(World War I, Prisoner of War Manuscript) A first-hand accou...

Hammer

£100

(World War I, Prisoner of War Manuscript) A first-hand account by a British - probably Scottish - regular soldier, unidentified, of his experiences as a first world war prisoner of war in Germany from 1915 to ?1917, probably compiled after the war although the large amount of circumstantial detail might suggest that he was working from contemporaneous notes.
225 ruled foolscap leaves, loose. Ink, on rectos only.
Continuous narrative with no dates apart from `/15` (?1915) at the beginning and mention of the Russian withdrawal from the war (ie.1917) towards the end.
Writer was taken first to Dulmen camp, in North-Rhine Westphalia. Very detailed description of everyday life in the camp, protocols, living conditions, food, &c; interactions with fellow prisoners and German guards and particularly the `Kommandant`. Writer details several escape attempts, including a tunnel (detected by the Germans as it reached the perimeter fence); escape from a work detail, followed by a long cross country trek of several weeks, with attendant adventures and incidents (caught by the Germans at the Dutch border). Lengthy descriptions of treatment and punishments meted out after recapture, some mild physical maltreatment, some Germans actually rather friendly. Brought before various tribunals; refuses to answer questions; threatened with 'contempt of court', for which the penalty is death. A variety of visitors to the camp, including some just curious to see 'Britishers' and talk with them. Meets an Englishman who was working in Berlin before the war and continued to do so after hostilities broke out until he refused to do 'war work'. Meets Belgian and then Russian prisoners. A running theme through much of the narrative is his persistent attempts to get treatment for a wound to his foot sustained during one escape attempt. Camp doctors attend him; spends time in a civilian hospital.
Toward the end of the narrative he is transferred to 'Senne' camp (probably 'Seensen' camp, near Hanover). Transfer is by train, with descriptions of the journey, treatment by guards, station staff &c.; interactions with German civilians at stations en route. At Seene he is confined for a while in a 'detention hut', with an electrified fence, doubtless because of his record as a persistent escapee. Released from detention: more details of camp life, including receipt of parcels (?Red Cross).
Narrative ends abruptly after a page or two of general reflections on soldiering, as well as the fact that, as a prisoner, he has escaped most of the dangers of war.