Camp 41 - Ganger Camp, Romsey, Hampshire

Included in the 1945 ICRC camp list – Labour Camp. 41. Ganger Camp, Romsey, Hants.

1947 camp list

41(G.W.C.)

Ganger Camp, Romsey, Hants

Priswar, Romsey

Romsey 82

Romsey

Lt.Col.N.C.H.Downe

v/1453/2

For this entry, Lt.Col Downe’s name was crossed out and the following name handwritten: Major E.E.Utley – the War Establishment number was also changed to v/1452/2. Major Utley was not commandant at Ganger – he was at Southampton when it became Camp 41 in 1948.

Prisoner of War Camps (1939 – 1948) - Project report by Roger J.C. Thomas - English Heritage 2003

OS NGR

Sheet

No.

Name & Location

County

Cond’n

Type 1945

Comments

SU 373 228

185

Ganger Camp, Romsey

Hampshire

German Working Camp

STANDARD type

Location: To the NE of Romsey town / next to Ganger Farm.

Before the camp: Farmland. In 1941 a list of proposed pow camp sites had 41 as Lopcombe Corner, but that site actually became Camp 402.

POW Camp: Italian pows to 1944/1945, then German pows.

1943 - The camp was mentioned in the autobiography of Lady Pamela Hicks: “At thirteen and home for the summer holidays….” near Romsey. While out doing errands in the neighbourhood; “Our route often took us by the local prisoner-of-war camp, known as ‘Ganger Camp,’ which housed Italian and German POWs. The camp’s… huts were well defended behind tall wire fences with gun batteries and a machine-gun post, and when the prisoners were out working on the local farms, they were watched over by a soldier with a gun. On one occasion, I noticed a Tommy reach into his pocket for a light. Fumbling a little, he passed his gun to a prisoner to hold for him while he lit his cigarette. He took a long, relaxed puff, then stuck out his arm, and his gun was gently handed back.

After I had been making the daily journey into Romsey for a couple of weeks, a young Italian hailed me from a field. To my utter surprise he presented me with a ring made out of shiny metal. I felt my cheeks heat up as I stammered a thank-you in my best Italian. It was the first ring I had ever been given, and when I examined it in the privacy of my room, I was amazed to see how intricate it was, how the man had somehow carved a little pattern on it. I never saw him again but I wore the ring proudly.

Every prisoner could work if he so wished. Most helped on local farms, hedging, ditching, and doing seasonal chores, and they became very much part of the landscape, as our farmworkers were away at war.” Daughter of Empire: My Life as a Mountbatten. Lady Pamela Hicks. 2012. Simon and Schuster.

1943 – Hostels listed for Italian pows; Bishops Waltham; Enham Arch* (Andover); Whitchurch

May 1944 - The camp was listed as an Italian Labour Battalion under the Southern Command area, (and as an Italian POW Working Camp in November 1944), (WO 32/10737). The Italians were recorded as non-co-operators. Hostels listed: Enham Alamein*, Andover; Whitchurch, Hampshire.

*Enham Arch and Enham Alamein are about 2 miles apart.

1945 (before September) - Hostel at Theddon [Thedden] Grange opened with 100 pows (FO939/383).

September 1945 - Appendix to HQ Southern Command War Diary: Ganger, Romsey – German labour camp – capacity 1100 – 131/808429

Italian hostels – Andover, Porton, Waterlooville – total cap 170. German hostels – Corhampton, Danebury, Fordingbridge, Whitchurch – total cap 320.

Oversight and development of re-education activities and English teaching for German pows was carried out by PID (Political Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office) / COGA (Control Office for Germany and Austria – UK). Visits and reports were made. The standard of the reports varied greatly. The visitors took little interest, if any, in activities other than re-education; they rarely mention welfare, sports, games, pastimes, crafts, etc of the pows.

June 1946 – unknown number of pows arrived from camps in the USA where they had been told they were to be repatriated to Germany.

14 August 1946 – 3 members of the ‘Segregation Section’ of PID visited to carry out political screening. Strength; 1 officer, 2153 OR.

