POWs, Mum and me

At the back of the gardens of the houses in our road was a stream. If you jumped the stream you were on the Bank, rising ground of assorted trees, bushes and child-high cow parsley in Summer.

Towards the end of the war German prisoners of war appeared on the Bank to lay sewage pipes and drainage work. As children we observed them and eventually approached them and said, 'Hello'. They were so normal looking and smiled so kindly. They struggled to say our English words.

I asked my Mum if we could give them some coffee (Camp) and she agreed. The POWs were delighted and it became a routine thing. Of course the adults got involved and after the war was over supervision of the POWs was more relaxed and Mum invited them to lunch on Sundays. This was often tinned M&V which I thought was disgusting. Mum spoke a little German and they liked to teach her and she helped with their English.

In their spare time they made wooden toys and ships in bottles or light bulbs. My little sister was given a wooden butterfly which flapped its wings when pushed. I still have one of bottles with a harbour scene in it.

Some years later Mum was invited to stay in Hanover, she had a great time.

Unfortunately I have no names of the POWs and Mum is dead now.

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