Dyrotz..POW camp

[zoot]

Hi Folks,

New to the site....

Trying to find out about a POW camp that a family member was in...

It was in Dyrotz past Wustermark...in Germany

Thanks John

[bts1970]

Hi

Not much to add,

from PRISON CAMPS in GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

7 miles from Doberitz, near Berlin. Housed in newly erected well ventilated barracks. Recreation hut builtby the men themselves out of British funds.

Best regards

Bob

[zoot]

Thanks Bob,

Any idea where i could obtain some aerial photos or photos in general of this camp?

John

[archangel9]

John,

A few mentions here -

Pursuit of an 'Unparalleled Opportunity'

http://search.columbia.edu/search?q=Dyrotz&btnG=Search&entqr=0&entsp=0&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&output=xml_no_dtd&client=gute-e_steuer_frontend&ud=1&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=gute-e_steuer_frontend&site=Gutenberg_Steuer

John

[bts1970]

trawl through some of these photos after a quike google search mate

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1T4DSGK_enGB386GB386&biw=1345&bih=516&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Dyrotz+POW&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Bob

[zoot]

Thanks a lot guys..

I have some photos sent back to my great gran in 1917. These managed to survive in a biscuit tin for over 70 odd years....

One question relating to the regiment my great uncle was in ( 2nd Btn KOSB ) he was a regular before war began.....

I was told it was only pipers that wore the kilt during the war, was this true?

Hope to get the photos online soon..

John.

[bts1970]

John

There are many members who specialize in Scots regiments on the forum, i am sure that there will be many who can fill gaps to your interest. Look forward to the pics.

Bob

[Guest Jamjar90]

This may be of interest. Inspection of the camp on Tuesday 25 April 1916 by Drs AETaylor, Karl Ohnesorg, DJMcCarthy

4448 men attached to camp, 3204 detailed in working camps. 754 British of which 426 are in the camp and the remainder in the attached working camps.

Large plot of land attached prisoners detailed to work here growing vegetables for the camp. The camp is large with plenty of free area for playing football and athletic competitions.

Kitchens, bathing, disinfection, latrines, hospital all in good condition.

British prisoners all lodged in 2 large barracks. These are of the newer type with high ceilings, double level roof with roof lighting and ventilation. Barracks approx 150 feet long 50 feet wide wall height 12 feet at the side and 18 feet in the centre. 4 large windows. Bed space takes up to 2/3 of floor and corridor remaining 1/3. Bedding is usual straw mattresses and blankets. The British are housed together, the total in a barrack 432 men with 160 British men in one and 110 in another etc compulsory bathing enforced once a week and bi monthly weighings when the men are stripped.

Regulation food prescribed. British rely on their parcels from home and took prison food only on certain days. They always took the potatoes.the bread at this camp was very good for lack bread but they relied almost entirely on wheat bread sent from outside.

Their clothing is good including underwear and good shoes. Mail gets through on a regular basis. They have a library provided with books. Religious services are held regularly by Rev. HM Wislon.

Hope this is of interest

[Guest SJJ1]

I have recently inherited a greeting card, hand painted / written in Dyrotz Camp (watercolour on card) and presented by Russian POWs to "our English Friends" on the occasion of New Year, January 1, 1916. It is in Russian and English and the artist signed himself as "W. Leonardi". My mother, who inherited the item from her father who had been a POW at Dyrotz, told me that the W stands for Wiatislav or something similar. I also have a seascape painting, approximately 24" x 15" also painted by the same artist on Russian newspaper. Can anybody tell me anything about these items?

Thank you

[Guest Jamjar90]

I can only guess that this was an act of comradeship shown by the Russians. The numbers of Russian POWs was enormous second only to the Serbians. Unfortunately due in part to the numbers but also to the logistics back at home as well as the poverty of their families they were left with very little in the way of necessities let alone comforts. The British Tommy relied heavily on parcels from Home and particularly on parcels of Bread which were sent by two Commissions set up in Europe. Our Tommies would have starved if it hadn't have been for this bread. The Russians had not such support network and relied heavily upon the generosity of our boys. I have many instances of fighting and bartering over scraps of bread.....

[zoot]

Thank you all for being of great help. My family member who was a POW in Dyrotz was Pte James Watt, 2nd KOSB, no 11338. Captured at Le Cateau on 26/8/14, I believe he was sent to Von Doberitz on 2/12/15 then sometime onto Dyrotz. I don’t really have any photos of the camp, but these photos were in an old Victoria biscuit tin..... the portrait photo was sent home to Glasgow in 1917. We added some colour to it but have the original.

Any further help would be appreciated.

 

[JWK]

His ICRC card:

 

 

From what I can reconstruct from his ICRC card:

 

1) PA3o4:

Held at Döberitz.

Captured at Bertry (close to Le Cateau)

List received by the Red Cross on 8th Nov 1914

 

2) PA3191:

A “hospital list” dated 28 July 1915

In Reserve Lazarett in Wattenscheidt (which is near Essen, quite far away from Döberitz?)

 

3) PA7833  Dyrotz camp.

List received by Red Cross on 11 Jan 1917

Includes address of NoK in Airdrie.

Captured at le Cateau 26 aug 1914

Arrived from Döberitz camp 19 March 1916