The Kent History Forum
Military History => Camps and Barracks => Topic started by: grandarog on November 03, 2023, 03:47:34 PM
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During WW2, my Uncle had several POW,s working on his farm.I believe they were Italian.As a very small boy at the time I remember them playing with me and being given shoulder rides by a couple of them. Does any one know if there are any lists of names or indications of how or where the POW,s were distributed to Farmers.
On line info is mainly about Camps .Though claiming the lists are complete .The large Camp at Iwade ,Sittingbourne is not mentioned at all.(or not found by me)
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This subject was covered in an episode of "The Darling Buds of May" (the one with David Jason in the lead role). One of Pop Larkin's farm labourers was a German ex-Prisoner of War and the episode dealt with how the character was treated by the locals when they found out who he really was.
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There was I believe - an Italian prisoner of war camp in Walderslade.
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The Walderslade camp is clearly visible on Google Earth. There's nothing I can find around Iwade, but there is something in the general area that looks like it could be the camp grandarog is referring to just northeast of Kemsley station.
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In Gravesend, Valley drive had Prefab homes built along one side. These were erected by Italian PoWs
I don't know where their camp was but the airfield was nearby.
mmitch.