Commandant: Lt Col N C H Downe Camp Leader: Hptfw H Schalla (A)

Interpreter: S/Sgt P Shelley, MM. Deputy C/L: Obfw. R Boetcher (B)

German M.O.: Asst Arzt H Buerger (A)

Commandant – the camp leader stated that he treated pows fairly. He allowed pows to vote for their leaders by secret ballot.

Camp leader – Helmuth Schalla had recently been elected by secret ballot. No party record, a professional soldier. “Good sound type. Very well spoken of by other German and British personnel. Extremely popular.”

Deputy – Robert Boetcher – “Can just about manage the job.”

MO – Helmut Buerger, had been a member of the Hitler Youth and Nazi Party from 1938 - “this he was forced to do in view of his position. A highly intelligent type very definitely Anti-Nazi. Well spoken of by all.”

Political Screening:	A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C	C+	Unknown
(Unknowns were mainly billetees)	7	60	14	385	1076	299	76	0	(236)

Very few re-education activities had been started, mainly because the pows were working late, often to 8.30, due to the harvest. A ‘Political Working Association’ was led by Othmar Faiss (B+) with 12 members to develop activities.

General comments – A fear of Russia was expressed, and many pows did not wish to return to the Russian zone. The pows requested German newspapers and books. Mail was arriving regularly from the American, British and French zones – less so from the Russian zone. A camp newspaper had just been published – “Die Wahrheit” [The Truth].

There were only minor issues reported in the camp, e.g. absence of footballs.

A small group of pows had attended a meeting at Salisbury Council, but Sothern Command said that permission would not be given for this again. Within a few months such visits would be actively encouraged by PID.

There was a camp orchestra with 12 members, and a theatre which could hold 250.

Religion – Protestant Padre Dietrich Glueer (A+) – No party record. “Is purely a Parson, nothing else.” [In other words, he was not involved with re-education activities].

30 December 1946 – 4 January 1947 – A member of PID arrived to, “Organise re-education.” Strength; 1 officer, 1975 OR.

Commandant: Lt Col N C H Downe Camp Leader: Obfw. R Boetcher (B+) [was deputy and upgraded to B+].

Interpreter: S/Sgt P Shelley, MM & St.Sgt Forrest [new] Deputy C/L: Obgefr Huetter (B) [new]

German M.O.: Asst Arzt H Buerger (A)

Interpreters – S/Sgt Shelley was due for demobilisation; S/Sgt Forrest had worked at Glen Mill pow camp and had a, “very keen interest in organising re-education.”

The new camp leader had received faint praise previously. He had deferred repatriation for 6 months, no reasons given. He was aged 32, married, based in the British zone. He had the full confidence of the Commandant and was regarded as “reasonably efficient.” He was generally unpopular with the pows, but only trivial complaints were raised. It was expected that he would be removed from the position in the new year when a secret ballot was due to be held.

The new deputy leader was aged 31, unmarried, from Berlin, a former wholesale wine merchant. “Co-operative and efficient, but not an outstanding man.” Had not been a party member.

Simplified screening grades were used:	A	B+	B	B-	C
	13	377	1175	333	78

9 appeals had been made against screening grades, (the better the grade, the sooner the repatriation – in theory). 8 had been allowed. 202 pows repatriated to date.

Morale was considered to be “unreasonably low” in the main camp, mainly due to minor grievances. Example given; many camps introduced relaxed regulations a week earlier than here. Other reasons were the unpopular leader, and lack of musical and acting talent, leading to a dull life. The PID visitor thought that developing re-education activities would help raise morale as it would keep the pows busy.

Although many of the pows were “Youth” (under-25), no special provisions had been made for them.

Many of the A grade pows who often led re-education activities had been repatriated. The standard list of activities was given:

Wochenpost and Ausblick – 500 and 150 copies. More required to ensure distribution to hostels and billets.

