Scottish soldier stole in POW camp

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Sam Thom of BBC Scotland on behalf of John Borland and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was captureed by the Germans at St Valery, on 11th July, 1940. And was a prisoner in various POW camps for 5 years. In one camp I used to work with dairy cows. On that farm I saw a chicken and stole it, by hiding it in my coat. I smuggled it back, past the guards and into the camp, where I stripped it, boiled it and divided it among others in the camp.
I also borrowed a trumpet from a Pole. I was practicing tunes as a hobby, then at Xmas 1944 I was so hungry I sold it for 3 eggs and 2 small loaves. That all went within 5 minutes. It's sad, but I always wanted to take that trumpet home.

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