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Camp 52 - Nether Headon Camp, Ladywell Rise, East Retford, LincolnshireIncluded in the 1945 ICRC Camp list – Labour Camp. 52. Nether Headon Camp, Retford, Notts.1947 Camp list52(G.W.C.)Nether Headen Camp, Retford, NottsN.Priswar, RetfordRampton 229Retford (L.N.E.R.)Lt.Col.C.D.Bowdery, M.C.v/1453/2Prisoner of War Camps (1939 – 1948) - Project report by Roger J.C. Thomas - English Heritage 2003OS NGRSheetNo.Name & LocationCountyCond’nType 1945CommentsSK 7506 781012052Nether Headon Camp, Ladywell Rise, East RetfordLincolnshire2GermanWorking CampSTANDARD type. Light industrial estate occupied by Paperwaste and Crown EngineeringLocation: About 5.5 km SE of Retford..Before the camp: FarmlandPow camp: Held Italian pows up to 1945, then German working camp.Exchange in Parliament – “Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithswaite?asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that Northern Command Order No. 97 of 1946 is being sympathetically administered as regards other ranks at prisoner of war camp, Nether Headon.Mr.Lawson - My information is that this is a very well run camp and that the order in question has been administered as sympathetically as the manpower situation and the requirements of security have permitted. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate. that it is essential to have a proportion of officers and other ranks on duty at all times in a prisoner of war camp.” (This matter had been resolved – House of Commons, 12 February 1946, Vol 419, Cols 167-8).Four deaths are recorded at Nether Headon (reported on ):Maat Friedrich Wilhem Willer : Navy 1/1/47 died at Nether Headon from Osterwick-DanzigObergefreiter Georg Sturmer : 70 Div 170 Rgt 3 K.p 15/3/47 no GRO record from Rothenburg died at Nether HeadonOberfaehnrich Albert Stumpel : Nachsch. Tr.Schule Hann B 2 K.p 7/5/47 no GRO record from Buren/Westf died at Nether HeadonObergefreiter Otto Hanisch : Army 16/3/45 died at Nether Headon from Lubbenau died in hospitalCamp commandant c1947 Lieutenant Colonel C D Bowdery, M.C.. Formerly with Durham Light Infantry. His diary includes his time at Nether Headon and is held by the Imperial War Museum, Cat No. nts.3558 Ordnance Survey 1956Camp commandant c1947 Lieutenant Colonel A A E McBarnet (Royal regiment of Artillery)A ‘Re-ducational Survey’ was carried out by P. Hollander on 17-21 November 1947:52 Working Camp, Nether Headon CampStrength:- Offs - O.R.’s:- 1918 Total:- 1918 of which:-931At Main Camp90At Lea Hall Hostel242At Little Carlton Hostel169In Billets264At Sconce Hill Hostel21Detached198 At Blyth Hostel3HospitalNo of hostels visited:- 4 No. of PsW repatriated to date:- 1399C.C. :- Lt.Col A.A.E. McBARNETInterpreter:- Lt. C.O.L. JUULMANCamp Leader:- Ogefr. FRANKS, JohannesDeputy C/L:- Uffz. HINKE, HelmutGerman M.O.:- U/Arzt Dr. med Widukind, LENZHostel LeadersLittle Carlton: LEOPOLD, GerhardSconce Hill: MANTEUFEL, WilliLea Hall : AHRENDS, KunoBlyth: GOETSCH, Helmuth1. RECEPTION – I was cordially received by the Commandant. His attitude towards re-education is still slightly sceptical, but he is not unco-operative. His treatment of the PsW is extremely fair and his way of handling them proves his understanding of their character. The I.O. has not lived up to expectations and his interest in re-education seems limited. He is shy and appears not to be sure of himself. The rest of the British staff is completely un-interested; their rigid interpretation of orders and muddled system of transport prove rather cumbersome.2. GERMAN CAMP STAFF – No change since last report. The Camp Leader has developed very favourably and asserts himself more than before. His interest in re-education has increased. STEINBRUECK, the editor of the Daily News Sheet has also greatly improved his work and shows more interest and tolerance. He is due for repatriation at the beginning of November. T.A. recommended HASKALIS as his successor. The hostel leaders have not changed. AHRENS at Lea Hall, who was appointed during the last T.A. visit has come up to expectations and done good work.3. MORALE – The formerly low morale has further improved during the last 3 months. The steady influence of the Commandant and the recent announcements concerning repatriation are the main reasons for the improvement. Cases of friction with foremen are now rare. However, although relations with the civilian population are good in hostels, they are practically non-existent in the Main Camp, as the attitude of the population of Retford varies from indifference to hostility. In spite of the efforts of the Commandant and District HQ, cinemas are still closed to PsW. Differences with the Bus Company have been straightened out, but all efforts concerning the civilian population of Retford have been fruitless. The fundamental reason for this attitude seems to be the fact that a great number of the local boys were taken prisoners with the 46th Division in Norway and were badly treated by the Germans.4. POLITICAL PROGRESS – Although there are still a few voices in the camp, who occasionally praise the “achievements of the social policy” and other “advantages” of the Hitler regime, Nazism is generally repudiated. News about returned PsW from Russia have put an end to all communist sympathies. Feelings towards Great Britain are none too friendly in the Main camp owing to the lack of outside contacts; the situation is more favourable in the hostels.5. YOUTH – The percentage of youngsters is high. They do not constitute a special problem in the camp.6. RE-EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES – During recent months interest has increased. The standard intelligence of the men is not high and interest in current affairs is limited. Several men have recently returned from the Training Centre, but are useless in re-education. Some of them do not even listen to lectures. Furthermore, they create resentment in the camp through their arrogance and by trying to show their “superiority”. T.A. has made an effort to rope in these men to help in re-education, but little benefit will probably be drawn from