BBC - A History of the World - Object : Needlework Box

Contributed by Eden Valley Museum Edenbridge

Needlework box made by a German PoW and given to a Kent Land Girl

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Christmas 1946 saw the lifting of the ban on fraternisation between the British and German prisoners of warThis box was made by Christoph, a German prisoner of war who had been captured in Russia, sent to America, then transported back to a PoW camp in Tonbridge, Kent. From the camp he went with a colleague, Herman, to live on a farm at Chiddingstone Hoath. Here they worked alongside Peggy Chapman who was serving her country on the home front in the Women's Land Army, hand milking 60 cows twice a day. From their very different backgrounds they were all working to ensure the British people didn't run out of food after WW2. The farmer gave 'the boys' pocket money which they handed over to Peggy to buy 'civvie' clothes for them at Walthamstow Market. Christoph gave the box to Peggy at Christmas 1948. The box is symbolic of the feelings of many people living in rural areas towards those with whom they had been at war.

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1. At 08:36 on 19 March 2010, Stephen wrote:
Many of the German POW imprisoned in America for the duration of the war were liberated by the Americans at the end of the war and sent home by ship. These unfortunate young men were then illegally incrassated by the British. They were taken off the ships heading for Germany and forced to work in British factories and agriculture for at least 2 years to try and maintain the British Empire. It could be that this prisoner is one of those unfortunate souls. ?Transported back? in this case is a eufemisme for press ganged.
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