Voice Recordings of British POWs by the Germans.

[Terry_Reeves]

Sometime ago I came across on youtube a BBC4 programme entitled "How the Edwardians Spoke."  This documentary revealed a German archive of shellac records with recordings of British and colonial PoWs reciting poems and songs.  I revisited this yesterday and dug a little deeper. It appears that the British Library has purchased digital versions of the recordings. The BL has published a catalogue of names and brief biographies of the men. There are no regimental details but it should be possible to track them down.

 

I recommend  that the BBC4 programme be watched first which gives the background to the recordings.

 

The BL link is below:

 

https://sounds.bl.uk/Accents-and-dialects/Berliner-Lautarchiv-British-and-Commonwealth-recordings

 

 

Edited 2 October , 2019 by Terry_Reeves

[charlie962]

What an extraordinary survivor ! Many thanks for the link.

 

Charlie

 

To set the ball rolling

Stirlingshire, Thomas Sneddon from Falkirk, b 7/5/1896.

There are 2 Thos Sneddon on ICRC but this man fits exactly: (the other was Gordons then NF, with address Bowness

 

MIC gives the following:

 

Edited 2 October , 2019 by charlie962

[charlie962]

another

 

Warwickshire

Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Critchlow, John (b.1886 (male, labourer) . Speaker's note: Aged 31 and from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Born 28 June 1885 at Unheaton. From the age of one to six lived at Unheaton; from seven to 20 resided at Tamworth. Bo… 00:03:20

 

PA3918 captured 1914

 

Name: J Critchlow
Service Number: 7995... Regiment: Royal Scots Fusiliers... Rank: Private... Daily List: 15th April 1915... Casualty Status: Previously Reported Wounded, Now Reported Prisoner - Germany

 

MIC       John Critchlow, Pte 1st RSF, 7995, to France 14/8/14

[charlie962]

Wiltshire

Freegard, Frank,

Speaker's note: Aged 26 from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England. Born 23 January 1890 in Bradford-on-Avon. Lived in Bradford until the age of 20, then moved to London and from there to Windsor. Eductaed at a public school in Bradford. Both parents from Bradford. Can read and write in English. Religion: protestant. Occupation: soldier. Item note: William reads the Parable of the Prodigal Son (taken from Luke chapter XV, verse 11-32).

 

Census 1911

 

CasList 1915

F Frigard
Service Number: 2771... Regiment: 1st Life Guards... Rank: Trooper... Daily List: 7th May 1915... Casualty Status: Wounded and Prisoner.

 

MIC  Freegard Frank, 1st LifeGuards, 2771, entered France 15/8/14

 

haven't seen him yet in ICRC ?

Edited 2 October , 2019 by charlie962

[charlie962]

Staffordshire

Heath, Henry, b.1891 (male, soldier)

Description

Speaker's note: Aged 25 from Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. Born 25 December 1890 in Wolverhampton. Liced in St Helens, Lancashire, until the age of 10. From 10 to 20 lived in Wolverhampton. A soldier since the age of 20. serving in England, Gibraltar and South Africa. Both parents from Wolverhampton. Can read and write in English. Religion: Protestant. Occupation: soldier. Item note: Henry reads the Parable of the Prodigal Son (taken from Luke chapter XV, verse 11-32).

 

 

[charlie962]

Not absolutely straight forward.

ICRC cards for 3/4.

DoB on ICRC card 2/3

 

But not too difficult to do the rest I suspect.

 

Charlie

[bradley]

Hello people,
very interested in hearing the recordings although they wont play.
Any help welcome.

[Skipman]

7 minutes ago, bradley said:

Hello people,
very interested in hearing the recordings although they wont play.
Any help welcome.

 

This might Help

 

Mike

[johntaylor]

Fascinating - thanks for pointing this out.

 

John