Work Camp 86 GW
Work Camp 86 GW |
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Location: Thesen, near Marburg on the Drau
Type of work: Construction
Man of Confidence: Bdr E.W. Legget
Number of Men: 251
Forename |
Surname |
Rank |
Unit |
POW |
Comments |
| ? | Adams | Sgt | Australia; escaped 1944 | ||
| Paul Matehe | Awarau | Pte | 28 Bn. | 4956 | New Zealand Possible |
| Victor Leonard | Bailey | Gnr | RA | 4512 | Also 143/GW |
| William George | Baldry | Sgmn | R Sigs | 4207 | Also 11025/GW, 76/HV, 970/GW |
| George | Cable | Sailor | HMS Gloucester | England; escaped 1944 | |
| George | Cotter | Gnr | Australia; escaped 1944 | ||
| Victor J. | Daker | Pte | RASC | 6305 | |
| Viv | Harper | NZ; escaped 1944 | |||
| ? | Honeywell | Sgt | Indian Army | ||
| Arthur K. | Harvey | L/Cpl | RAC | 5331 | Mansfield; also 7010/GW |
| Walter Stephen | Hunt | Pte | 24th Bn. | 4646 | NZ; 68/GW |
| ? | Jennings | Sgt | Australia; escaped 1944 | ||
| Charles H.J. | Lawrence | Tpr | RAC | 6047 | Also 7010/GW |
| E.W. | Legget | Bdr | RA | 6946 | |
| Alec | Marshall | Pte | R Ulst. R | Also 78/L; escaped 1944 | |
| Thomas Lawson | Marshall | Dvr | RASC | 5285 | Possible |
| R.D. | McCurdy | Pte | 4576 | New Zealand | |
| Sid | Paling | England | |||
| Maru | Paul | Pte | 28 Bn. | 4976 | New Zealand Possible |
| ? | Poidevin | Sgt | Australia; escaped 1944 | ||
| Albert 'Paddy' | Roachock | Pte | 2/6 Inf. Bn. | 7422 | Australia |
| ? | Rose | Sgt | Leics. | England | |
| Albert Arthur | Smith | Cpl | Foresters | 7474 | |
| Harold J.F.E. | Tideswell | Sgmn | R Sigs | 4434 | Also 539/L, 1010/GW |
| Andrew Carr | Tulip | Sgmn | R Sigs | 5341 | Co. Durham |
| Elvet | Williams | Pte | Welch | 5841 | Also 2056/L, 785/GW; escaped 1944 |
| ? | Winstanley | England |
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| 4th Hussar POWs | Stephen Hunt group | |
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| Christmas | Christmas | Christmas |
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| Charles Lawrence | Andrew Tulip | Harold Tideswell |
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| The following pictures may not be from this Work Camp. | ||
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(These pictures kindly loaned by Bob Lawrence, son of Charles Lawrence, Gill Rowe, daughter of Victor Bailey and Jeanette Jakeman, daughter of Victor Daker. The top right picture is definitely from 68/GW and includes Pte Stephen Hunt, 24th Bn. 2NZEF, kindly sent by his son, Eric. The Albert Smith picture comes from his son, David.)
Date of visit: September 8th 1943
General Description
Big camp formed by two barracks of the latest type with corridor. Special hut for washhouse and latrines. There is a compound for basketball inside the barbed wire. There is no dayroom in the camp. The delegate asked that one should be added as in the winter the men had no opportunity whatever for plays or concerts.
Interior arrangement
The barracks contain a certain number of rooms left and right of the corridor for 15 to 20 men. There is electric light in the barracks and the heating is said to be adequate.
Bathing and washing facilities
Adequate.
Toilet facilities
Latrines (flush type) adequate.
Food and Cooking
The food is fetched at the works canteen. Private food is cooked in the sleeping quarters.
Medical attention and sickness
Medical attention is given by a civilian doctor attached to the works. There is a revier in the camp with 10 beds. The sanitators look after the sick. Medical supply adequate. Dental treatment in order.
Clothing
Good.
Laundry
Done by the men.
Money and Pay
Correct.
Canteen
Some articles can be bought by the Man of Confidence in Marburg.
Religious activity
Regular visits from Stalag.
Recreation and exercise
Basketball is played in the camp. A football ground will be available outside the camp after 15th October.
Mail
Regular
Welfare work
In order.
Complaints
There was a complaint that the treatment of prisoners of war in this enterprise was not fair. They ask to be considered as soldiers and not merely as working slaves. The accompanying officer promised to see the director of works about this.
General impression
Materially speaking this camp is very good but the attitude of the German civilian authorities creates continual difficulties. If this situation should go on, the Stalag would close this camp and take the prisoners-of-war back.
There is another mention of this Work Camp in a larger review of several work camps.
April 22nd 1944
The immediate dissolution of work detachments 64/65/68 GW at Thesen near Marburg was confirmed by Commandant.
(This reference refers to a special report dated 28th April 1944, which I don't have.)
