What was POW doing between 22/3/1918-15/7/1918

[Skipman]

What would a 6th Black Watch (stretcher-bearer) POW, (captured on 22/3/1918 and who died on 15/7/1918 at a German Field Hospital of pneumonia), have been doing between these dates. He was captured about Beaumetz on the 22nd of March 1918, and died at, and is buried at Le Quesnoy.

Why not sent to POW camp Germany?

Mike

[headgardener]

Either he was used on working parties behind the lines (which shouldn't really have happened, but it did), or he was employed in some way at a local German field hospital (maybe helping to look after wounded British troops), or he was hospitalized and died as a result of his injuries/illness. Or possibly a combination of all 3.

[Guest]

As ever, thank you. So it was quite common for POW's to be used as labour. Any reason why some might be chosen rather than others. Presumably weak/wounded sent further back, fit strong kept for work. Might his SB training have been employed.

The CWGC says this of Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery " There are now over 60, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. All but two of whom were buried by the enemy. "

Mike

[chrrip]

In researching LRB men taken prisoner during the Spring Offensive I have come across a number of references which state that prisoners were sent to camps in Germany from Le Quesnoy. Since the Regimental History states that most of the prisoners taken in 1918 never received the food parcels sent to them since they were never in the camps in which they were registered, but working behind the lines, I came to the view that Le Quesnoy was a work centre. Eight of the LRB men who were taken in 1918 and died in captivity from illness rather than wounds are buried in France or Belgium. I am fairly sure they never saw Germany either.

Chris

[Guest]

Thank you Chris, that's interesting. I wonder how many POW's are buried behind the German lines in France and Belgium. (and, how many German POW's are buried behind Allied lines)

Mike