How prisoners of war got crafty, making toys for children of their captors
Imprisoned in a foreign country, hundreds of miles away from home, German soldiers would whittle away at wood making unique toys to pass the time.
Now these toys, which were made at East Cams prison camp in Portchester Road, Portchester, during the Second World War, have gone on display at a museum in Fareham.
The toys were made at the prison by prisoners of war, and they are now part of the Hampshire Hidden Treasures display at Westbury Manor Museum.
Some of the toys include a wooden figure of Winston Churchill, which lifts his walking stick when pushed along.
Clement Attlee also appears as a push-along toy, and there is a money box in the shape of a house.
Some of the toys were made as gifts for the employees at the prison, while other, much older ones were sold as gifts to members of the public.
Tom de Wit, curator at the museum, said: 'These are very personal items and full of character.
'I find them deeply moving. Think about a prisoner – an enemy soldier – far from their home and missing their loved ones, making these wonderful objects for the children of their captors.
'These are fantastic items – really evocative of the time. I feel privileged to handle these things, which are a poignant reminder of major events in our history.
'I think it's fascinating to discover the local impact of these major historic events and it is important that these local memories are captured and preserved for future generations.
'You can actually really empathise with the emotion that would drive somebody to make these things. It's nice to see a sense of humanity.'
Other items include a set of dominos made out of bone by a French prisoner during the Napoleonic war, and a beaded snake made by a Turkish prisoner of war in 1919.
During the Napoleonic war, many prisoners were forced to pay for their accommodation and their food, so making toys to sell as gifts to members of the public was seen as a way to survive. Many of the toys were made with old meat bones, wood and straw.
Anyone with any information or any other toys to donate to the museum is urged to contact Mr de Wit on 01329 822063.
The Hampshire Hidden Treasures display will be on display throughout November.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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