Newspapers – only 3 copies of 5 English papers received at the main camp. The situation at the hostels was “chaotic.” Supply needed to be sorted out. COGA had not sent any English newspapers and very few German ones. The visitor requested COGA to sort this out.

Library – 900 books, but many unreadable. COGA had not sent any new books and the visitor requested them to do so.

Lectures – regular and highly appreciated.

Discussion groups – none. Many pows “politically apathetic.”

Films – supplied by YMCA and Gaumont British to all sites except Andover and Whitchurch. The charge of 6d ( 2½p) by British Gaumont was considered to be too high. Charges were also made to the camp welfare funds for the films and these were also considered to be too high.

Wireless – poor facilities at all sites. Main camp had 1 wireless with three outdoor loudspeakers.

Camp magazine – issued fortnightly. Good quality, but few contributors.

Press review – Short daily review. A paper copy of the review was being set up to display at the hostels.

English Instruction – 1 teacher at each site, except Winchester where teaching was not possible due to poor facilities. There was an increased interest in learning English now that fraternisation rules had been relaxed.

Information room – none.

Other activities –

Religion – adequate facilities for worship. The protestant pastor, (Glueer) was not highly respected and attendances at services were low.

Education – no classes listed.

Entertainment - a “dearth of talent.” Arrangements for interchanging concert parties had just been set up between camps 41, 65, 251 and 402.

28 April – 1 May 1947 – Progress report for PID. Strength; 2 officers, 1750 OR.

Two changes to senior personnel: Camp leader – Owm Friedrich Wilhelm Kleinevoss (B+); aged 41, married, from British zone, a solicitor. Previously ran the camp magazine. “A quiet, steady and thoroughly capable man, generally liked in the camp.”

Deputy – St.Gefr Ludwig Knauf (B); aged 27, married, from the British zone, a clerk. “A pleasant and willing man, though not in any way outstanding.”

The commandant was supportive of re-education. The new Interpreter, though keen to develop activities, was kept busy with other administrative matters.

Screening was simplified even further: A 8; B 1744. 540 pows repatriated to date.

Morale was believed to have improved since the last visit. This was mainly due to the change of camp leader; repatriations; relaxation of fraternisation rules and good local relationships. All C grade pows had been recently upgraded.

The standard list of re-education activities was given. Notable changes from the last report:

Newspapers – British papers improved, now satisfactory. Still too few German papers.

Library – greatly improved. COGA had sent new books.

Discussion groups – In main camp only meetings of the camp parliament (Vertrauensrat).

Wireless – adequate.

Information room – COGA had sent exhibition materials about ‘English Life’ – received with indifference.

Changes to ‘Other Activities’ – a few small classes had started. There was an active theatre group, but the orchestra had been affected by repatriations.

1 – 4 July 1947 – Another ‘Progress Report.’ Strength 1 officer, 1643 OR.

Changes to senior personnel: Capt Bensusan became an additional interpreter – “He is a pleasant and willing old man, but so senile as to be worse than useless from a re-educational point of view.”

Screening; A 6, B 1638. About 600 pows repatriated to date.

In this report there were signs of tensions within the camp – “Whilst the Commandant is universally respected, relations between the Ps/W and British other ranks are in many units far from cordial.” Three weeks prior to this visit some of the pows who had attended courses at the Training Centre (Wilton Park) had created trouble. These were men that were expected to lead activities, but an increase in clerical work for them resulted in them stating they had no time for re-education work. The S/Sgt interpreter dismissed one of these man and sent him out to work – “this caused a complete collapse of resistance and at present all Training Centre men are showing the greatest eagerness to help.” I have not seen this issue arise at other camps.

There were few changes to the standard list of re-education activities. A new section was added – ‘Outside Contacts.’ Of all the activities, formal and especially informal contacts with civilians had the most positive influence on the attitudes of pows.

The visits to Salisbury Council, previously halted, were resumed. Some pows paid to visit the Salisbury law courts. Relationships with the local population were regarded as good.

Religion – a more positive view of the protestant padre was given; Fw Dietrich Glueer (A), aged 41, married, from the Russian zone – “A good, sincere man and a good influence in the camp.”

