PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
||
 |
|||
|
There were apparently several prisoner of war camps in the Plymouth area at which German and Italian prisoners were kept towards the end of the Second World War. One was at Bickham, in the parish of Buckland Monachorum, to the west of the main road to Tavistock before Yelverton. Another was at Hazeldene, just east of Elburton village, Plymstock. Former Nissen huts used by American troops in the build up to D-Day were also used. These were in the grounds of Chaddlewood House at Plympton, Saltram Park, and Marsh Mills. Chaddlewood House was the headquarters for all prisoners of war working camps in South Devon. Apparently the Italians were the first to arrive in the area and many were housed in huts at Efford. They converted a barn into a chapel but all traces of it were removed when they were repatriated. Only non-commissioned ranks were kept locally, the officers being sent as far north as possible, including the Highlands of Scotland. Some prisoners were allowed to work in the surrounding area, mainly on farms and clearing debris from the streets of Plymouth. They wore a simple uniform of brown with multi-coloured patches. Two from Bickham Camp are known to have helped an ex Royal Navy gentleman at Dousland tend his large garden until they were repatriated. They also made slippers and baskets and the Germans were particularly good at making toys and wooden carvings. Some prisoners repainted the railing at the various military barracks at Devonport. Others were used to saw timber for firewood, as coal was in short supply after the War. This was done in Hall's Wood at Cornwood and the smaller logs were taken to a yard in Notte Street for distribution. At Plympton they also formed a choir which gave concerts in and around the area for some eighteen months. Because of the shortage of labour in 1945, extensive use was made of prisoners of war for laying the foundations of the temporary prefabricated houses and shops. Around 300 Austrians were employed by the Ministry of Works for this work and they were not allowed to mix with other British workmen. When the Austrians were repatriated, in 1946 by the looks of it, they were replaced by about 600 men of unknown nationalities. In 1945 they were used at Efford, Ham and Manadon and in 1947 they helped with 105 houses in Ferndale Road, Saint Budeaux, and a smaller number in Beaumont Road. On Friday May 7th 1948 the last German prisoners of war left the camp at Chaddlewood, Plympton, by train bound for a repatriation camp in Suffolk. Five of the prisoners from that Camp had married local girls and were hoping to settle down in the area. One of them was Herr Lademann Werner, who had married a girl from Laira. The Camp leader, 42-years-old Herr Carl Renfer, was returning to his wife at Frankfurt, whom he had not seen for four years. There was apparently a camp within Central Park, at the southern end where the mini golf is now situated. Sources:
|
|||