A Prisoner of War’s Diary from Stalag VIIIB — 1944 July to December

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Mrs. J. Broomhead and has been added to the site with the author’s permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and condition

A Prisoner of War’s Diary from Stalag VIIIB — 1944 July to December
By
George Irving Beck

July 01, 1944 — Saturday
Had to give a glass of urine up for examination. Today first time I’ve had any food since Sunday, just about starving. Nun gave me a bag of pastry and started crying, said she had a son in France only seventeen, she hopes he is taken prisoner then she will know at least he is safe her husband is a toff and sleeps in the next bed to me.

July 03, 1944 — Monday
My illness is now diagnosed — neeren insünnlug und neeren strin, (inflammation of the kidneys and kidney stones), don’t know what this is. Fellow in the next bed left yesterday, he came to the fence with his wife today and sent a chap for me on the sly. Shook hands and his wife gave me a new toothbrush and paste. Slipped me a photograph with name on the back. Its marvellous what risks some people will take especially here.

July 05, 1944 — Wednesday
Had spermatozoa test taken on a slide. Lady doctor called me into the office and asked me if I’d ever had venereal disease. Told her I’d never had it for I was particular who I went with. Ten o’clock went in the X-Ray laboratory and had photographs taken. Too many red corpuscles in my blood.

July 06, 1944 — Thursday
Had to leave hospital for there is a shortage of beds. Everybody had been great to my including the sisters, regarding the Sisters of Mercy they’re wonderful. Especially Sister Angela who I shall never forget. She did a lot for me without complaining and before I left I showed my gratitude by giving her two blocks of chocolate. Resins and prunes. She nearly wept with joy when she received them. Gave the other Sister choc. Too. Shook hands with all before leaving including the patients who all treated me wonderful. One chap spoke very good English and was bombed out at Berlin. Came and saw me everyday and still studies our language for after the war, says he’s going to England, as he’s an engineer. Gave me photo. Doctor saw him talking to me and warned him to remember that it is forbidden to talk to prisoners.

July 08, 1944 - Saturday
Awaiting arrival of guard now to take me back to the main camp. I haven’t to work or do any lifting so I must wait and see what develops.

July 12, 1944
Left Zuittair for Lamsdorf said farewell to Bernard and the lads.
Arrived Hornstadt nine am, slept at German headquarters, feel pretty weak after twelve days in German hospital, nothing to eat since I left working party.

July 13, 1944
Arrived Lamsdorf 5pm ?????? searched and slept in ??? Handed 400 marks to be put in my credit. First time in the camp since 1940, what a change.

July 14, 1944
Deloused. Saw German medical officer and put in convalescent barracks.

July 15, 1944
Sick - Suffering from inflammation of kidneys and stone. Got to have a urine test. Went to show ‘Journeys End’.

July 16, 1944
Put a bookcase on stall for Germans, had to do something - no smokes.

July 17, 1944
Marvellous weather. Latest news. Mystery - fellow found in camp pond with throat cut - also spare hand — nobody ????

July 19, 1944
Played two up - beginners luck won three tins of tobacco and some cigarettes shook five pairs of hands.

July 20, 1944
Met an old friend, Bob Ford. Little did we think that we should still be prisoners after four years, and meet again in Germany.

July 23, 1944
Wrote couple of letters to wife.

July 24, 1944
Laid on my bed all day feeling sick. Haven’t eaten a good meal for ages. I daren’t through my complaint. Our own medical officer thinks a man is scrounging when he’s sick.

July 25, 1944
Two hundred men arrived from danger zone, their area was bombed heavily, it is happening all over.

July 29, 1944
Received book parcel from Regiment — none from the wife this year yet - don’t know what is wrong.

July 30, 1944
Did my washing today.

July 31, 1944
Air raid alarm sounded. Our Air Force over in formation — had crash — saw parachutist come down.

August 1, 1944
Reported to new hospital for X-ray, received injection in the arm, two and a half minute needle.