RC – San Fw Wilhelm Scholter (B), aged 35, from the French zone. Had previously been at Camp 294. “A man of good personal character, but completely negative and pessimistic in his outlook. He will have little influence in the camp.” Another priest, Huth, was also transferred here from C294, but was often away touring other camps.

15 – 18 September 1947 – Re-educational survey. Strength 1 officer; 1159 OR.

No changes to senior personnel.

Morale was considered to be ‘generally high,’ especially in the hostels. The main reasons being; speedy repatriations, respect to fair and considerate Commandant, excellent relations with local populations. However, it was noted that relations with British OR still left much to be desired.

Two negative factors were bad news from home and dissatisfaction over various payments. Administrative staff in the camp were generally paid less than those who went out of camp to work, e.g. the director of camp studies was paid 9 shillings per week, while the German cook for the British received 17 shillings. Bonus payments were often lost because it took a long time for many to get to their place of work, and so insufficient time was then spent in actual work.

About 60% of the pows were youth, they were not regarded as a particular problem as many were active with re-education and other activities. Whereas many of the older pows showed apathy.

Re-education and other activities were continuing, but were affected by repatriations and pows enjoying going out of camp with the longer days.

Religion – The RC Scholter was described in very negative terms; “a simpleton, with very low morale. Sub-consciously, he appears to be spreading anti-British propaganda, and I consider him a bad influence in the camp.”

Entertainment – all performances had been postponed during the harvest period.

Outside contacts – additional visits to Salisbury and Winchester councils.

21 – 23 October 1947 – L A Bloxham from PID visited to investigate alleged subversive activities at Southampton Satellite Camp, see below.

14 November 1947 - Camp number included in an ‘Urgent Memorandum’ (FO 939/270) regarding inspection of food parcels.

9-11 December 1947 – Re-education survey. Strength; 1 officer, 1138 OR.

One change to senior personnel – the deputy camp leader had been repatriated.

Number of pows repatriated to date: Austrians – 1791; Germans – 1094. 40 pows gained civilian status. This is the first, and only mention of Austrians in the camp.

The Ganger site was expected to become a camp for displaced persons on 10 January. The present satellite camp at Southampton would then become the HQ.

Morale continued to be high, especially in the hostels. A depressing factor was the lack of agricultural work at this time of year, which meant no pay. No communist trend or support for other “forms of totalitarianism,” and no anti-Semitic feelings were noticed.

Many of the youth pows had been repatriated, only about 1/3 of the pows were under-25.

Re-education activities continued as before. There was a first listing of other small education classes for; French, Russian, German language and literature, arithmetic, bookkeeping and shorthand.

4 January 1948 – Ganger camp closed.

Known Camp Commandants:

? - unknown when the Italians were in the camp.

? – 1947 - Lt Col N C H Downe. Formerly from the Royal Regiment of Artillery – a brief time in 1948 at Southampton Camp 41, then transferred 1948 to East Cams Camp 251.

Photos - The camp in use as emergency accommodation with pow huts and concrete buildings. Produced with permission from Christopher Levy –

www.woodleynet.co.uk

Camp and hostels + number of pows where known:

Not open

Unknown

Open

With another camp

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Main		I	I	G: cap 1100	880	865	573	644	451	480
Bishops Waltham		I			74	72	68	65	48
Andover, Enham / ?*,		I	I	I	129	122	120	117	72	58
Whitchurch		I	I	G	71	75	68	70	56
Thedden Grange				?	See Camp 294
Porton				I
Waterlooville				I
Corhampton				G
Danebury				G	99	99	95	93
Fordingbridge				G	101
Hazelholt					92	84	94
Micheldever					147	150	145	139	132
Cusses Gorse					110	104	110	86	65	67
Winchester					100	96	94	84	61	103
Cowesfield					127	98	145	75
Southampton Sat.				Camp 402						240
Billets					224	211	240	271	275	191
Total				Cap 1590	2154	1976	1752	1644	1160	1139

After the camp: Used as temporary housing by Romsey and Stockbridge Council. The huts were replaced from the late 1950’s

Further information:

National Archives –

FO 939/123 41 Working camp, Ganger Camp, Romsey and Southampton Common Camp, Southampton, Hampshire. Dated 1945-1948

FO 1120/212 – ‘Re-educational survey visit reports for camps 40 to 42.’ Used above

The Imperial War Museum has copies of the magazine, dated May and September 1947. Ref LBY E.J. 432.

