Work Camp 10911 GW

Date of visit: September 1943

Location: Tainach – Stein (2 camps); (later moved to Kühnsdorf)

Men of Confidence: Cpl G Rogers and Pte F Clinton

Number of men: 82

Known to be present

(Information and photographs provided by Michael Moore, son of Sydney Moore, Janet Brooks, niece of Sidney Brooks and Moira Valentine, neice of Mark Clarke.)

Group 1	Christmas Menu, 1942	Names from Group 1
Group 2	Unknow, Brown, Clarke	Group 3
Francis 'Jock' Clinton	A Brown, Tasmania	Arthur Smalls
B.E. Gooch	W 'Paddy' Walsh	W.R.H Sleep
'Journey's End' cast**	'Journey's End' backstage	Mark Clarke
Brooks Group*	Brooks Group*	Boy Brooks Group*

* These pictures may not be from 10911/GW.

** 'Journey's End' was staged at Kühnsdorf.

General description

These 2 camps belong to the Reichsbahn (railways). They consist of wooden barracks and are rather worn out and not any more adequate. They will be closed on the 15^th October and the men moved to a quite new and well-equipped camp further down the line near Kühnsdorf.

61 and 21 men

Upper camp: sleeping quarters without any accommodation for hanging up the clothes and so. Double tier beds. Electric light has just been put in.

Lower camp: the huts are very old but the Man of Confidence has done miracles with his men to make them look nice and has succeeded in giving his little camp the aspect of a friendly home.

Upper camp: the washhouse with 3 taps adequate.

Lower camp: the water has to be fetched from a pump for cooking and drinking. Water for washing is carried up from the River Drau as the camp stands on the riverbanks.

Food and Cooking

The cooking is done in a special hut in the upper camp and appears to be good.

Medical attention and Sickness

The sick go to the camp in Weidsmanndorf where Captain Dr Munroe attends to them. Medical supply is in order. Dental treatment is done in Stalag.

Is good.

Done in camp but the facilities are not nearly adequate.

Correct.

Very poor.

The padre came about every second month to this camp.

There is no sports ground. In summer the men could go swimming in the nearby river Drau.

Fairly good.

In order.

The men complain about the very bad state of their blankets. The accompanying officer stating that this was true ordered the exchange of those blankets, which were no more fit for use. There were other complaints in connection with the very primitive state of the camp, but as the camp will be moved, these complaints will not be mentioned in this report.

The delegate of the Protecting Power had the occasion to meet the Reichsbahn engineer later in the day of his visit. He told him that these two camps were about the worst and shabbiest he had ever seen during his year of travelling about Germany. The engineer gave him his promise that the new camp was going to be built after the model of the camp already existing at Kühnsdorf. The spirit and the health of the men have however not been touched by the circumstances under which they have to live in this camp.