August 2, 1944
Went to see Lambeth Walk.

August 3, 1944
Terribly weak in the back and pains keep shooting through my right side, just like appendicitis.

August 5, 1944
Put books on stall for cigarettes. Saw lads getting ready for carnival.

August 6, 1944
What a marvellous procession, and everything made out of nothing. Each country represented and fun fair. Marvellous sight and it would do the people of England good to see it. Never seen anything like it before myself, with being on a small working party for the last three years.

August 7, 1944
GOING MAD all night with pain, three orderlies up with me, sick all over and laid over the window sill outside. Although my back had to be propped up, hot water bottle eased it a bit.

August 8, 1944
REPORTED SICK. Urine test, awaiting X-ray results. Must be something wrong to keep having attacks.

August 9, 1944
German guns all around camp.

August 10, 1944
Had to see Major Huntes. Ordered me to see Colonel Wilson to diagnose complaint.

August 15, 1944
Sold a pair of socks for cigarettes. Had to do something.

August 17, 1944
Saw Colonel Wilson, ordered me to go in the New Hospital Monday.

August 19, 1944
Did some washing, everything now clean ready for hospital.

August 21, 1944
ADMITTED INTO HOSPITAL

August 22, 1944
Medical Officer says further investigations must be made. Another X-ray taken.

August 23, 1944
On the operating table, what an ordeal, cysterscopical examination. 2ft 9in rods used and tubes, took an hour and a half.

August 24, 1944
Couldn’t rest, in pain when I urinate, passing blood. Stoppage in bladder found.

August 25, 1944
Still in bed awaiting results.

August 29, 1944
Got to have an operation on the kidneys for stone. Major operation. At present I have a poisoned arm, so must wait till it’s better and the sling is off.

September 3, 1944
Arm still in bad condition, on cod liver oil, orange tablets and a course of six needles. Roll on when the operation is over.

September 7, 1944
Still waiting, had urine test.

September 10, 1944
Had another attack of pain in side and back, going mad with it. Temperature risen. Put in another ward and received Morphine injection to kill the pain, cannot operate yet.

September 13, 1944
Another X-Ray photograph. Saw a couple of hundred bombers (ours) passing over today. Looked marvellous.

October 10, 1944 - Tuesday
Arm better. Operated on nine o’clock, three and a half hours on the table. Came out of the anaesthetic about six in the evening. Received Morphine injection.

October 13, 1944
Feeling a little better but cannot move, in agony when the dressings are changed, tube in my side, and bad chest through ether.

October 20, 1944
Stitches removed, bit painful but everything going O.K. muscles terribly sore but can be expected after them being cut through. Knitting nicely, tube taken out, no discharge.

November 01, 1944
Learning to walk again, what a job trying to straighten up. X-Ray report after operation. Upper part of right urethra dilated, with constriction below 2nd aberrant in renal vessels.

November 22, 1944
Radium heat treatment, and massage. Rheumatism in the back muscles.

November 24, 1944
Due for discharge. Colonel says treatment cannot be got in main camp must stay longer in hospital.

November 25, 1944
Colonel Wilson tried a new method on my back, froze it with Ethyl Chloride.

November 27, 1944
Discharged from hospital, saw the German Medical Officer.

November 30, 1944
What a life, everybody ravenously hungry, no parcels and stealing going on all over.

December 08, 1944 - Friday
Today we had our three bread rations stolen; this means we’ve nothing to eat for the next 24 hours. Some people would do anything we’re terribly hungry ourselves and somebody does this.

December 10, 1944
Wrote to our Elise but had to guess the address.

December 23, 1944
Medical officer says I have a terrible big wound and I can expect the weather to affect my back also suffering with chest through anaesthetic. Says I may be put up for next commission, I doubt it but hope so.

December 26, 1944
On sick parade, Medical Officer put me down for X-Ray on chest marked ‘Urgent’ on report I have a pulse.

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