‘Hitler Youth to Church of England Priest’ – George Gebauer. The story of a pow who was a member of the Hitler Youth. He was captured in 1944 and held in US camps before being sent to Camp 41. While working on a local farm he met and later married the farmers’ daughter. Later in his life he became a Church of England vicar.

http://www.woodleynet.co.uk/ganger_camp.htm - excellent site with a lot of pictures and memories, especially of the camp as emergency housing.

Satellite camp - Southampton (formerly Camp 402)

20 October 1947 – Southampton Camp 402 became a satellite camp for Ganger Camp.

21 – 23 October 1947 – visit by L A Bloxham from PID to the main camp and satellite to investigate alleged subversion. Strength; 1 officer, 461 OR.

Officer i/c: Capt Valle Sat.Camp leader: Wm Ferdinand Aussprung (B)

Interpreter: S/Sgt Forrest (at main camp). Deputy C/L: Bootsmaat Willi Isenberg (B+)

German M.O.: St.Arzt Zimmermann (A)

The camp leader was considered to be unsuitable, but had been elected into place for Camp 402. Mr Bloxham obtained copies of the camp magazine and found several articles by ‘C.L.’ [i.e. Camp Leader Aussprung] to be dubious and one definitely subversive. The article was entitled; “Ist ein P.W. Lager rentable?” [Is a pow camp profitable?].

Mr Bloxham went through the article with Aussprung to point out the inaccuracies, stating it was false and misleading, but the CL argued otherwise. “I continued that if he had deliberately distorted the truth, he was a Nazi propagandist, unfit to hold any office, while if he still believed it to be true, he was too stupid to be a good CL.” Aussprung was given time to think the matter over and the two men met again later. “When I again saw him, he said that he had been too busy to devote any thought to the matter and must decline to express any opinion.”

The following morning Mr Bloxham called the Foreign Office and requested the CL’s removal at the earliest possibility. Mr Bloxham then selected Hans Waller, who had previously been the hostel leader at Danebury to become camp leader at Southampton. The camp magazine at Southampton was stopped, though copies of the one produced at the main camp were available.

December 1947 – Hostel leader; Uffz Waller (B) – as recommended - “has done excellent work.”

4 January 1948 – When Ganger camp closed, this site became the HQ and was renumbered as Camp 41.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Southampton Sat.				Camp 402						240

Hostels

Andover - Enham / Arch or Alamein. Are these the same site? The first mention was in 1943; ‘Enham Arch, Andover;’ then 1944; ‘Enham Alamein, Andover;’ then all other references were just ‘Andover.’

Italian pows, then German.

Memories – “A camp was set up sometime in Andover just past the Enham Arch on the left-hand side and was fenced off and surrounded by barbed wire, housing about 50 Italian men. The prisoners were put to work locally doing manual work. One of the jobs they did was to lay down the concrete roads for the Old Down Road council estate. At the junction of Nestor Close and Dell Road, inscribed in the concrete, was PoW 1943 (or whatever year it was)….

…at Redenham, where some of these PoWs were working in a field. Some American soldiers came marching down the road on exercise and some of them, being of Italian descent, were pleased to meet the workers and talk to them; all of them being far away from their country of origin. The Americans gave them a tin of fruit.

Some were employed at Coombes timber yard in Mill Road, which was close to where Asda is now. Some were brought in sometimes on the back of a lorry from a similar camp in Romsey [Ganger?] to work for Farmer Dance at the back of the single row of houses on the right-hand side going down New Street.

