Oflag VII B (Prisoner-of-war camp)

Date: 1943

By: Esson, William Keith, 1910-1982

Reference: Plans-76-0657/0658

Description: Plans of prisoner-of-war camp and of an unspecified mechancial device Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Ink and crayon; pencil 205 x 860 mm and 210 x 280 mm Provenance: Donation: Capt W K Esson R.D. 1, Christchurch, 13 Oct 1976

Date: 1943-1947

From: Blow, Eric Harold, 1908-1974: Collection relating to World War Two, study and rugby

Reference: MS-Papers-12822-1

Description: Comprises printed material and ephemera related to German prisoner-of-war camps in World War Two. Includes seven issues of the ‘Touchstone’ journal published by the prisoners held in Oflag VII B, the German prisoner-of-war camp for officers (Offizierlager), located in Eichstätt, Bavaria. Includes these issues: 1945 No. 13, Jan. "Scottish number"; February 1945; June 1944; May 1944; April 1944; December 1943; Autumn 1943. Four issues have an inscription to Eric Blow saying “with editor’s compliments”. Also includes an envelope with protective board and addressed to E.H. Blow at Aldershot. Inside this was a newspaper cutting ('Observer' 20 April 1947); an exhibition catalogue for ‘Life in an oflag’ with paintings by John McIndoe exhibited in London in May 1945; and two pieces of black card with Blow’s address at Hut 25, "Oflag VIB". Oflag VI B was located near Dössel in Warburg. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Printed material, envelope, newsprint and card Processing information: The exhibition catalogue, newspaper cutting, and black card with Blow’s address were removed from the envelope for conservation reasons. They are all housed separately within this folder.

Date: 1940 - 1945

By: Esson, William Keith, 1910-1982

Reference: A-262-024

Description: Shows prisoners' recreation ground in P O W camp in Germany Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil drawing 127 x 250 mm on sheet 205 x 275 mm Provenance: Donation: Capt W K Esson R.D. 1, Christchurch, 11 Oct 1976

Date: 1941-1945

By: Cowie, Gordon Rae, 1896-1984

Reference: PAColl-0325

Description: Photographs of plays and musical festivals put on at Oflag VII B prison of war camp in Germany with men playing male and female roles. The plays were: Post Mortem in 1943 (names given: Woodley, Jumbo Burrows, Malcolm Fry, Bob Armstrong, Quartermaine, N Jardine-Paterson); Case of the Frightened Lady in 1943; Dossing Dulcie, a medieval Christmas pantomime in 1943 (additional names: A Barradale-Smith, Don Olliver, Lutner, Stan Nolan (NZ), J Long, G Powell; Gaslight in 1943; French without Tears in 1944; I Killed the Count in 1944; and Hamlet (Michael Goodliffe as Hamlet who went on to act with the BBC). There was also a musical festival in 1944 in which the men took part in a full choir and orchestra and in 1945 in which New Zealand troops dressed as Maori (names given: Ready, Herewinie and Bennet). Also included are a photograph of a Christmas 1944 greetings card drawn by a cartoonist calling himself Blow (possibly as a pun on Low) in which a soldier is knitting and the wool is forming the words "this year next year sometime; a Christmas 1941 greetings card by A A West from Oflag VII C showing life in the camp; soldiers at Aldershot in 1941 the names given being Duff, Freyburg, Williams, Hill, Lowndes, Colonel Fraser and Captain Thornton; and a boxing match, one of the participants being Milner, the son of a Waitaki headmaster. A number of the photographs had been sent as postcards to Cowie's wife in Lower Hutt though with no message other than sender. The photographs are all stamped Oflag VII B gepruft (examined). Quantity: 96 b&w original photographic print(s). Transfers: Probably part of collection donated to Manuscripts and Archives MS-Papers-2285..

Date: 1943

From: Cowie, Gordon Rae, 1896-1984 :Photographs of plays performed in a German prison of war camp

Reference: PAColl-0325-01-1

Description: Soldiers interned in the German prisoner of war camp, Oflag VII B, performing "Dossing Dulcie" as a christmas pantomime. Photographed by an unknown photographer in 1943 Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - "Dossing Dulcie" Xmas Panto 1943 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print

Date: ca 1943

From: Cowie, Gordon Rae, 1896-1984 :Photographs of plays performed in a German prison of war camp

Reference: PAColl-0325-01-2

Description: Soldiers in a performance of a play called "I Killed the Count" at the German prisoner of war camp Oflag VII B. Photographed by an unknown photographer in about 1943 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print