German voice recordings of British POWs

[Alan24]

Came across this BBC4 programme on Edwardian regional dialects.

 

The primary source comes from over 260 recently discovered voice recordings of British POWs made by Germans between 1915 and 1918.

 

 

 

 

[Coldstreamer]

Is there a list of the 260 ?

Cheers 

[Alan24]

1 hour ago, Coldstreamer said:

Is there a list of the 260 ?

Cheers 

I've only watched half way through so far.

 

The recordings are held in a Berlin university and there is a mention of the British Sound Archive being interested.

 

The recordings in the university seemed to be catalogued and indexed with names, so they are definitely not anonymous recordings. 

 

The programme also meets relatives of some of those recorded.

 

I suppose with a bit of research and communication with these academic bodies you may be able to get copies of the index.

 

[Alan24]

9 hours ago, Coldstreamer said:

Is there a list of the 260 ?

Cheers 

Now watched to whole thing. Interesting.

TV programme made around 2006 so the discovery of these recordings looks to be around 2002.

 

Three men featured are;

 

Philip Jarvis from Macclesfield 

 

Charlie Shears from Cricklade Wilts - Special reservist.

 

George Campbell from Aberdeen.

 

I suspect ICRC records were not available when the programme was made.

[Alan24]

On 28/03/2021 at 17:07, Alan24 said:

Charlie Shears from Cricklade Wilts - Special reservist.

I believe this man is L/Cpl 8777 Frederick Charles Shears 2nd Btn Wiltshire Regt.

Taken prisoner 24.10.14. at Ypres.

Born Cricklade 27.11.1891

Lived Calcutta St. Cricklade

 

The picture in the film at 31 mins 52 secs shows him wearing one stripe.

 

Edited 29 March , 2021 by Alan24

[Alan24]

On 28/03/2021 at 17:07, Alan24 said:

George Campbell from Aberdeen

Possibly...

9517 George Campbell Gordon Highlanders.

Screen shot at 42 mins 24 secs may give a clue.

[Alan24]

I've just realised that the lady in this documentary is Joan Washington who passed away this week. She was married to Richard E Grant.

[JWK]

Would this be this archive at Humboldt University Berlin?

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

You can click the county of your preference to hear the voices

[Alan24]

8 hours ago, JWK said:

Would this be this archive at Humboldt University Berlin?

Yes, that's the one. Thanks for providing the link.

On 28/03/2021 at 07:49, Coldstreamer said:

Is there a list of the 260 ?

Looks like there is after all. 

[bradley]

On 05/09/2021 at 20:01, Alan24 said:

I've just realised that the lady in this documentary is Joan Washington who passed away this week. She was married to Richard E Grant.

re visited this thread and yes,Joan Washington rest in peace.
Poor woman,you can see that Richard Grant was very much in love with her.
She was from Aberdeen originally.