They all wore large, round, bright red or yellow patches on their backs so they were easy to see if they escaped. Film footage shows armed guards watching over them working, but I don’t know if this was always the case.” https://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/yoursay/15609402.pows-in-andover/

OS 1961 – Enham Arch site – NGR SU 365 468

“My father was director and manager of the Andover depot of P M Combes Ltd in the Town Station Yard and there were 12 Italian PoWs employed there. They came from the PoW camp at Enham Arch. I used to go there and talk to them during their breaks. They helped me with my Latin homework!

When aircraft were shot down or crashed in the locality, I got on my bike and went to the site and collected aluminium framework sections and other items for the prisoners who melted them down and made cigarette lighters from the aluminium. These they sold to local people for pocket money. They also made jewellery from florins and half-crowns which were made of silver until 1946.

When Italy changed sides, the Italian prisoners were released and we had German PoWs in the workshops.

The chief Italian PoW who made the lighters, etc, made a fantastic engraved table lighter which they presented to my father when they were repatriated. I still have this and value it highly. The names of the 12 PoWs are engraved on it.” https://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/yoursay/15653765.pow-memory/

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Schirm(K) Walter Friedrich (B+)

January 1947 – same hostel leader, aged 32, married, from the Russian zone, a communist – “a plain blunt man with an independent mind.” Poor living conditions, but an excellent welfare officer. No electric supply and primitive lighting.

May 1947 – Hostel leader; Fw Karl Brandes (B); aged 33, married, from the British zone, a mechanic. Member of the Nazi Party from 1933. “An efficient leader.” Majority of pows were under-25, ex-Waffen-SS. Regular discussion groups. A local retired Lt.Col Julian, from the Ministry of Information, voluntarily worked to develop welfare and re-education – “he is highly respected.”

December 1947 – same hostel leader. Hostel expected to close soon.

January 1948 -Transferred to Southampton Common Camp 41.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Andover, Enham / ?*		I	I	I	129	122	120	117	72	58

Bishops Waltham

Italian then German pows.

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Obwm Wilhelm Schroedter (B+)

January 1947 – same leader, aged 31, married, from the British zone, a school teacher – “an efficient leader and an honest man.” Had been a Nazi Party member from 1937, but was considered to be a; “genuinely converted Nazi.”

May 1947 – Hostel leader; Stgefr Paul Schnitzer (B); aged 29, unmarried, from Silesia. “Appears capable.” He was soon after dismissed from this post for “misconduct.”

July 1947 – Hostel leader; Ogefr Philipsenburg (B), aged 43, married, from the British zone, a cashier. Nazi Party member from 1933; became a ‘Rottenführer’ - 'section leader' with Nazi Party paramilitary rank. “In spite of his bad political record, he is now fully co-operative…”

September 1947 – same hostel leader.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Bishops Waltham		I			74	72	68	65	48

Corhampton

Just one reference to this site. It may have become a hostel attached to a different main camp.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Corhampton				G

Cowesfield (House) – NGR SU 261 242; House demolished in 1949.

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Hptwm Arnold Schoenau (A)

January 1947 – Hostel leader; Gefr Schneider (B), aged 39, married, from British zone, a business manager – “businesslike and efficient.” Nazi Party member since 1933.

Excellent amenities – high morale.

May 1947 – Hostel leader; Uffz Ruschmeier (B), aged 31, married, from the British zone, a bricklayer. Member of SA 1933-35. “A man of very limited intellect and still under the influence of Nazi ideology.” His removal was recommended to the Commandant.

July 1947 – same hostel leader.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Cowesfield					127	98	145	75

Cusse’s Gorse – NGR SU 163 370

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Sonderf Heinz Geck (A). “He was screened by MI.5 in October 1943. He has an English wife who has visited him. Has applied for British Nationality to Home Office. Commandant has been advised to keep an eye on him.” [Author Heinz Geck?]

January 1947 – Hostel leader; Uffz. Engelmann (B), aged 25, from the Russian zone, a student – “an intelligent and co-operative young man.” Good morale.

