in a sharp photograph but nevertheless they did and amazing job.
At any one time, Klagenfurt held 250 POWs, more or less. In those days, there were far more musicians among the population than there is today. In the absence of television, people were much more creative when it came to entertaining themselves. Hence there were no shortaage of instrumentalists. The instruments were donated and passed on through the Red Cross. Some were purchased localy, the piano for instance, by the men pooling their meagre wages.
From the names on the back of the photographs, I can see that British POWs were the predominant cast members. The Aussies and Kiwis were happier doing the backstage jobs. I guess this was a cultural thing.
The German captors, while they could, were more than happy to provide the infrastructure for the stage shows. Their support included providing printing facilities, transporting producers and directors to the various camps, and the transport to take the ‘show on the road.’ Keeping prisoners busy in their free time had obvious security benefits. Busy prisoners would not have time to dig tunnels,.
At Wolfsberg there was a group dedicated to printing sheet music, building props, and provide costumes. They worked through the Red Cross to obtain the scores and scripts from England. Each of the larger camps had a concert committee who were responsible for liaising with Wolfsberg, arranging auditions, casting, and helping out with the production and direction of each of the shows.
My father Kevin was not a participant, but he enjoyed being in the audience. He purchased lots of ‘snaps’ using his pfennigs from his wages to pay for them. And on the back he meticulously recorded the date(s) and the names of the cast, musicians, and stagehands. The photos were taken by the prisoners themselves. The lack of tripods, flash phography and the limited stage lighting did not always result in a sharp photograph but nevertheless they did and amazing job.
At any one time, Klagenfurt held 250 POWs, more or less. In those days, there were far more musicians among the population than there is today. In the absence of television, people were much more creative when it came to entertaining themselves. Hence there were no shortaage of instrumentalists. The instruments were donated and passed on through the Red Cross. Some were purchased localy, the piano for instance, by the men pooling their meagre wages.
From the names on the back of the photographs, I can see that British POWs were the predominant cast members. The Aussies and Kiwis were happier doing the backstage jobs. I guess this was a cultural thing.
The German captors, while they could, were more than happy to provide the infrastructure for the stage shows. Their support included providing printing facilities, transporting producers and directors to the various camps, and the transport to take the ‘show on the road.’ Keeping prisoners busy in their free time had obvious security benefits. Busy prisoners would not have time to dig tunnels,.
Gunner R 'Taffy' Soper was a member of the Royal Artillery, Service No. 2051538, POW No. 3456
Gunner William 'Bill' Reid was a member of the Australian 2/4 Infantry Battalion, Service No. NX5324, POW No. 5423
Private Walter (Wally) Keast was a member of the 1Australian 2/6 Battalion, Service number was VX35976. Wally was born in the Melbourne suburb of Kensington on 16 Oct 1907. Post-war he worked for Victorian Railways in Melbourne and later at Camperdown, Victoria. He died in Terang, Victoria in 1990 aged 83.
Private Jim Stroud was a member of the Australian 2/8 Battalion, Service No. VX6495, POW No. 3749. Jim was later relocated to Stalag 383 at Hohen Fels, Germany between Nuremberg and Regensburg. Jim was born in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe on 7 May 1917. He died about 19 Jul 1971 aged 54.
Private Ivo 'Heck' Lanham was a member of 6th Division Petrol Company, Australian Army Ordinance Corps. Service No TX1232, POW No 7105.
Driver Jim Seed was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. T/178598, POW No. 3299.
Driver Harry Quarry was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. S/197182, POW No. 3178.
Taffy Jones (unable to identify).
Private John Onius (Jack) Turton served in the Australian 2/2 Infantry Battalion, Service No. NX8984, POW No. 3539. He born at Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales on 8 Sep 1917. Post-war he was a labourer in Jerilderie, NSW. He died 12 Sep 1968. He was 51.
Lance Corporal Edward 'Ted' Hanger was a member of 1 Corps Petroleum Park, Australian Army Ordinance Corps, Service No. VX27121, POW No. 3940. Ted was born in South Melbourne on 21 Aug 1913. Post-war he kived in the Melbourne suburb of Rosanna. He was employed as an iron foundry worker and later as a salesman. He died aged 80 on 8 Apr 1994 in Melbourne.
In December 1943, the camp produced three shows, including the Christmas pantomime. The first one was the drama "Ten Minute Alibi."
Driver Tom Powell was a member of Royal Signals, Service No. 1331543, POW No. 644.
