(november word) 'remember' The International Red Cross and the PoWs they helped in WW2
In a page, above, from his diary which he kept during his years as a PoW in WW2, my father writes about his hunger.
He also often wrote about food (or the lack of it) and expressed his gratitude more than once to the Red Cross:
Christmas 1942 (PoW camp in Italy)
"After a lot of discussion, it was decided to issue every man with a Canadian parcel and 50 cigarettes on Christmas Eve. This sounded good: we had never received a parcel all to ourselves and we looked forward to Christmas."
Feb 1943 - in PoW Camp in Italy
". . ......a day or two after this, we were informed of an improvement in the parcel situation. From then onwards the issue was to be 1 parcel between 2 men twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. That was great news to us all and from that time onwards everyone began to look better. We lived absolutely on those parcels and I have thanked the Red Cross a thousand times in my heart."
May 1943
"There was always 1lb of meat in an English parcel with the meat roll and perhaps one found salmon or instead, bacon. There was also a pudding in some (1lb) or fruit (prunes, apricots etc.). Yorkshire puddings, cocoa, oats, egg flakes, peas, beans, carrots and other foodstuffs were to be found in an English parcel. With a regular issue of these parcels and an improvement in the weather, everyone began to pick up and I must say I felt much better towards the end of spring.
As one may gather, the Red Cross parcels we received meant quite a lot to us. I dare not even try to imagine what would have happened to many of us had we not been fortunate enough to receive parcels."
Nov 1943 (in a workcamp, Cossebaude, Dresden)
"We had no Red Cross parcels or cigarettes during the first 3 weeks at Cossebaude. On Thurs 4-11-43 we received an issue of one Canadian parcel each. These were greatly appreciated by all - we certainly needed them. On the following Saturday we received an English parcel each. This was because we had been without parcels for so long. The normal issue was one parcel each per week."
April 1945 (at Zinnwald, being marched away from Cossebaude)
"The Englishman in charge of us was doing his best to secure more food for us. He went out every day and on Fri 20-4-45 he returned with some parcels in a lorry. When we heard of that, our morale went up considerably. We were told the parcels were from the Danish Red Cross and there was one between 3 men. They were certainly a relief to us and came as a God-send. Each parcel contained the following: 1lb biscuits, 500 grms cheese, 1lb lump sugar, 1lb butter, 1oz syrup, 1lb meat roll, a small packet of oats and a bar of soap. Those parcels helped us over a couple of days and were greatly appreciated."
from the diaries of
Bertram Haig Martin, Gunner 943454 - Royal Artillery - 67th Medium Regiment - Prisoner of War 229846
Wow, what an amazing insight to what your dad went through in the war. My grandmother has my grand dad's diary from war times too (though he wasn't a POW). She won't let anyone touch it. It is a very special thing for her. Thank you for sharing.
We had a Veterans Day program and PowerPoint presentation of pictures of US veterans comprised of relatives of my students. Families are sharing about it and telling each other stories never heard before. Because my school is so diverse we have gotten in to talking about Allies. Your story here brings another beautiful aspect. Thank you and I will be sharing with the kids.
@nana2r Carren, thank you for your interest in my post today and for your appreciation of it. I have transcribed all my father's PoW diaries before donating them to the Second World War Experience Centre in Leeds. Here http://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2012-05-07 is the first of a 3 week photo + text series I did of his last 3 weeks in WW2, including here http://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2012-05-18 the account of how some American ex-PoWs helped him and his pals to get back to England. It is easy to print off the illustrations and text if you would find it appropriate to use with your students and I would have no problem with this. I always feel that the experiences of ordinary soldiers (not just heroes, who of course were very important too) should not be lost.
@kellieem Thank you for stopping by and commenting. It's lovely for your grandmother to have your granddad's wartime diary but it does seem a shame that she does not feel able to share it with the family.
I can perhaps understand something of how she feels and it is obviously very special to her. I posted the last 3 weeks of my dad's diary until he arrived in England here on 365 if it interests you to have a look http://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2012-05-07
@tishpics Thank you Patricia. I was unable to get to Warsash today where I also wanted to take a photo of the memorial to the men who took part in the D-Day landings. ) I believe your father was involved in that. ) If I can get there soon I'll post the photo.
Hazel I have read a few times this text you shared today. It's so moving for me, and I can't imagine what it is for you. Thanks so much for sharing something so special. Last year I had the honor to visit Normandy and be guided with a very knowledgeable British General, with an amazing amount of knowledge of WWII. I am going to go to read those links that you shared with @nana2r Carren.
@quietpurplehaze Thank You! I am looking forward to reading them. You are so kind to share your father's story with all of us. YOU are a hero for that!
@anazad511@nana2r I'm very happy you found this interesting. I have to admit that I did suffer healthwise from making the original transcription of my father's diaries (in 2000) but since then I have made comprehensions of certain sections for use with adult dyslexic students whom I used to teach. And it's been a privilege to share some pages of them here on 365. Both my father and I tried unsuccessfully to get them published (not exciting enough I guess). However the director of the museum in Leeds where the originals now are lodged was so thrilled with them and the amount of detailed information they give into an 'ordinary' PoW's experience. You can see pics of my dad as a young man, and as I knew him, here http://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/365/2012-01-12
@anazad511 We have visited Normandy on a few occasions, quite accessible for us, and I'm sure you found your visit very interesting. To me, there's something very moving and thought-provoking about those landing beaches and the nearby countryside.
wow! I am a Red Cross volunteer and didn't realize how important those Red Cross packages were to the soldiers! Is it OK if I copy and pass this on to my local Red Cross Chapter?
@vickisfotos No problem at all to copy and pass on the extracts from my father's diary. He was Bertram Haig Martin, ( known as Bert of course!) a gunner in the 67th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery. More extracts from his last 3 weeks of WW2 starting here http://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2012-05-07
If he had not had some Red Cross parcels in addtion to the meagre and poor quality camp rations he might not have survived the war, who knows, and I might not be sitting here typing this to you! (I was born December 1946.)
@nana2r@anazad511 I realised afterwards that I might have given the impression here that Red Cross parcels were all the food my dad received. He did of course, like other prisoners, receive rations in the various camps. These did vary a lot but were often dry bread and a 'skilly' a very watery soup with bits of veg and rice floating in it. If you are interested to know more I'll give a bit more info from his diaries. Hard for us to even comprehend this.
Lovely collage with excellent use of the real poppy. There's something very emotive about the badge and of course your transcriptions are as fascinating as ever.
@vickisfotos Yes, I think the 'even now' of what you say is perhaps the key - people all over the world still suffer and nobody appears to 'learn' anything from history.
@judithg Judith, many thanks for your comments, always appreciated. It's been good (and helpful) to share some of my father's experiences on 365 and I find satisfaction ( and some sense of 'liberation') for myself in doing it.
I can perhaps understand something of how she feels and it is obviously very special to her. I posted the last 3 weeks of my dad's diary until he arrived in England here on 365 if it interests you to have a look http://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2012-05-07
If he had not had some Red Cross parcels in addtion to the meagre and poor quality camp rations he might not have survived the war, who knows, and I might not be sitting here typing this to you! (I was born December 1946.)