Thomas Hutchison's Experience in a Polish POW Camp EDI001 (1)
Creators: name: Project Team, Their Finest Hour
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 430304
subject: British history
classificationCode: 430308
subject: European history (excl. British, classical Greek and Roman)
classificationCode: 430316
subject: International history

description: Elizabeth Sweeney's father, Thomas Hutchinson, was called up to serve in the Highland Light Infantry. Aged 26, Hutchinson was captured at Dunkirk in May 1940 and sent to Stalag VIIIB, a prison camp in Lamsdorf, Poland. The camp mainly contained British soldiers (around 10,000). Hutchinson began to compile a photo album whilst living in the camp, adding more photos afterwards as well. Hutchinson had a camera and a dark room in the camp, with equipment provided by Germans. Elizabeth suggested that the Germans may have issued Hutchinson with equipment for propaganda purposes - to show that prisoners were being treated well. The photographs suggest that the prisoners had a good social program in the camp, taking part in boxing, pantomimes (Cinderella), etc. For the Cinderella pantomime, British soldiers used the sliver paper from the cigarette cartons, stuck together, to make the dress. Hutchinson was either released or escaped in May 1945, and then found his way to Czechoslovakia. Elizabeth suggested that out of the thousands of men in the camp, many of them may have also escaped at this time. In Czechoslovakia, at the end of the war, Hutchinson heard planes flying overhead. Unsure whether the planes were enemy or friendly, Hutchinson hid in a barn or a haystack in a field. Hutchinson had all of these papers (that Elizabeth brought in to the Collection Day) with him at the time. Hutchinson made a quick exit and left everything, including the photo album (that Elizabeth brought in). Elizabeth does not know how her father got back to the UK (to Airdrie), but she suggested that he returned, possibly part of the 'long march.' A farmer in Czechoslovakia found the papers and sent them to Hutchinson's wife or grandmother (Elizabeth suggested that the papers must have had an address for Hutchinson written on them). Hutchinson eventually received his papers a year or two after his return. All of the items that Elizabeth brought in to the Collection Day had been left in the haystack. Hutchinson continued his interest in photography after the war. Elizabeth said that her family always had a dark room in their house. Although Hutchinson did not tell many stories about his time during the war, Elizabeth does have recollections of conversations from her childhood. Through the Facebook page, Stalag VIII/344 Lamsdorf Prisoners of War, Elizabeth has connected with others whose relatives were in the camp at the same time. The nearest connection to Hutchinson on the Facebook page was someone who recognized their relative in a photo of the camp orchestra that was on the Facebook page. Elizabeth's father was the person who took the photo, and someone on the Facebook page recognized their father in the photo of the orchestra. Elizabeth often posts and reposts on Facebook as new people join all the time. Lots of people seem to have some of the same photos. As already suggested, the large number of photographs may be due to the fact that Germans encouraged British soldiers to take photos to show they were being treated well. Elizabeth would like these photos to be archived because in case anything happens to the collection of photos. She has trusted them to her youngest son who has a keen interest.