Driver Bertram 'Ron' De Knock was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. T/186044, POW No. 3447. Ronnie was an enthusiastic member of the theatre group, appearing in multiple shows. In 1947, Ronnie emigrated to Australia, settling in Brisbane. He was born in 1914 and died in Brisbane on 18 Jan 1993. He was 79
Driver Les Scott was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. T/162897, POW No. 1581.
Driver Ron Richards was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. T/67788, POW No. 3349.
Driver Bertram 'Ron' De Knock (see above)
Private Ivor Hudson (see above)
Driver Tom Powell (see above)
Then, on the 13 and 14 of December, the camp held the production "Flying High."
Signalman Ken 'Jock' Purvis was a member of New Zealand Signals, Service No. 4702, POW No. 7924.
Private Fredrick France Clifton was a member of the 2/3 Battalion, 16th Brigade. His service number was NX14146. Fred was born in Sydney, NSW on 14 Jul 1917. Post-war he was a plant operator. He lived in Lane Cove. Sydney.
Driver John (Jack) Wilmot was a member of the Royal Engineers, Service No. 2012601, POW No. 5774.
Driver Ralph Dennis was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. 188714, POW No. 3533.
I'm guessing the Veterinary Corps is a 'leftover' from much earlier days in the British Army. Can anyone tell me what the role of Vet Corps soldiers was in WW2?
Gunner Maplesden was a member of the Royal Artillery, Service No. 1463663, POW No. 5933.
Sapper Jock Gordon was a member of the Royal Engineers, Service No. 1930319, POW No. 5635.
Lance Corporal Ernie Midwood was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. His service number was T/155988, POW No. was 2436.
Gunner Maurice Quigan was a member of New Zealand Artillery, Service No. 1994, POW No. 4240. Born in 1915, he died at Palmerston North on 20 Apr 1995 aged 80.
Lance Corporal T Taylor was a member of the Lancaster Fusiliers. His service number was 3453780,POW No. was 7290.
Sapper Edward Chatterley was a member of the Royal Engineers, Service No. 2090040, POW No. 2009.
Private Lionel Bigmore was a member of the Australian 2/6 Battalion. His service number was VX38220.
Private Westbrook was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. 174379, POW No. 2785.
Private 'Snow' Baillie was a member of the Durham Light Infantry, Service No. 2825067, POW No. 6393.
Lance Corporal Archie Kerr was a member of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, Service No. 4273376, POW No. 8160.
Sapper Watson was a member of the Royal Engineers, Service No. 1930570, POW No. 1615.
Driver J.L. Whittet was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. 220843, POW No. 3523.
Lance Corporal John Slack was a member of the Reconnaissance Corps, Service No. 7887955, POW No. 5701.
Driver H. 'Al' Bevis was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. 199787, POW No. 1347.
Trooper Bassett was a member of the Reconnaissance Corps, Service No. 788857, POW No. 5942.
Driver Maurice Fisher was a member of the Royal Engineers. His service number was 2002679, POW No. 1586.
1943 Christmas Pantomime
Driver H. 'Al' Bevis (see above)
Driver Andy McNeill was a member of Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. T/1622504, POW No. 1608.
Driver Angus McDougall was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. T/163216, POW No. 1730.
Driver Les Scott (see above)
Lance Corporal John Slack was a member of the Reconnaissance Corps, Service No. 7887955, POW No. 5701.
Gunner J Chadwick was a member of the Royal Artillery, Service No. 870709, POW No. 4535. Note: Kevin Byrne refers to this man as Leonard on the back of a photograph (not this one) however there is no L Chadwick recorded as a POW at Wolfsberg. Further, there were three 18A Chadwick's to choose from. I chose this man as his POW No was the closest to the majority of Klagenfurt POW numbers. It's very possible though that the identification I have given this 'Leonard' Chadwick is not correct.
Lance Sergeant Francis William "Herb" Murray was a member of the 2/3 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, service number WX77. Herb was born in Newcastle, England on 19 Sep 1911.
Sapper Jock Woods was a member of the Royal Engineers, Service No. 2019833, POW No. 6044.
Driver Johnny Dawson was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. His service number was 155960. POW No. was 2543.
Private Ivo 'Heck' Lanham. See above.
Driver F.L. Linford was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. His service number was T/170450, POW No. was 2465.
Private Stuart Spooner was a member of the New Zealand Army, Service No. 24307, POW No. 152.
Driver J Harvey was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps, Service No. T/143330, POW No. 3012.
No comments:
Post a Comment