them. Mascalis is an exception, he will organise a discussion group in the Main Camp.Wochenpost and Ausblick: The popularity of Wochenpost is still growing. Appreciation has been voiced concerning technical improvements. Pictures are said to be much clearer recently. A suggestion has been made that political cartoons be published regularly e.g. by Low or Giles. The poor quality of political cartoons in German papers is said to be demonstrated more vividly by comparing them with cartoons in British papers. If cartoons were made a regular feature in the Wochenpost it would introduce a certain aspect of humour to those PsW, who do not speak English and do not read English papers.Newspapers: No change. Supply is adequate and the selection is good. Interest in Hansard is very limited.Library: The library is well supplied. Recent intakes of books, especially 100 received from the I.R.C.C. this week, contained some excellent volumes and were much appreciated by the more intellectual members of the camp.Lectures: Interest in lectures is said to be growing and the men were satisfied with lecturers selected recently. Only the lecture of Dr.KLEIN was not well received. The title was “World Food problems”. Dr.Klein is said to have given a mass of figures, with which the ordinary listener could not cope. As Dr.Klein only treated the general world food problem, whereas many men had hoped that particularly the German aspects would be considered, they were disappointed. Discussion Groups: A demonstration of Discussion Method was held by T.A. in the Main Camp and at Little Carlton hostel before small, interested audiences. Practice discussions were also held. The first impression was very favourable and the men were enthusiastic. Groups will meet regularly from now on. It is difficult to foresee, whether this rather promising start will continue and live up to expectations.Films: The camp has not a projector of its own. YMCA visits the camp every week and Travelling Films give shows every fortnight in the Main Camp and in all hostels.Wireless: Facilities are fair, but the reception is far from ideal and not loud enough in the Main camp. Little Carlton can use only Battery sets, as electricity is supplied by a generator. Hamburg is heard with difficulty, Frankfurt and Munich are heard much better. Stuttgart is also frequently received, whereas the best reception of Leipzig is after 11 p.m. when Stuttgart has closed down.Camp Magazine: There is no Camp magazine. Difficulties are primarily technical i.e. there is no duplicator etc. But even if these difficulties could be overcome, it is most likely that a camp magazine would be the exclusive show of only a few men, owing to the intellectual standard of the camp and a general apathy.Press Review: A daily news sheet appears 7 times a week. Edited by STEINBRUECK this has much improved after the last T.A. visit and is now of a good standard. It is circulated to all hostels and read by practically all men.English Instruction: Owing to repatriation of teachers this has completely stopped in the Main Camp, but a new teacher having been posted from 174 Camp, a new class is just being rmation Room: This was started after the last T.A. visit. A pleasant and well situated hut set aside for the purpose in the main camp and has proved a success. STEINBRUECK is in charge and with the help of a German Clerk is showing a good wall newspaper, when there are no exhibitions in the camp at present.7. OTHER CAMP ACTIVITIESReligion: The resident protestant padre was on a course at the time of the visit. An R.C. padre from 174 camp, SCHOENE, visits the Camp and Hostels every fortnight. Interest in religion is said to be very small.Entertainment: Orchestra and Theatre Group have disbanded owing to the repatriation of some of the members. Football, Basketball and table tennis are played in the Main Camp and in the hostels.8. CONCLUSIONS – The atmosphere in the Camp, which was notoriously bad 6 months ago, is now approaching normal. In view of the attitude of the population of Retford, the Camp will probably never quite get over the mistakes made in the past, but tremendous progress has been made in the state of morale and in the outlook and attitude of the PsW during the last 6 months. 9. RECOMMENDATIONS – It is recommended that a new exhibition be sent by Visual Education Section.OUTSIDE CONTACTS – Mr Pollard, Labour Office at Sconce Hill hostels has helped to establish contacts in his hostels. 10-12 men regularly visit the meetings of the Newark Discussion Club and 5 men attend the evening classes of the Newark Technical College.Blyth Hostel has arranged 2 bus trips to London and have established good relations with the local group of the Salvation Army.The Rev. McFarren, Deputy Headmaster of the Retford Grammar School visited the main camp twice and gave lectures, which met with success, but he does not intend to continue. T.A. obtained a standing invitation from him for 4-6 PsW from the Main camp to take part in his weekly discussion Group at the Retford Youth Centre.In this report Dr.Klein’s lecture was the only one singled out as being ‘not well received’. Dr.Klein also submitted a report, some extracts:left1143000“2nd October, 2000h. Main Camp. Present 60 / 7%. They are in an unpleasant mood. I noticed already during the lecture ironical smiles / meaning: this is all propaganda and lies…3rd October… The majority of the men were very young and did not take part in the discussion. Those few who did were thoroughly cynical and disillusioned. I had to break off after 20 minutes as I was to speak at another hostel….”…And so his report goes on.Postal items: POW Postcard November 1945 in Italian to Italy POW Postcards November and December 1946 in German to Germany< Letter-sheet January 1947 in German to Germany.After the camp: Light industry. Site called Headon Camp Industrial Estate.Further information:National Archives – FO 939/134 and 301 - 52 Working Camp, Nether Headon Camp, East Retford, Nottinghamshire and 92 Working Camp, Bampton Road Camp, Tiverton, Devon. Dated 1945-1948 ................
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