Majority of pows were under-25, ex-Waffen-SS. A discussion group – using English – had started.

September 1947 – Leader due to go into a billet. Reported that he became a British civilian.

December 1947 – Hostel leader; Ofw Billker (B), aged 34, married, from the British zone, an engineer – “A pleasant and co-operative leader.”

January 1948 -Transferred to Southampton Common Camp 41.

Ordnance Survey 1962

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Cusses Gorse					110	104	110	86	65	67

Danebury – Danebury Farm / Stables NGR SU 321 368.

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Uscha Hans Waller (B-)

January 1947 – same hostel leader, aged 26, from the American zone – had previously been held in Muenster camp – “efficient but not outstanding.” Nazi Party member since 1939.

Majority of pows were under-25, ex-Waffen-SS.

July 1947 – same hostel leader.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Danebury				G	99	99	95	93

Fordingbridge

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Sold Theo Weibel (A)

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Fordingbridge				G	101

Hazelholt. In area of Hazelholt Copse / Park / Cottages – NGR SU 583 194.

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Fw Lothar Warnstedt (B+).

January 1947 – Hostel leader; Obfeldw Utecht (B), aged 31, married, from the Russian zone, a carpenter. “Co-operative, but of rather limited intelligence.”

May 1947 – Hostel leader; Iffz Rudolf Teuber (B); aged 26, from the British zone, a clerk. “A bright and cheerful man, and an efficient leader.”

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Hazelholt					92	84	94

Micheldever [There was a Popham, Micheldever, Camp 671 – was this the same place? – some local residents believe it was]

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Obfw Alois Sommerlick (A)

January 1947 – Hostel leader; Uffz. Mildenstein (B), aged 34, unmarried, from the British zone, a bank clerk – “unable to answer questions intelligently.” Had been a Nazi Party member from 1937.

May 1947 – Hostel leader; U.Sch Albert Plum (B), aged 35, unmarried, from the British zone, a minor civil servant, then a Waffen-SS conscript – “satisfactory.” Nazi Party member from 1933. Majority of pows were under-25, ex-Waffen-SS.

September 1947 – same hostel leader.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Micheldever					147	150	145	139	132

Porton

Just one reference to this site. It may have become a hostel attached to a different main camp.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Porton				I

Thedden Grange

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Thedden Grange				?	See Camp 294

Waterlooville

Just one reference to this site. It may have become a hostel attached to a different main camp.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Waterlooville				I

Whitchurch – did this become 693a?

August 1946 – Hostel leader: Wachtm Siegfried Petsch (B+). Contained many young ex-SS members, but they were not regarded as a problem.

January 1947 – same hostel leader, aged 31, married, from the American zone, soldier since 1936 – “efficient, but not outstanding.”

May 1947 – Hostel leader; Gefr. Hans Joachim Böttcher (B+); aged 21, from the British zone, a science student – “making an excellent job of it.” Weekly discussion groups.

September 1947 – same hostel leader.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Whitchurch		I	I	G	71	75	68	70	56

Winchester

August 1946 – Hostel leader; Obfw Otto Goesel (A)

January 1947 – Hostel leader; Uffz Schweke (B), aged 41, from the British zone – “proud of his hostel and keen to do anything possible to help his men.” Nazi Party member since 1938.

Poor living conditions. No electric supply and primitive lighting. The Bishop of Winchester had visited with a small Christmas gift for each pow.

July 1947 – same hostel leader.

September 1947 – Hostel leader Gefr Georg Sperling (B), aged 25, from the Russian zone. Had acted as an interpreter and teacher of English.

All protestant churches in Winchester united to form a club for pows open every Sunday which was well appreciated.

December 1947 – same hostel leader

January 1948 -Transferred to Southampton Common Camp 41.

	?	1943	1944	9/45	8/46	1/47	5/47	7/47	9/47	12/47
Winchester					100	96	94	84	61	103


Diary and details by Malcolm Sanders